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Gwbert

Gwbert photos

Displaying the first of 9 old photos of Gwbert.   View all Gwbert photos

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Gwbert maps

Historic maps of Gwbert and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Gwbert maps

Gwbert area books

Displaying 1 of 6 books about Gwbert and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Gwbert

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Dyfed memories

My Early Days

I was born in Abercych and lived there until I was 10 in 1947. I returned every year in the summer for over 20 years. My grandfather and his brother used to make coracles and did a lot of salmon fishing, and frequented the Nags Head before it became a restaurant. I returned with my family including my grandson two years ago and my grandson loved it. It has changed but not too much. We visited the wall overlooking the point where the River Cych enters the Teifi river and where everyone leaving the village, including servicemen, used to carve their initials in the stone slab wall. Mine were still there. We now live in England and my mother who is 96 lives in a home 600 yards from us and still sings Welsh songs!

Parrog From My Childhood

Parrog has changed very little in the 4 decades that I have been visiting and probably for decades before my arrival.  I first visited as a child each year and now take my own daughter there each year too.  The houses remain the same, only the faces change (some of them anyway - we're almost all repeat visitors).  It is totally unspoilt by the modern world yet has everything you need. The activities my daughter Megan and I do are the same that I did with my family as a child. The halyards clinking in the Estuary are music to my ears.  Newport and Parrog are my boltholes and I know that if life gets tough, I can always escape to the safe haven of my childhood.  There is no place on earth like it for me and I have spent many happy holidays there - long may it stay the same.

My Wonderful Childhood

I was Born in 1968, and resided in a small 2 bedroom house in Maes Morfa, Newport Pembs with my elder brother, sister and mother and father. Little did I know how blessed I was. Although life seemed to be quite difficult in those days, money was short and hard to come by, yet I feel we were born into a wealth of beauty living in Newport. From my parents window we overlooked the local playing fields and Newport Estuary and as far as Berry Hill farm acarage. The river was enriched with many different birds, their songs and cries all a part of my recognition of home. From a very young age The Parrog became a place we regularly visited with our mother. During the summer holidays, her basket was always full of picnic treats. The rocks upon which we sat on to eat our lunch are still there today. I always remember the warmth of the stones having had the sun raise upon... Read more

Beautiful Quiet Abercych.

I was born in Abercych in 1930 but went to Swansea in 1934. When I qualified as a pharmacist in 1952 I went abroad to work, in Central Africa (N. Rhodesia and then Nyasaland) then the Gilbert & Ellice Islads in the Pacific then Saudi Arabia but after each contract in these places I came back to Wales and always came to Abercych where I had an Uncle Jack (Central) who was the last man to hold a licence to fish for salmon using a net and coracle. He had a general store in the centre of the village and I often saw a salmon that he had caught on display in his shop. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Wales with lovely views across the Teifi valley. Anyone in that area should visit the village.

Growing up at Brongest

My memory of living in Brongest, I lived on farm called Blaenarthen, my most memory living there was hot summers we used to have, and hay making, when everyone would help with getting the hay in. I also had grandparents living on farm near by at Pengelli Brongest, it was great having grandparents living by. I used go down to see them regularly. My other memory I have is it was round between 1972-1974 on top Salem Hill some people came to live in the caravan, they were brother and sister, they were Irish. They had loads of animals, cats, dogs and budgies, thirty something, they were all living in the caravan. And then one day they disappeared and were not seen any more. But they left a lot of mess.

My Great Uncle Who Lived And Died in Brongest.

My great uncle Daniel Davies, son of Elizabeth and John Davies lived and died in Brongest. Daniel's wife was Hettie (Esther). They had three children-L G Davies, Elizabeth Davies, Daniel Owen Davies. Daniel I believe served in the Royal Horse Artillery during 19/14. He died and was buried in Salem Church Brongest in 1945.

Anyone with any history of his family I would be delighted to hear from you.

Michael Farley.

Working in Brongest

My husband Alan went to Brongest to work in the woods cutting timber out of Rhyd Lewis. Having lived in Yorkshire and never been to Wales it was quite an eye opener. On arrival he was picked up by Mr Jones, the butcher, who took him home and gave him breakfast before taking him to lodgings with a Mrs Jones who had a daughter called Kerith. Mrs Jones looked after the men very well giving them good food, laundry etc for £3 per week. One day the men were grumbling about only having ham in their sandwiches. This was overheard by Mrs Jones. Consequently the next day, deep in the woods, the men opend their sandwiches and Alan found wood chips in his and his friend had brown paper. They were so hungry they ate around the wood chips and paper. When they arrived home Mrs Jones was waiting for them with a very good tea, saying "That will teach you to grumble about... Read more

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