The Square c1955, Pontycymer
The Square c1955, Pontycymer Ref: P227003
Memories of The Square c1955, Pontycymer
How The Times Have Changed.
I'm still living here today, a few streets have now disappeared, Wood Street and a lot of Bridgend Road as well as some local landmarks like the Ambulance Hall (The rink) and more recently the Ffaldau Hotel; but it's strange trying to imagine how life must have been back then. Much more community spirit then, the good old days when the front door was never locked and everyone looked out for each other. The times have obviously changed; Not necessarily for the better.
Pontycymer & local memories
Read and share memories of Pontycymer and Mid Glamorgan inspired by Frith photos.
Loved The Square
Watching the coal miners sit and talk and smoke. I miss the valley. Have been in the USA since 1982. Loved my time teaching at Ffaldau from 1971 to 1982. Kids and parents were great. Mam and dad died the last 5 years. Want to talk to old friends, take care Dai Harris.
Richard Street
I was born at 18 Richard Street, Pontycymer. My mother was Mary and my father was Brynley, a coal miner. I went to the Welsh School at Bridgend Road and then to Garw Grammar School. I loved growing up in the valley. Honest hard working people. Miss the valley. Currently living in Madison, Wisconsin, USA with my wife Miriam. Coming home for Christmas. Staying in Castleford, Yorkshire with my mother in law, Pat, and travelling to Wales for a few days to visit my mam and dad's grave. Loved the 33 Boys Club and my mentor Dick Smiles. He has had a great influence on my life. Would love to have a "pint" with old friends. Still in touch with Ian and Sue and Mair Russell and Kevin Day.
Dad
My father, John Baugh, was born in 1936 and lived in Pontycymer with his parents, Oliver and Doris, in Park Street. He had a sister, Patricia - known as Anne, and a brother, George Brian. I am trying to get together some photos for a more interesting Christmas present than the usual jumper. Does anyone remember him?
Growing Up
I was born in Ponty in 1957 and left for South Africa in 1966. We lived in 11 Hill View opposite the school. My Dad, Allan Hatch worked in the pits. I remember the chap who looked after the school had twins, Michael and Malcolm whose Mum commited suicide. I went to Ffaldau after Tymeanor (?) closed down. We used to play in the police cells as kids. Wonderful memories.
Post Office.
I lived in Blandy Terrace and went to the Ffaldua Boys' School and then the grammar school. I was the telegram boy at the Post Office for six months, it was great. I wonder if two girls I went to the infants school with are still about - Janet Prosser and Anne Powell. I live in Northants now but my heart is in the Garw.
D.J.
Cinema
There were three picture places in the valley that I used, Pontycymer Hall, Top Hall Bleangarw, and the Silver Cinema. Good times.
Eric Morris
I remember Eric Morris and the shop me and my late brother Wendel bought sweets at. Eric must remember his roller skates, first skates I ever saw, and he learned to skate very well. I thought so anyway. Happy days.
Ex Garw Man
I was born in 193 Oxford Street, Pontycymer in 1935. I left to go into the army for National Service at the age of 18 in 1954. I returned for just 1 year in 1956 when I returned to the Midlands, to Birmingham. The house I lived in was the Morris's shop opposite the chapel and at the top of the hill leading to Blandy Park football ground. My grandmother and aunt ran the shop. I now live in Shirley, Solihull. I haven't been back to the Garw for 8 years as travelling by car is a bit past me now. I still drive an auto V/W Polo car While in Ponty I worked 1956 on the buses, conducting on the Western Welsh.
Kathryn Trevelyan Nee Bennett.
I remember the houses opposite St.Theodore's as my cousin Veronica (Non) lived in one and the "Turners" (Pat, Shirley, Roy and others) lived next door. These houses had front doors in Higher Church St, while the back doors were accessed from Lower Church St. I lived in Lower Church Street until I was 20, then married and moved to Alexandra Road, opposite the Memorial Hall (now demolished and replaced with flats. Several moves later, I still live in Alexandra Road; now at the top by the cemetery and what was Wood Street.
Doctor's Clinic....
I well remember the doctor's clinic referred to - it was halfway up the hill on the same side as the Squirrel. I have unpleasant memories of getting "the needle" there when I was about five or so. The smell of that purple meths/alcohol stuff (can't remember the name) that they used for wiping the puncture site of your arm/leg still reminds me of that evil place.
