Laugharne, the Boat House c1965

Holidays in Laugharne

I and my family stayed at the Ferry House, next to the Boat House from 1965 to 1973. The house was then owned by the wife of my dad's boss and we used to be able to go for a fortnight each summer. We used to park our car, with permission, on the drive of a big house opposite Dylan Thomas's writing shed, and then everything - bedding, food and personal belongings - had to be carried along the cliff walk and down the steps to the Ferry House. Each summer we used to scan the estuary from the top of the walk to see what changes a year had brought to the river bed - there was always a change in the way it wove itself round the bay. Specific memories: going for a walk by myself in the bay when the tide was out and finding and bringing back a dab, which my mother cooked for my breakfast; being allowed to swim at high tide at midnight, when I could walk off the rocky slope just past the house door straight into the sea; going horse-riding at the stables on Sir John's Hill; lying on the rocks near the house and seeing a rain-storm come in from the mouth of the estuary and being so transfixed that I didn't get in in time and got soaked; walking to the village both via Cliff Walk and along the seashore past the castle; climbing into The Boathouse grounds from the sea-wall and exploring the house (it was not a museum then). I have very many happy memories of the summers we spent in Laugharne, and look at the photos taken during that time with much fondness. One day I hope to go back there and re-visit my childhood.

My memories of Ferryside

I'm only fourteen but still I have some amazing memories of Ferryside, generations of my family have lived here and i'm planning never to leave. Me and my mam, we're looking through all the pictures and everything seemed so simple, I wish it was still like that, I like the look of how things were back then and I really do wish everything stayed the same. Especially the cafe and square, if you ask me there are way too many tourists down here these days acting as if they own the place! Ahah, my grandma's mother and father owned Broadlay House years and years ago, obviously it's completely diffrent now, except for the bakery and garage at the back which the new owners don't look after! The house used to be beautiful, I've seen pictures but the newest owners knocked it down and re-built it into just another house, I don't know why! Ferryside is a beautiful place to live, I love the fact that it's very peaceful. I know some people around my age who think there all cool and all by wrecking and vandalising some parts of the village, I get so annoyed. If they lived in a rough city or town they'd wish they could live in a place like Ferryside! The White Lion ia a legendary pub I say, my grandparents Marie Price and Chris Price used to run it. Lately I've been thinking about writting to the council about getting something for the kids so they won't wreck this gorgeous village anymore - please comment if you have any ideas!

The Square, Ferryside

The White Lion facing us and The Ship Inn with portico on left. The small shop at left sold wool and knitting equipment in the 1960s and 1970s. The pub at centre of the picture was knocked down before my day and I can't recall its name. Tucked into the corner, the other side of the Ship Inn is the Dorothy Cafe which was run by my great grandparents before the First World War. On the bottom right hand corner are the allotments which were turned into a car park in the 1960s. I had my first ever (legal) pint with my father in The White Lion. Fred Powell ran it after retiring as a prop builder in Ealing Studios in the magic 1950s

Beach Holidays to Ferryside

My grandfather Maurice Griffiths had moved from London and I believe he used to operate the ferry from time to time. He used to live at Woodbine Villas and latterly a beach cottage close to station. Difficult to tell whether he is person in picture.

My father took us for many beach holidays to Ferryside - the sands were idyllic then - around 1950's. A most beautiful and heavenly spot on the river!

Grateful to hear from anyone who remembers our family

Youth Club

This shot is not of the school but of the old school canteen, which we had to walk to. It was also where the youth club was held. It is now used for courses.