This Was The View From my Nana''s Window on Castle Street
This view of the Town Hall brings back wonderful memories of vacations at my grandmother, Charlotte Thomas's, house. She lived on Castle Street and her house looked down this street. On Wednesday mornings we would walk to the market there and shop. My mother, Sally Wynne Thomas McGehee, emigrated to America in 1946 to marry my father. I was born in 1950 and she brought me to Maesteg for visits in 1951, 1953 and 1959. The town looked much like it does in these pictures. Years before that my grandfather, William Thomas, owned a men's clothing store called "The Bon". I wonder if anyone remembers him or his store! I remember the beacon that stood on the corner on the left side of the street and the church that was right next door to Nana's house. I think she lived at #5 Castle Street but I'm not sure. I remember picking gooseberries in the small backyard behind her house and looking up at the mountain (I'll probably spell this wrong) Pwll-yr-uch. I'm grown now and living in America but would trade it all to be back living in beautiful Wales! I've been back twice as an adult and love it just as much; it's in my blood. Diolch for the memories Maesteg!!
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RE: RE: This Was The View From my Nana's Window on Castle Street
I remember Thomas the Bon if my memories are OK they were in Talbot Street, nearly opposite the back entrance to the King Alfred Pub. They were a mens outfitters but I recall having a gaberdine raincoat made to measure for myself there. That would have been in 1955 or thereabouts.
Comment from Brenda Smith on Saturday, 10th January 2009.
RE: RE: This Was The View From my Nana''s Window on Castle Street
I remember Thomas the Bon too. I lived in Plasnewydd Street, so Talbot Street was very close and I remember a baldheaded man always (or seemingly always) standing at his front door looking up and down Talbot Street, maybe wishing people to go into his shop. There are many happy memories of my childhood in Maesteg - there was a quality to the town and I enjoy now reminiscing with my recently reunited childhood friend about what shops used to be there and about people we can remember. I remember Llynfi Lane, for example, which my sister and I called Sunny Lucky Lane because it was always sunny, it was obviously a lane and the blacksmith shoeing horses was the lucky part! There was also that the delicious smell of bread baking in Tucker's bakery...... so delicious. I remember also the ambulance man just a little further up, who always seemed to be washing his ambulance, and I remember his face so well. It's funny, but I remember many people's faces so well from so long ago. Do you remember the narrow gap between Teesdale's fruit and vegetable shop in commercial Street and Leslie's store? In that narrow gap were steps going down with a rail on the right-hand side, and cobbles at the bottom when it came out into Llynfi Lane, opposite DM supplies. I could go on for ages - so many happy memories. Is there anybody here from Maesteg Grammar technical school? Nick Davies. (nickdavies007@aol.com).
Comment from Nick Davies on Tuesday, 15th February 2011.
RE: RE: This Was The View From my Nana''s Window on Castle Street
I remember Thomas the Bon too. I lived in Plasnewydd Street, so Talbot Street was very close and I remember a baldheaded man always (or seemingly always) standing at his front door looking up and down Talbot Street, maybe wishing people to go into his shop. There are many happy memories of my childhood in Maesteg - there was a quality to the town and I enjoy now reminiscing with my recently reunited childhood friend about what shops used to be there and about people we can remember.
Comment from Nick Davies on Tuesday, 15th February 2011.
RE: RE: This Was The View From my Nana''s Window on Castle Street
I remember Thomas the Bon too. I lived in Plasnewydd Street, so Talbot Street was very close and I remember a baldheaded man always (or seemingly always) standing at his front door looking up and down Talbot Street, maybe wishing people to go into his shop.
Comment from Nick Davies on Tuesday, 15th February 2011.
RE: RE: This Was The View From my Nana''s Window on Castle Street
Does anyone remember the chip shop, I think it was on Commercial Street? My great-grandfather Benjamin Morris used to run it until he died in 1952.
Comment from Alan Morris on Thursday, 24th February 2011.
RE: RE: This Was The View From my Nana''s Window on Castle Street
I'm now directly in touch with Sharwynne Drennan, which is great. Yes Alan Morris, I remember the chip shop at the bottom of Commercial Street. Didn't go there often but the chips (always best in newspaper) were very good. I can just remember the lady serving there. Happy days. There was a record shop opposite but a fair bit further up - anyone remember that? And a chip shop in Castle Street - Bryn's? Brians? Not sure if that's right. A barber too, much furter down when Castle Street had become Bridgend Road. He was Mr. Symmonds. And further down again a general grocer's shop and an ironmongers nearby. Susan Davies from the general shop went to my Mother's Kindergarten school in the front room of our house in Plasnewydd Street. SO many memories I could fill a book. Anyone remember Maesteg Grammar/Technical school in Llan? (nickdavies007@aol.com)
Comment from Nick Davies on Friday, 25th May 2012.