Glanamman memories
Here are memories of Glanamman and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Glanamman or a Glanamman photo.
Capel Bryn Seion, Glanamman
My name is David Jones, and I remember this street well - opposite & to the right (out of pic) was the local dairyman, who used to deliver milk from the back of a dog-cart..
Further behind the Capel was the Workmans & Mechanics Institute (just see the side in pic)
Grandfather's name was 'Evan Nathaniel Jones', an ex miner from Gelliceidrim Drift mine, (to the left of the front of the Capel) as well as an ex farmer in 'Llwyncelyn Farm', Heol Grenig.
Miners coming off shift would squat/sit down in front of the gates, waiting for the James (?)bus to take them to Bettws and Ammanford, smoking and talking.
Peaceful and quiet in those days, as the Forest in the distance was where my G/father would take me shooting for pigeons. He was an avid collector of foxes in his day, and would nail up the fox pelt on his barn door to dry, as there was a shilling paid for every 'Brush' - but some dealers wanted... Read more
Ice Cream Shop
The shop on the left - with the awning down - was known as 'Capanini's' (spelling?) and obviously Italian. They sold the most wonderful ice-ceams, sodas and coffees as well as tea. I remember the daughter there - her name was Bella, and she was a fiery one too, older than me, and by all accounts, typically Italian (as in temper..). Last heard of in Florida somewhere - if info was correct - as family had all died and she was the owner of the shop and the house next door. Opposite, and further up, was the Billiards and Snooker Hall - which in my day had the local barber in there as well - so you could play a game of either, while waiting your turn to have your haircut or shave - or both..
Lots of worries in those days about Polio, and it was suggested that ice cream was a carrier - hence big slump in sales...but I always had several when I was there on... Read more
Penybont Farm, Llwynon,Glanamman
My great grandparents Thomas Thomas and his wife Eleonor Thomas lived in the area. They had about 10 children and I'm hoping that someone from the Thomas family still lives in the area. My grandfather, also called Thomas Thomas married Elizabeth Jane Evans. She was the daughter of the blacksmith James Evans from Pontamman. They worshipped at Bethania Chapel. Iam trying to research my 'roots'.
Does anyone have information?
Diolch yn fawr. Lizzie Potts(nee Thomas)
Glanaman Square
Further to previous postings this photograph is of Glanaman square taken from near the front of Bryn Seion chapel where the pelican crossing is now. The first shop, with awning, is now the chemists - then ran by Hubert Jones. The middle shop is Waterloo House, grocers, then ran by my grandfather Arthur Jenkins. It is now Martin Jones the Butcher. The third shop was Fuller the ironmonger and the next was shop Gwen (then a chippie I believe) but now shop y pentre. I was raised there so there is no doubt. In the distance, to the right of the photo you can see the gable end of the Co-op.
The Square (sgwar)
My brother and I were born in 1931, the only twins in the village at that time (Elwyn and Eifion Goss). Bryn Seion was always in our sight whenever we went to the shops on the square. The first stop was to the Co-op which was situated obout 50 yards to the right of the chapel. In between the chapel and the Co-op was the bank which was housed in the front room of Rock House where the Jones family lived. In the house lived my very best friend Tegwyn Jones. I spent countless happy days at Rock House playing with Tegwyn. Against warnings not to, we played in the bank and often set off the alarms which were activated by push buttons under the counter. We often went to the bakery, to the left of the chapel, where we bought a baker's dozen cakes. As a reward I was given the extra cake.
Sunday was the time after Sunday School when we all met in Carpninis for coffee and... Read more
Capel 'Dadcu'
I recently found a photograph of this chapel among some old family photos and have only today discovered its identity. For many years we were told as children that our grandfather John Davies (also known as Dadcu Ffynnon Lwyd) had been the master craftsman who did the interior wood work of a chapel in the Glanamman/ Brynamman area. The photograph has prompted me to investigate further as to whether this is 'Capel Dadcu'. He lived in Brynmargam Glanamman in 1913 and was a student at the School of Architecture (although I don't know where that was). I have discovered that the chapel was built in 1909 -1910, that the organ pipes were added in 1911, and that the builder was a William Evans from Ammanford;also that it was designed by Henry Herbert of Ammanford. It's a bit of a long shot, but I wonder if there are any records somewhere of other persons who may have worked on the interior - and whether my grandfather may be listed among them.... Read more
Are You Sure?
I believe this photo is not of the square. I think this photo is further up, maybe the old co-op? I have being doing a lot of family research on my ancestors from the area which is why I think that this is not the square. My great grandfather used to own the bakery, and my great great grandfather built the building next door to the bakery that later on was owned by the Carpanini family. There is only 1 first floor window on the Carpanini buliding.
