You are here:
Pontygof
Pontygof maps
Historic maps of Pontygof and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Pontygof maps
Pontygof photos
We have no photos of Pontygof, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Ebbw Vale| Nantyglo| Brynmawr| Tredegar| Waunlwyd| Cwm| Rhymney| Clydach| Cwmtillery| Abertillery| Blaenavon| Llangattock| Markham| Six Bells| Gilwern| Aberbeeg| Glangrwyney| Llangynidr| Crickhowell| Aberbargoed| Govilon| Llanhilleth| Garndiffaith| Abersychan
Pontygof area books
Displaying 1 of 3 books about Pontygof and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Pontygof
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Pontygof.
Add your memory of Pontygof
or of a photo of Pontygof.
My School Days at Pontygof Commenced 1950
Hey, it was the beginning of my learning on the journey of life, my gorgeous mum Rosie took me to Pontygof Infants in 1950, I remember looking over the wall as she walked away crying, I will never forget that, my dear mum. 7, Colliers Row boy born and bred. I remember Joe Richards, headmaster in Pontygof Primary, mixed feeling about him, he was a genius with the cane but hey it hurt at times but done no harm. Mr Jones, maths teacher, he called me the wizard because I was quite good at maths, but hey at the time poverty curtailed my learning, but hey I ain't done too bad in life... Robert Wilson from family of 8, 6 boys and 2 girls, great upbringing even though POOR. love Rob
Gwent memories
My Home From 1947 - 1969
I was born here in Newton Green and lived in the house just visible on the left - the last one. It was called Cotswold. The village shop was run by Mark Wilson and that could be him in the photograph, tinkering with the car - he did anything for anybody and was a much loved character until he died unexpectedly. Opposite the shop was the village green which was also the 9 hole golf course where we grew up and played. My friends and I used to ride our bikes in and out of the dotted lines on the road racing cars and causing mild mayhem. Myself and two other boys managed to set fire to the golf course one summer, burning a large proportion of the gorse bushes!
It was a normal event to be cut off by snow for a few days each year when all the village would be out on the green and the frozen ponds and on one memorable day even the vicar... Read more
The Arch
I used to live just around the corner from where this photo was taken in a place called The Crescent. Next door lived Stan Bowen on one side and Billy Comer (the fruit shop owner) on the other. Tommy Lloyd and Mr Rosser (can't remember his first name) both butchers in Ebbw Vale also lived in the same street. My art teacher from secondary school did oil paintings of the Arch from both sides for Billy Comer. I stood on that corner shown in the photo and waved as the Queen drove past after visiting RTB's in the coronation year.
The Old Arch
I was brought up the other side of the arch from this picture in Wesleyan Row. (No8) My mother still lives there today. I remember when this was the main road from the Steelworks and all the heavy lorries used to struggle up the hill. It was a bit of a risky business cutting through the arch on foot, as you had to look for a gap in the traffic and dash through, hoping you didnt get hit! In the 1970s they built the foot tunnel which made things safer. Eventually the rail line was closed and turned into the road. Wesleyan Row then became quiet and a lot cleaner and safer as the traffic was not going past the house any more. I joined the RAF and moved away in 1980, living all over the place, eventually leaving the RAF in 2002. But I didn't move back to Ebbw, oh no - thats too easy ! I moved to California instead! I am still in the desert... Read more
Pontygof Boys School
My family lived in Post Office Row, Newtown, until 1939 then we left to travel to Derbyshire to find work. I was 14 years old. I started work at Langwith Colliery. Until the war started I was working on the surface, then ordered to work underground. When the war was on we had the first 1000 bombers forming up over our village,was it a sight. The sky was full up. During the Sheffield blitz we were on their bombing route over us. My last teacher at Pontygof was Mr Joe Richards. When my dad was at Pontygof school Mr Richards was sat next to my dad. Mr Richards told me that my dad was the best writer in the school. Best Regards. Idris Bowen
The Arch. Mr David Isacc
My uncle Stan Bowen lived in No 1 The Crescent, Ebbw Vale, Mon. If I can remember, there were about six steps to go down to the back door. Uncle Stan's sister and brother also lived there. We used to go down on a Sunday from Newtown before the war to visit them. Regards, Idris Bowen
The Birth of my Welsh Pride
My memories as a son of a daughter of the valleys are: Rugby allowed in for free a half time Trains, lying in bed hearing the clang of the wagons moving coal and steel to and from the works Armageddon when the furnaces blasted Chasing and riding bare back on the wild ponies Collecting all the keys from the privies and mixing them up, a lot of angry desperate people Walking the hills with my uncle, what great country Wind-berry tarts after nearly sixty years I still hanker after them The tells of the miners in early graves The stories of injuries at the steel works The birth of being proud of my Welsh descent