Anyone remember the pictures/bingo hall that was at the junction of Alexandra Road where it met Meadow St?
I Was There.....
Some years ago my mother came across this postcard and looking carefully saw herself! She is the woman, Joan Marion Jones, nee Gibson, carrying a child on the corner by what was a barbers. That child is my sister, Christine Jones (now Howell) and the boy by the side is myself. The other lady with her is my Auntie Beat. We were on our way to the railway station in Pontycymer to catch the train to Porthcawl.
Christine was born in Dec 1950 and I was born in Nov 1947.
A Busy Street
My mother Joan Marion Jones nee Gibson from Nantyrychain Terrace worked in the Home and Colonial Stores (on the right hand side of this photo) during the war and has many memories and stories, especially about rationing. She also knows many of the shops.
Starting on the left corner was Peglers (grocer) - now a Chinese, I see from another memory, then Morgan Hughes (ladies outfitters), Powell (butcher), Wellingtons (newsagent and greengrocer), Bethel Chapel with the British restaurant where Mrs Jones from Meadow St. was the Cook. (This later became a canteen for Garw Grammar School boys in Forms 4-6 who walked from the school to take their lunch here. I know because I was there! Mrs Fricker was the Cook then.)
Over to the RHS - Joe Polledri (Italian cafe) - he used to breed corgis and show them. Next a shoe shop kept by ? for whom Morgan Roberts worked. He later took over the shop and his son Clive still runs the shop, I believe. Hodges(men's... Read more
Oxford Street
The hill at the front, sharp left is indeed Alexandra Road and the pub is the Squirrel. The shop on the front left is Peglers Grocers and this became a Chinese Takeaway in about 1970 and is still one today. Just up from that is Emlyn Powell's butchers shop. Front right is Joe Polledri's cafe. Joe was a lovely man who only died about two years ago, well into his 90's. I remember that chewing gum machine well. Further up at number 21 is Morgan Roberts shoe shop where I was born in the flat underneath (21a) in December 1955. The shop is still open today. David Jones 17/3/08
The Welsh School, Bridgend Road
It is great to see a photo of the Welsh School that I attended from 1959 to 1963. (Bottom right hand corner). Miss Winnie Bisset was the Headmistress and I remember her teaching three classes of kids at once. My class only totalled four and I was the only boy. She died in 1976. I also remember the large house pictured in Bridgend Road. That was demolished in about 1961 and I remember seeing that they tied a rope around the chimneys and attached it to a car bumper in order to pull them off. Also on the bottom left is the top end of Bridgend Road which was demolished in about 1964. Number 7 had a murder take place there in 1907 where a man was executed for killing his mother. I also remember the house in the bottom centre down by the railway line. That disappeared in about 1965. Mid picture on the far left is the rear of Noddfa Chapel which I attended between 1960 to 1971.... Read more
Post Office
This photograph has changed little I think apart from the demolishing of the public toilets on the right. The wooden notice board on the railings advertised the weekly films featured in the "Mem" and always drew my attention as I walked past it. The Squirrel is visible just up from the post office and was formerly called "The Pontycymmer Hotel" but I am not sure as to when this pub changed its name. Just past the toilets on the right was "Sid's", the gent's hairdresser. He was there for years.
Waun Bant Cricket
I spent the vast bulk of my childhood in this area. The centre of the cricket pitch is a strip of concrete that was used for boys club and school's cricket matches. Mostly, a game of soccer or rugby was played either side of it too. Down the grass bank is now the "Swings" at Waun Bant. These were built in about 1968/1969. In the foreground is the rubbish tip that became Lawrence Park rugby ground in 1970 and at the top of the photo is St Theodore's Church which is now gone and a bungalow is in its place. To its right are the houses in Church Street that are now demolished. The Mem is also visible on the far right.
Good Place in Which to Grow up
Really strange looking at the photo of Oxford St circa 1955. It took me some minutes to work out that I was looking at the old Post Office from the Square. I remember the railings outside the Post Office. I guess it's all changed now but it was a lovely place in which to grow up. No-one locked their front doors in those days. Ho hum, how times have changed!
Paul, lived in Oxford St from 1953 to 1971.
Down The Valley
I guess this photograph is looking down the valley with the photographer standing near The Square. I can't quite remember the name of the hill (Alexandra Road?) just out of shot on the front left of the photo. It had a pub halfway up on the left, and a doctor's clinic if I recall correctly.
Paul
