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Pontarddulais

Pontarddulais photos (11 available)

Old photo of Pontarddulais

Pontarddulais maps (2 available)

Old map of Pontarddulais

Pontarddulais books (2 available)

Pontarddulais memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in West Glamorgan below.

West Glamorgan memories

Happy Days

I was thrilled to see your photo of Cecil Road as the houses on the left are in Hill Street and my Grandmother lived at number 2, the left hand house.
I have very Happy Memories of holidays with 'Mam' at Hill Street. My Dad, Dudley Williams was born a Hill Street along with his 7 siblings. The Williams family were very much a part of Gowerton life at the turn of the last century. My Great Grandfather, John Williams, lived in Church Street and raised 10 children. He was very involved in the local Baptist Chapel and all aspects of local life. My Grandmother's family ran Thomas butchers, on the corner of Sterry Road opposite the Gower Inn, also featured ...read more here
A memory of Gowerton contributed by Julie Netton

bora da

i've always as far as i can remember holidayed down in trebanws/pontardawe.went 2 trebanos primary and 1st year clydach.but even though i was only in the welsh skools 4 years i loved it.when i moved bak to glasgow i hated it i classed myself as welsh but now i am scottish[glasweigan]a weegie and proud of it but wales will always b in my heart
A memory of Trebanos contributed by pauline steele

Swansea Deaf and Dumb School

Swansea, Deaf and Dumb School 1896

I was born and bred in the Mount Pleasant area of Swansea, in which the D&D Institute was based.  My schooling was Terrace Road infants & juniors.  Lots of football in the street, Cwmdonkin Park and playing in and around the quarry off the Promenade, that overlooked the Institute.  The quarry was wild, with steep drops and the cause of many mishaps.  A lad of my age was the son of the caretaker at the Institute and a group of us kids frequently used to wander the corridors of the school, which was a dark, auspicious and sprawling affair, very much reminiscent of the Victorian building I subsequently learned it to be.  Dropping out of the back of the Institute's grounds, ...read more here
A memory of Swansea contributed by Niall O'Brien

One of my trips from London to the Mumbles to Auntie Connie's house

Swansea, the Grand Hotel c1965

This looks exactly like the picture I took to prove to Mom I had been on my way to Auntie Connies' house.  I took the train from Doncaster in England to Swansea - one of the train ticketers' kept bothering me, so I snuck past him when he got to Swansea and ran over to the Grand to book a room for the night.  
I made my way to go to Auntiie Connie's in the morning, or so I thought.  I was going to take the bus - everybody I asked knew who my Auntie Connie Thorpe was.  So, they probably knew the young girl she raised, who would be my Mom, Robina.  Anyway, being only 17, I got scared ...read more here
A memory of Swansea contributed by Susie Somerville-Franz

Extracts From Pontarddulais & West Glamorgan books

Swansea, Brynmill Park 1925

In July 1905, the National Lifeboat Association held a demonstration on the lake. Good Friday and Easter Monday would see a miniature fair—stalls for refreshments, model yacht racing on the reservoir, rowing boats for hire, bowls and so on. Here we see the ‘tropical island’ with its giant Gunnera and the half-timbered lodge.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".

Mumbles, Blackpill 'Roman' Bridge 1893

This is not, in fact a Roman bridge at all, but was probably built in the 18th century. This fact could be slightly awkward for Roman Court and Roman Bridge Lane, two newly-built housing developments nearby. The bridge is now the subject of controversy: it is scheduled for relocation to make way for a leisure centre.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".

The ivy-clad castle is approached via Castle Avenue. ‘Oystermouth Castle is a majestic ruin, in a bold situation near the sea coast, com- manding a delightful prospect of the country, and surrounded by broken cliffs’. (Benjamin Malkin, c1803).
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".

Parkmill, the Gower Hotel 1910

This was a popular coaching inn; it has since been renamed the Gower Inn to reflect its new-found function as a public house. The attractive building in the centre is the former school, now the West Glamorgan Guides Activity Centre. Further down the road we come to the Gower Heritage Centre.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".

Swansea, Walter Road 1906

Taken thirteen years after number 32723, this view shows some interesting changes. The addition of tramlines and the double- decker electric tram advertising the famous Ben Evans store would have been brought into service sometime after the turn of the century. Notice also the girl with a hoop on the right, the two inquisitive boys and a somewhat less inquisitive dog.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".