Newport, the Handpost Inn c1955

I lived in Allt yr yn House for a few months

I lived in Allt yr House for a few months. At the rear of the house was what was believed to be the old servants' quarters. It was upstairs and there were 2 bedrooms, a large lounge, kitchen and bathroom. I was 17 when I moved there, and it was shared with 3 other young men working in the Newport area. The lido was all ready derelict, and the tennis court was neglected. I was there until November 1966, our living space had fantastic views to the north towards the hills. It was owned then by a Mrs Newman who lived there with 2 grown up sons. We had use of the snooker table, which was downstairs at the front of the main house. Mrs Newman was quite easy going with us, it was a special place to live. In 1997 my wife and I had a holiday in West Wales, and I promised to stop en route and show her where I once lived. I could not understand why I could not find the house, but I realised that it must have been demolished. When we returned home I was put in touch with a local historian who believed that it had been sold, and went into dereliction in the 1970s and was demolished. I could not believe that this fine old house could end up like that, it was sad. I may have an old photo somewhere, which I will try and find when I get home: probably in March!

ALLT-YR-YN LIDO

My wife Jenny (nee Beswick) can remember when there used to be a lido at Allt-Yr-Yn House in the 1950s. Does anyone have any photos of the lido or the old Allt-Yr-Yn House in the 1950s, or know when the house was built and who lived there? There is a nature reserve there now and no sign of the house.

Malpas church in Wales

Hi everyone, my name is Susan Richards. I used to live in Graig Park Road. I was wondering can anyone remember or have any photos of the old school, I woud love to get a copy of it, or can anyone remember me, I would love them to get in touch. Many thanks. Susan.

William Lewis

I started my apprenticeship as an agricultural engineer at the garage of William Lewis on the corner of Forge Lane and Newport Road. Then there was not much traffic and so like all the boys we used to drive the tractors up and down the main road. It was there that I met and remembered my late wife Tegwen there. She was attending the Bassaleg Secondary School which was behind our our unloading yard. We used to play rugby on the gravel patch. The children from the school would walk past the garage and like all lads we would chat them up and get dates. The garage lasted several years after we transfered to Newport Road on Rumney Common in Cardiff.The garage had been a forge and a lot of work was carried out for the Tredegar House Estate at the other end of Forge Lane originally before being taken over by William Lewis. The lane had been developed into a dual carriage way during the Second World War. Now of course it is different. We had a foreman named Les James and the manager's name was Bill Sudaway. Both were very kind but firm and most keen that we should learn our trade properly. Les's father had been the previous owner and so Les knew his job very well. Our General Manager was also the owner of a shop in Castle Street opposite the the Castle. Every Friday he would come to Bassaleg to deliver the wages and interview us apprentices. He had a funny way of talking because after anything he said he would also end with a "Humph". I am sure that all who worked there will remember Paddy Walsh. I ended up with affection for him because when we were called up for National Service he would have us in his office for a time, make sure we had enough money to go with and insisted that we went to see him when on leave and if we wished he would give us some work to earn some cash. Bassaleg brings back so many memories and has formed the basis of my life. When passing through on my journies I am transported back instantly. There is so much of interest in Bassaleg and anyone who has lived or worked there will say the same thing.

Ancestors

James and Charlotte Brooker and son Harry (born 18.09.1869).
Anyone know them or where they lived?