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Nantmor

Nantmor maps

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

Nantmor area books

Displaying 1 of 2 books about Nantmor and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Nantmor

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Gwynedd memories

Twelve Happy Months

Hafod Lwyfog Farm c1930
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I was born in Nant Gwynant in 1925 and lived there for the first 20 years of my life. In 1944 I was drafted into the army and served in German and Italy. Upon release in 1947, I decided to try and make a career in agriculture and before undertaking a college course Brooksby Hall, Melton Mowbray, I had to gain experience of farming for 12 months, and this was done at Hafodlwyfog Farm. It was then owned and run by William and Myfi Jones, both of good old Welsh stock. I had to undertake all aspects of farm work. There was a small milking herd of about 12 cattle I think. These would be hand milked twice a day at about 7:30 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon. The farm building were quite a long downhill walk from the house, but I was lucky, because by then, the 10 gallon churns of milk were picked up by a milk lorry at the main road, where as before,... Read more

Brooksby Hall Agricultural College, Leicestershire,England

Hafod Lwyfog Farm c1930
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Like Gwilym Evans I was enlisted into HM Forces in 1944, along with my twin brother. We were born in May 1926. Served with RASC as drivers first in Wiltshire, England, driving 3 ton vehicles, then in Italy and Egypt where we took over a tank-transporter Coy. We were demobbed in October 1947. Cannot now recall exactly when I went to Brooksby, late 1949 /early 1950? I went through the Government scheme where one was required to have worked on a farm for 12 months first to become eligible to attend Brooksby. My first job when I left school as a 14 year old was on a farm, where I had worked as a schoolboy just for the love of it, so I was happy to get back into farming. The course at Brooksby was described as being "a course in scientific farming" ! Currently I am in the process of writing my autobiography, but am struggling with my memory and have been using "Google" in an attempt to re-acquaint myself... Read more

Spiritual Home

My first memory of Tanygrisiau goes back to my being aged five and being taken there by my parents, Lloyd George and Catherine Owen. Dad's family had lived and worked at Tanygrisiau since almost the beginning of the slate mining industry. Dad was very proud of his slate mining ancestors, his great-great-great-grandfather James Williams being the Welsh partner in Ffestiniogs first quarry the Diphwys. My dad's family, "Tudor Roberts", had moved from Trawsffynyd in 1824 to live and work at Tanygrisiau. Dad told me that they lived in the first years at Dolrhedyn Terrace. I can remember each year returning to Tanygrisiau and going to visit Ty Gwyn, the cottage on the lower mountain where five genarations of my family had lived, my grandfather Morris John Owen having been born there.
My family left Tanygrisiau in 1903 but Dad and his brother James Tudor Owen returned to live there at Bryn Mair during the years 1914-1920 approx. They lived at Bryn Mair with their grandparents William and Ann Owen.... Read more

Borth Y Gest - Simply The Best

I'm privileged to be the first to leave a memory relating to Borth Y Gest. I first had a holiday there in 1964. The owner of the factory where my dad was director owned a lovely holiday home in an elevated position in Mersey Street. The house is called "Mirain" and has unrivalled views across the estuary to Harlech. We had at least one holiday a year there until 1978 when the house was sold. I've continued holidaying in the Portmadoc/Criccieth area every year since and feel like I know it as well as I do my home town. These days when we (my wife, son and I) go to the area we stay in a cottage in Criccieth but we always go to Borth Y Gest a few times each holiday. Mirain is still there and how I envy its owners! Is there a more idyllic place than Borth Y Gest anywhere on the planet? I think not.

My Mum Was Born in Borth Y Gest

My mum was born in Borth y Gest and went to school there too and eventually marry at the church on the harbour front in 1956. My Grandad continued living there with my Grandmother until he died in 1984. Every school holiday that I can remember was spent in Borth y Gest, having adventures in the woods, by the Avon bach, collecting bait and fishing, rock climbing the magnificent slate rocks, or making dens above Black Rock sands. My mum married in 1956 and I was born 1957 so I'd say that every year after 1957 was an adventure in that wonderful place.

My Ancestors Lived in Borth-Y-Gest

My Great Great Grandfather had a shipyard in Borth-y-Gest. I believe there were four shipbuilders there and he was one of these. His name was William Griffith and he lived in Glyn Terrace, Borth y Gest.

That branch of my family lived there for many years and my Grandmother - Catherine Mary Griffith was born there in 1876.

I have been to Borth-Y-Gest several times during for past few years and find it simply beautiful. I feel that I have a strong affinity there.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to go further back in my family history beyond William Griffith. If anyone out there can go further back, I would love to hear from them.

Evacuated to Borth Y Gest 1940/1

Hi there, my mum was evacuated early in the Second World War to Borth y Gest from New Ferry on The Wirral, with her sister, they stayed for 2 years or so at Wendon, a large modern flat roofed house, it was owned by a Mrs Drake, who to my mum was elderly then, mum was only 7 at the time. Mrs Drake had a maid and a cook. Mum remembers those years very fondly and has wonderful memories there. She went to the local school and Mrs Drake actually wanted to adopt my mum and my sister at the time, they ended up returning home after the threat or air raids was over. Mum always wondered what happened to Mrs Drake and her family, could anyone let me know? Mum would really like to know. Mrs Drake did have a son... Mum took us on holiday to Borth y Gest in 1975, when I was 15. She showed us Wendon, and where she went to school, she always regretted... Read more

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