Just an observation, but I think I'm right.
Doctors House And Surgery. (?)
This was where the Doctor moved to (I think) from High Street, Glanamman.
Opposite this house was 'Show Sam', a picture house (cinema these days..). I spent time in there watching films from all over the world - and the newsreels as well...
Further on - is where I would play and try to catch fish, in the river...near to the small marshalling yards, where the coal would be loaded, from several drift mines in the area.
Fascinating place for a small boy...
Posted: April 7th 2008 by David Jones.
One of my Playgrounds.
From this picture - you can see where a lot of the terraced houses in Cwmamman Road got their bulding material from!! Those terraced houses will probably last until doomsday - solid and well built, with Welsh slate roofs... many a family was brought up in those cosy, warm homes. (Even with the 'Ty Bach' at the bottom of the garden...) again,Happy Memories!
No - I never did catch a fish - too impatient...
Posted: April 7th 2008 by David Jones.
Seventy Plus Years Ago!
My brother Elwyn and myself were born in Nant-y-glyn, Penybont on 18th March 1931. We were twins. We lived at 18 Tabernacle Road from when we were about three years old. We left in 1953 to teach in Birmingham. Glanaman was a lovely place to be brought up. It was a real Welsh village, Welsh being spoken everywhere. My father worked at the Gelli Ceidrim coal mine. When I visited some years back I was disappointed at the amount of English spoken but impressed at the signs of affluence, very different to my days. This view brings back happy memories when we used to fish in the river, play in the surrounding fields. I remember that the bridge on many occasions was covered with flood water and damaged by floods. Lle hyfryd iawn! The other side of the bridge was the main road to Amanford but at the square was a shop selling newspapers and also had snooker tables.
Memories of Dyfed
My Family
My family were the Davises who lived in the Bear House, Trecastle. Most of the people in the area were related to us. We were originally of Gypsy desent and can be traced back many hundreds of years. We were also related to the Pike family and to Adelina Patti who brought travelling singing shows to this country. Myself and my familly are travelling show people. My mother was Olwen Davis who married Rouen Wilkins, her mother was Violet Davis, and Harriet Davis was my great-grandmother, they all in turn owned the Bear House in Trecastle. My father and mother had the Three Horseshoes pub in the 1960s. My uncle Dilwyn owned the Castle. All of my late relatives are buried in Llwyl churchyard. Some of my cousins still live in Trecastle. When my grandmother Violet died, the Bear House passed to my mother, who due to ill health, sadly, had to take the decision to sell the Bear, which after hundreds of years, took it out of our family.... Read more
I Was Born Here
I was born in Station View, Sennybridge in 1954. Dad was at the army camp, we moved out approx 1957. I'm not sure if Station View was a road or the name of a house. I think there was a post office nearby.
Living in Trallong
I lived in Trallong at this time. I was 7 years old. I lived in a cottage next to the school and the church on top of the steep curving hill which led down to the vicarage. The vicar was Mr Lewis and his daughter Carol and I were good friends.
One day my brother and I borrowed a pram chassis from my mother, ostensibly to fetch wood but in actual fact for our trolley. We rode it down the hill from our house and when we were going round the bend a post van was coming up. We managed to steer the pram chassis up onto the bank to escape - it gave the driver a fright but we thought it was hilarious. Looking back it was rather silly really.
Childhood Memories
Hello, I was born in Builth Wells hospital in 1957, we were living in the village of Tirabad at the time. My uncle and auntie, Ellis and Dot Topliss, plus my cousins also lived here. My father and uncle worked for the forestry and my eldest sister Carol worked in the small village shop, she now lives in Austrailia. I went to the village school which was a tin hut basically, though my older brothers and sisters went on the bus to another school for older kids. I have many happy memories of playing on the dam and with the children from the mansion, now a type of outward-bound centre. I remember the Knott family and the Bennets and Sid Purchase who I think had a farm. I visit the village once or twice a year for a trip down memory lane, plus I'm a keen walker so love the Beacons and Pen y Fan areas. I can also recall making go karts and shooting down Gunters Hill. It would... Read more
Four Children
First Nine years of my life in this little village. Four Children in all lived here, my Brother and I .the Ministers Son, and the small girl in the shop.
The Village has not changed much over the 50 years since I left.
Most of the old people have died now . Gosen Chapel Where I went to Sunday School still stands, And my Parents are interned there.
Happy days at home in LLyngwesion long hot summer days and dark winters
(no street lights) fond memories
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