Penwyllt, West Glamorgan

The Signal Box

My uncle Emlyn Rees was a relief signalman who used to work the box shown in photo in G149038. He lived in Hendy, about 2 hours travel time from Glynneath. My father (his brother) used to take to visit and my uncle used to let me pull the levers, a big  thrill as a ten year old. We lived in Rhigos,... [more]

Childhood memories

I spent my childhood summer holidays with my Nanny at 7 Crown Row, Cwymtwrch, a whitewashed cottage on the main road. My Aunty Annie lived further up the road, opposite the grocers shop. Next door lived my 'Aunty Molly', she had a son called David. We used to play a game with marbles on a board his dad made him. He... [more]

Graig-y-Merched

Hello Ystalyfera!
I have just discovered your site and I am ecstatic!
Having been born and brought up on Graig-y-Merched in the 1950s and 1960s, I have loved your photos. Having 'emigrated' to Baglan a mere 26 years ago (not through choice) they have brought back memories of some of the best times of my life.
I grew up with 4... [more]

Clare Road

I lived on Clare Road in Ystalyfera, and the Wern school was at the end of our street.  I remember having a street party for the Silver Jubilee.  I emigrated to Canada in 1978, but have not forgotten the Wern School and all of my friends there.  I had a favourite teacher named Miss John, and I also remember that we... [more]

Beazer family

Does anyone remember Elkanah and Mary Beazer and their son Horace? The family lived in Resolven. My husband is compiling his family tree, and Horace was his grandfather, he also had a brother called Preston and a sister called Violet, also we think there was another brother, but we are not sure of his name. His grandfather Horace worked in the... [more]

Family in Resolven

My father came from Resolven and my mother from neighbouring Glynneath. Although we lived in Birmingham when my brother and I were kids, we would often spend our summer holidays with my grandparents in Ynys Fach Avenue in Resolven. We loved going to the woods, and being taken on the bus to Neath for faggots and peas in the market. I... [more]

Birthplace

I was born in Curtis Row, Ynysmeudwy Road in the early 1950s. My late father was a coal miner and my mother worked at the watch factory.

We moved to London around 1959 as there was a lack of work. I am now trying to build a family tree. My grandparents had eleven children and lived in Ystradgynlais on... [more]

Visits to Gran's

I was born in Glyncorrwg in 1963. I moved to Hereford with my parents (Warren and Sylvia Jones) in 1967. During school holidays I used to visit my gran and aunt. I have memories of sheep wandering in the streets. My gran would take us to Sidoli's for a tub of ice-cream and I would ask for cordial to be put... [more]