Pontypool, Gwent

George Street

In 1891 my Great grandparents, Willam and Sophie Gunn were running a drapery business at 30 George Street.. They later resided on Osborne road.

We visited Pontypool last year to research the family history, the staff in the museum were very helpful and made us feel very welcome. We hope to return soon to visit St Cadocs church

Burdocks of George Street and Morris's of Osborn Rd circa 1901

I came across these old photographs of Pontypool while researching my family history. I am specifically looking for information relating to George Burdock who resided at 19 George Street in 1901 and his wife Hannah Maria Morris residing at Granville Terr on Osborn Rd 1901...this being the year they married at St Cadocs Church Trevethin...is Granville Terr still there?? Anyone... [more]

Penygarn 1954-1960

My recollection is of my friends and me belonging to Penygarn Tabernacle Chapel for children's religious teachings. Every Sunday afternoon we all traipse across to the little house behind the chapel. There were only two rooms one downstairs for the younger children and one upstairs for the older children, in the cold weather there was always a roaring fire in... [more]

Long Lost Bus Stop

The bus is parked outside the Pontypool office of the "Red & White" bus company. Their head office was in Chepstow and they ran services across the whole of Monmouthshire as Gwent was then known. Buses for Newport, Usk, Chepstow, Abergavenny and Blackwood went from the Clarence. A glass canopy ran across the whole of the front of the building which... [more]

The Bottleneck

This view of Goerge Street was taken before the "bottleneck" was re-developed. The store in the right in the foreground was demolished and a new Tesco was built there in the early 1960s. The "bottleneck" was not wide enough for 2 vehicles to pass but was always thronged with shoppers on a Saturday when Pontypool was the major shopping centre in... [more]

Its a Girl!

During the construction of Finefare my dad was general foreman. After 4 sons there was great excitement when he finally got a daughter. A banner was put up on the scaffolding saying, 'Its a Girl!' That baby girl was me, Kathryn Stundon.
Finefare is now the vacant Kwiksave store.

Grandpa ran a pub in this street

My Great Grandpa Frederick Harvey was the beerhouse keeper who ran The Swan in George Street. Wish I could find some pictures of the pub (and my Grandpa, Arthur James Harvey, was born in the pub).

Gosh, My Birth Parents' House

My birth parents lived in number 51 Osborne Rd, glad I found a picture of the rd.

Monmouthshire Photographic Memories

The grotto in Pontypool park was believed to have been the home of an old hermit, and is considered by academics to be the most important example in Wales. Around 1830 Molly Hanbury, the wife of one of the most successful ironmasters in the country, commissioned the decoration of the grotto with shells, crystals and bones. Today this charming structure is known as the... [more]

South Wales Photographic Memories

This is the main road through what was once the home of the Welsh iron industry. The first forge is reputed to have been working in 1425, with the first ironworks following in 1577; it is also said that the first forge in America was built by emigrants from the town. Note the stores - Bevans, Bateman & Sons and the... [more]

South Wales Photographic Memories

Pontypool was a focus for the Chartist cause in 1829 when the local leader, William Jones, marched from here to Newport to take part in the assault on the Westgate Hotel. He was transported for his part in the uprising.