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Llandilo Graban
Llandilo Graban maps
Historic maps of Llandilo Graban and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Llandilo Graban maps
Llandilo Graban photos
We have no photos of Llandilo Graban, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Aberedw| Llyswen| Llangynog| Builth Wells| Glasbury On Wye| Three Cocks| Disserth| Cilmery
Llandilo Graban area books
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Memories of Llandilo Graban
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Powys memories
Tiddler Fishing
My grandparents lived in Park Road, and as children myself and my sister used to go tiddler fishing under the suspension bridge. My sister's cat, Danny, used to follow us and join us in our endeavours. And my cat, Honey, got stuck up a tree. I remember being terrified crossing the suspension bridge as it swayed from side to side - better than any ride at Alton Towers!
Burning Feet
When I was about 12 years old, with feet as thick as young, strong leather, my father, who was a pilot (Allan Dyson) and Nina (my mum, Nina actually) took us all from our home on a plot of land in Halfway House in the Transvaal (some distance from a town or city) to Glasbury on Wye.
There, in the blacksmith's house, the farrier was beating iron. We stood to watch and then the farrier asked 'What's burning?'. We all looked at each other and sniffed. Then I felt it. A hot coal had made its way through the sole of my Transvaal foot and we had trouble removing it quickly enough. My Welsh cousins were impressed with that only, my gran, May Saunders, amazed. We were a little too wild. But I remember how we loved Pop Pop; Fred Saunders, fisherman extraordinaire!
Alli in Glasbury
Fred took Allan fishing some time in the 1950's, when Allan was in his twenties. He had just married Norah (Nina) - (her mother used to call her No). Allan remembers wading out in Fred's waders and standing in The River Wye until the moon came up. Then Nina came and called him in. There was a shed, where they kept tea and a kettle, and when they went down, they would have tea. Alli always forgot time when he was there, in the river. They used crumbs for bait, in bottle with bottom removed to catch and watch sticklebacks. They were there to catch a trout and they did. About a year later, Alli and Nina went to Africa.
Oh! Happy Days of Childhood.
I first came to Glasbury when my father - Fred Whitchurch - became head gardener at the Maesllwch Castle Gardens. This was 1945, when I was but six years old. I went to Coedybolen School, where at that time there were many evacuees who, like us, were from the London area. However, we stayed on, and all of my schooling was either the result of efforts by Gwyn Evans at Coedybolen, or E.V.Howells and staff at Llandrindod. I left school in '55 and joined the RN, but emigrated to Canada in 1965. Glasbury still evokes many wonderful memories for me - most of all, every summer seemed to be sunny - but doesn't it always? I remain in contact with someone who was in my classes throughout school - Sheila Morgan (Sharpe), but have not been to the village in many years - I think in the 90's at some time. There are only my brother Dave and I left now, but time has not dimished the delightful memories. I... Read more
Builth Road Railway in The 1950s
My mother's family came from Builth, many from Builth Road, with several of the men working on the railway which was just beyond the front garden (they had a little house in Railway Terrace). I remember being taken to visit older relatives of the Bebb family, and in particular Auntie Beattie letting us try her home made wines - cowslip, rhubarb and others. Then out to watch the steam trains come puffing in as they returned from London Paddington.
There was a pump for water in the back garden, although by the 1950s some modernisation had taken place, and cold water was available in the kitchen.
I have several old photos of the house and my ancestral family, and also a lovely old album which is partially a musical box, but sadly I have not been able to identify the people in the photos, some of which seem to be printed on a metal backing.
Childhood Home
My grandfather, John James Lewis, was Station Master at Builth Road station and lived at Station Villa, (the first house in Railway Terrace). I was born at Station Villa myself, and lived there with my mother and sister, Helen, until the age of 16. My Uncle Ernie Lewis also lived at Station Villa and was a signalman at Builth Road High Level station during the years I lived there. I used to love visiting Uncle Ernie in the signal box and watching him at work and seeing the trains go by. My Aunt, Evelyn Lewis, also lived at Station Villa and was a school teacher at the Infant's School in Newbridge-on-Wye. My Aunt Doris Edwards and her daughter, Margaret, also lived at Station Villa. I have very happy memories of my childhood at Builth Road and of having the freedom to explore the wonderful surrounding countryside. There was a very close knit community at Builth Road, and I always felt safe when I was out playing in the fields or... Read more
Beatie Bebb
I remember Beattie Bebb from when I was a child growing up at Station Villa (1 Railway Terrace), Builth Road. She lived at about no 14 Railway Terrace and my cousins lived at no 17. I just remember her as an elderly lady when I was of primary school age.
