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Penrhyndeudraeth
Penrhyndeudraeth photos
Displaying the first of 13 old photos of Penrhyndeudraeth. View all Penrhyndeudraeth photos
Penrhyndeudraeth maps
Historic maps of Penrhyndeudraeth and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Penrhyndeudraeth maps
Penrhyndeudraeth area books
Displaying 1 of 2 books about Penrhyndeudraeth and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Penrhyndeudraeth
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Gwynedd memories
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
Simple Holidays.
When I saw this photo of the road leading to the beach, I could literally smell the sand and the sea. I felt the excitement of a five year old, armed with bucket and spade. Further up from the beach but on the same road, there was a large white house with a long path from its gate. This was the shop, or 'cafe' as we called it. It sold toys, newspapers and books, amongst other things. I loved visiting there every morning before breakfast to get the milk. Next door to the cafe was our caravan field. It only had about 12 caravans. There were no flush toilets or baths, just a little shed at the far end of the field with Elson toilets and cold water sinks.
We used to holiday here every year. Even if it rained it was exciting, we played cards in the caravan. In the sunshine, the rock pools on the beach by the caves were filled with little crabs, fish or seaweed. Life... Read more
An English Boy Going to School in A Welsh Village
My mother brought me aged four and my brother aged one to a farm on the outskirts of Gellilydan in 1940 to escape the bombing in Coventry. I can remember my mother taking me to the village school to see if they would let me attend lessons. I was allowed to go even though I was only four years old. I did not speak any Welsh and the children there all spoke Welsh (and as far as I could tell no English). However, the lady teacher was very kind and did her best to settle me into the class, though I can remember being rather lonely at playtime, when I was left to play on my own. Because the farm I stayed at was a little way out of the village, my mother found it difficult to take me to school, especially as she had to leave my one year old brother at the farm. Eventually it was arranged that I went to school in the van which visited... Read more
1927 my Grandmother Was Born
On July 31st 1927, my grandmother Mary Alice McGroarty was born at Brynderw Bungalow, Gellilydan. xx
