You are here:
Merthyr Vale
Merthyr Vale photos
Displaying the first of 3 old photos of Merthyr Vale. View all Merthyr Vale photos
Merthyr Vale maps
Historic maps of Merthyr Vale and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Merthyr Vale maps
Merthyr Vale area books
Displaying 1 of 2 books about Merthyr Vale and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Merthyr Vale
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Merthyr Vale.
Add your memory of Merthyr Vale
or of a photo of Merthyr Vale.
My Mother
I am trying to create the memories that I don't have of my mother Ethel Lewis who was born in 1924 and lived at 58 Mount Pleasant, Merthyr Vale. I know she attended the primary school which is a couple of minutes' walk away.
If anyone has any information or memories of this era I would be really interested.
Mid Glamorgan memories
Aberfan Memories by Joy Adams
my name is Joy Adams and I used to live in West End House, Angus Street, Aberfan with my parents (Elsie & Mervyn) and my two elder brothers (Derek and Jeffrey) until 1966. I was born in 1952, Jeff 1947 and Derek 1942. I had a very happy childhood in Aberfan - my best friend was Yvonne Williams - she lost her younger brother in 1966 - David williams; she had an elder brother - Eric. I remember the infants school at the top of the junior school playground and we had separate playground from the boys. I remember the Nant - at the bottom of Aberfan before the Grove bridge - catching sticklebacks/newts. I attended Pantglas Infants/Junior and senior schools - we left Aberfan in 1966 to move to Swindon but I still have a school report or two somewhere. One of my teachers was Mr Goldsworthy - he only had one arm and boy could he put some power into whacking you with... Read more
Best Friends
My name was June Carpenter, I used to live at 36 Aberfan Crescent. I had three best friends, Dulsie Berry, Rosina Kinsey and Denver Davies. My memories of Aberfan was great. I used to swim in the river as I lived on the river bank. I was broght up by my grandmother and my two uncles, Billo and Alfie Carpenter, known as Slogger. They were all happy times and good memories I had of Aberfan. I was taken to Penrhiwceiber to live with my mother when I was nine years of age but my memories will always be with Aberfan.
Stories my Mother Told me
My mother Mildred was born in Aberfan in 1910. She had an older brother and sister, Myra (born 1906) and Harry (born 1908), their surname was Watts. Their mother was called Emily Roberts and Emily's mother was the local midwife who lived at 10 Bridge Street. Mildred was born at 6 Barrington Street and Myra and Harry were born in Moy Road, they all attended Pantglas school. Their father was Bill Watts who went to Aberfan in about 1899 with two friends from London, Charlie Catley and Bill Maynard, to work down the coal mines. My mum used to tell us that in nearly every street they had relatives and they had a very happy childhood. My grandmother Emily had six brothers and sisters and one of her sisters was called Mary-Anne and she had three daughters called Bessie, Nellie and Katie, and they lived at 23 Crescent Street, Aberfan. We took a trip down to Aberfan in about 1992 and she could not find one relative and... Read more
My Childhood in Bedlinog
During the second world war when I was about three years old my parents thought it would be safer for me to leave London and live with my mother's parents in Bedlinog. We lived in the High Street and I have such happy memories with my grandparents, Tom and Hannah Blackwell. I remember shopping daily with my grandmother, going to the Co-op (Station Terrace??), the butchers near the top of the High Street, and post office - what a climb to the top - and an icecream parlour called, I think, Lanzo's. There was also a little corner shop run by Mrs Jones nearby. I attended the infants school at the bottom of the Coombe Hill when I was old enough and my teacher was called Miss Jenkins. I thought she was quite beautiful!! I can still remember the smell of the chalk and polish! We had to have a rest on small mats during the afternoons and then sing a song that started... Read more
Holidays in Penrhiwceiber
I was born 1947 in 64 Church St Penrhiwceiber. My sister and I used to spend the best part of the summer holidays there with grandfather Albert Charles Webb and Aunt Hilda Thomas. Is there any one who knows when Albert Charles moved from Bristol to S Wales? I am researching the family tree and this is one piece of information I am unable to find! The house is still owned by a family member.
Penrhiwceiber
I am helping trace my brother-in-law's family tree and we have found his 2nd cousins were born in Penrhiwceiber. We are especially interested in George Henry Hall born 1881. We have found him living at 20 Station Terrace, Penrhiwceiber in the 1911 census with his wife Margaret and listed as a Coal Miner Hewer. We gather George was elected to Parliament in 1922. Does anyone have any information or can anyone point us in the right direction when we visit the area? Many thanks, Lynda
