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Llanblethian

Llanblethian photos (1 available)

Old photo of Llanblethian

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Old map of Llanblethian

Llanblethian books (6 available)

Llanblethian memories

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

South Glamorgan memories

193940 School Days

Cowbridge, Town Hall c1955

I remember the Town Hall at Cowbridge.  In those days there was no one way system around it like today.  The school boy interest was the Merryweather Fire Engine that was kept in a garage at the side of the Town Hall. Great fun to see it being driven out bell clanging and the firemen in their then shiny helmets hanging on. A local resident and Fireman was a Mr. Bond who fought fires in the air raid on Cardiff in WW2.  He won a medal for his work there that night. The Caretaker lived on the premises, cannot remember his name but when the L.D.V later the Home Guard used it as their H.Q he was the Sergeant Major.  They ...read more here
A memory of Cowbridge contributed by Roy Newton

The Town Hall Steps

When I was very young I can remember that my mother used to let me run up and down the town hall steps.
A memory of Llantwit Major contributed by Ceri Bosley

War-time

My Grandfather, Clifford Taylor, was a Civil Servant at RAF St. Athan during the Second World War. He could not join the Forces at all because he had club feet and was rejected at his Call Up Board. He used to be involved with giving out the uniforms, as well as other duties, which obviously changed when Peace broke out in 1945. Grampy had a fantastic sense of humour and would sometimes be allowed to bring one or two of the Airmen home to his wife and baby girl (my Mum) to have a meal. He stayed at the Base until his untimely death at 50 in January 1964, meaning that I never met him.

A memory of St Athan contributed by Caroline Scott

Hammett's Farm.

St Athan, West Orchard Farm, Higher End c1955

This building was known to us as Hammett's Farm, properly West Orchard Farm, in the Higher End area of St Athan. Arthur Hammett and his wife ran the farm and I occasionally helped to deliver milk from the farm around the village from a horse and cart. Arthur, who lived to the great age of 92, and continued farming to the last, would bottle his own milk in a tiny parlour. He was a lovely chap and always gave us a mangold to make a lantern for Halowe'en night. The farmhouse is alongside the old main road from Barry to Llantwit Major before the huge RAF Station at St Athan was further enlarged and another road had ...read more here
A memory of St Athan contributed by The Frith Memory Archivist

Extracts From Llanblethian & South Glamorgan books

Cardiff, St Mary Street 1893

The photographer has certainly attracted a sizeable group of curious onlookers in this scene dominated by James Howell’s store (right). The draper’s original Cardiff premises opened in the Hayes in 1865 employing a mere five assistants. Relocating to St Mary Street in 1867 and the shrewd acquisition of adjoining premises allowed the frontage that we see here, constructed in 1879. Only a year prior to our photograph the store expanded ‘inwardly’ to Trinity Street. The farmer’s son from Pembrokeshire was on course to create Wales’ premier department store.
An extract from from"Cardiff Old and New Photographic Memories".

Cardiff, City Hall and Law Courts 1906

Admired by a lady sitting in the area later to be occupied by the National Museum stands the City Hall, a year after the bestowal of Cardiff’s city status. The move to locate the then Town Hall out of the ‘old town’ was considered bold and proved contentious. Objectors to the audacious scheme suggested alternative sites in the Arms Park and Temperance Town.
An extract from from"Cardiff Old and New Photographic Memories".

Cardiff, City Hall 1925

Today’s motorists can but marvel at the wide expanse of road on offer here. The formal layout of roads around the Civic Centre was initiated in 1903 some five years after completion of the purchase of Bute’s parkland. Original plans for one grand avenue leading from Queen Street to City Hall proved fruitless - a development partially hindered by the Bute retention of the adjacent Greyfriars site.
An extract from from"Cardiff Old and New Photographic Memories".

Cardiff, University College 1925

The ‘new’ University College building which opened in October 1909 was the fruition of ten years’ concerted fundraising aided by the Corporation’s gift of five acres of building land. Its unusually elongated frontage, allegedly imposed by height restrictions, proved controversial. Not so its library - the Caroe- designed Turner-built amenity was described as ‘a dream in architecture’ during its opening proceedings.
An extract from from"Cardiff Old and New Photographic Memories".

Cardiff, the War Memorial c1950

Even before the end of the First World War calls had been made to erect a monument to honour Wales’ dead. After years of fundraising initiated by the ‘Western Mail’ newspaper a war memorial was finally constructed in Cathays Park’s Queen Alexandra Gardens. The Memorial was officially dedicated by the Bishop of Wales on 12 June 1928.
An extract from from"Cardiff Old and New Photographic Memories".