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Six Bells
Six Bells maps
Historic maps of Six Bells and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Six Bells maps
Six Bells area books
Displaying 1 of 3 books about Six Bells and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Six Bells
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Six Bells.
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Welsh Girl From Six Bells
Born in Abergavenny in Dec/ 1951. Brought home to my Nanna's house who we lived with in 1 Lancaster Street where my family lived. Dad worked down the six bells pit at the time, and I have fond memories while I was growing up there, I always remember the Easter walk showing off my new dress for the occasion and the Baptist chapel that me and my sister went to every Sunday, and the little school we went to which is no longer there now. We moved away when I was eleven to Dad's home in Weston-super-Mare, it was an exciting time to be moving to the seaside, but sad as well to be leaving my Nanna and family back home. We came back to visit often and it bring back happy memories, and a few sad ones as well. We have just been back to attend our Uncle lan's funeral who had worked down the pit so we took the time to visit Lancaster Street and it brought back... Read more
Princess Margaret's Visit
I too am from Six Bells, and lived in Richmond Road and also Princess Street before that. If anyone remembers the picture in the papers next day of her visit, I was the little girl playing with her ducks in the cast iron bath whilst the picture was taken with the headline 'No respector of person'. My mother, Beryl Hughes, told me they wouldn't allow me to present the bouquet to the princess as I was too much of a chatterbox! I believe a little girl named Rowina eventually presented the bouquet but no photograph. My grandfather was Charles Roberts who was secretary of the working mans club in Six Bells for over 50 years. I still have some family living in Six Bells and still classify myself as Welsh although I have lived in England for most of my adult life. These were very happy days for me and I still cherish those memories. My name was Sharon Hughes if anyone remembers me.
Trevor Young
Hello there, my name is Lisa, I am 35 years old and my grandfather Trevor Young used to work down the mines. His parents were Gilbert and Clara Young, nee Orchard. I think I'm right in saying saying that Grandad was born in 1926 and started down the mines when he was 15. He wanted to join the Navy in 1939/40 but as he was down the mines they refused to let him join up. As he was already working the pits he didnt come under the "Bevan Boys" scheme. If there is anyone out there who has any information that could help me fulfill my dream of creating my family tree or just knew Trevor and has memories to share, please please get in touch. My grandad trevor, God love him, died June 1998, a year after I was married. Many many thanks for reading this Regards Lisa Chapman, Portsmouth... xx
When I Was 12
I was born in Dublin, Ireland. My mother was born in Six Bells. Her name was Olwen Roche, nee Griffiths. In 1959 my mother took myself and my brother to stay with my grandparents who lived at no 9 Griffin Street. I will never forget the wonderful times I had, having great fun with the boys who lived on the street. We used go up on the mountain and catch hold of the coal buckets on the cable line and get a ride and also we would slide down the mountain on cardboard boxes. I also went to school in Six Bells, and it was the best school. We only lived there for about 6 months when my father came over to bring us back to Dublin, but it was the best 6 months of my life. Unfortunately I have lost contact with my relatives, some still living in Six Bells. I have tried to get in touch with a couple but to no avail, if anyone knows or has... Read more
Where I Was Born
I was born in Lancaster Street, Six Bells in my Grans front room. My Mum and Dad lived with my Gran and when I was born I shared the house as well. The back yard had a steep slope and backed onto the "mountains". The kitchen was small and warm and lit by gas lamps, it was where my Granfer used to have his bath when he finished his shift in the coal mine at the end of the street.
I went to the local nursery when I was about 3 years old and remember a visit by Princess Margaret. My Gran used to take me out and sometimes we went to the cinema! I also remember the School Walks as they used to call the Whitsun holiday, and being dressed as a fairy parading around the streets with lots of other faries on the back of a flat-bed lorry.
I remember coal dust being everywhere, and how wet and cold it... Read more
Six Bells Park
The picture shown of Six Bells park shows in the back ground what was the nursery i went to in 1952. I lived in Aberbeeg, but my gran lived in High Street, Six Bells.
Every Sunday i use to walk from Aberbeeg with my father to visit her, and usually went over to the park.
I live in Croydon, Surrey, having been a Policeman in the Met for 35 years, but i still love and think about my chidhood. Great times.
Gwent memories
Landon's Newspaper And Toy Shop
A close relative, Charles Passey, was in the police force in Abertillery. He married Doll Landon whose parents kept a shop there and I spent many a happy holiday with them in Abertillery in the mid 1930s. The shop was fascinating to me, a small girl at the time. Not only was it a tobacconist and newspaper shop, (oh those lovely smells) but there was also a small toy department and I was allowed to poke about and look at unsold toys in a back room that must have been there for many years, fascinating for a nosy little girl. The Landon's had a family of girls and I believe that it was Princess Street in which they lived. Doll and Charlie lived in a steet below that, I think the Police Station was nearby but I may be a bit confused They also kept a family of Pekinese dogs who would sit in a row and beg. The daughter nearest to my age was Joyce though she was several... Read more
