St Athan, South Glamorgan

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.

Mustow's cafe.

I lived with my family in St Athan village from the time of my first birthday in 1946 to my marriage in 1970. Mt wife and I were married at the church shown in the photograph. The church is dedicated to an Irish saint by the name of Tathan. The village was once known as Llandathan, then Saint Tathen and finally St Athan(s). At this church I was a choirboy, Sunday School teacher and bellringer too. There are six bells in the tower cast by Warners.
Mustows' Cafe figures prominently and this shop was run by Dai Mustow, as we knew him, along with his wife and they lived next to his brother in one of the two houses that are shown. The cafe provided nourishment for locals and visitors alike, being frequented by lorry drivers and cyclists. Dai also sold newspapers and sweets. I can well remember going to the cafe with money from my father, together with our Ration Book, for the weeks supply of confectionery. In my youth we used to sit there drinking coffee and feeding the juke box. Petrol was sold in front of the cafe and the pumps promised BP, Shell, National Benzole and Power petrols. Sometime in my teens the wooden building was gutted by fire and another wooden cafe was built in its place but that has also gone now.

Hammett's Farm.

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 to be built. The establishment was behind West Orchard Farm to the north.

Cardiff Photographic Memories

An air of tranquillity permeates this summer view. It is interesting that the terrace of old Welsh cottages appears to have been re-roofed with modern tiles and not stone slates - this is an indicator of the lack of planning regulations at this time. The peace here would have been shattered regularly with the Tornadoes on training flights from nearby RAF St Athan’s.

Around Penarth Photographic Memories

Beyond the happy holidaymakers the distinctively striped rock face, vividly illustrated here, is a signature feature of the cliff face between Barry and Penarth.

Around Penarth Photographic Memories

How sad – this is the end of our photographic journey around this part of the Vale of Glamorgan. Built for Peter Birt in the 1770s to a design by Robert Adam, this grand residence was for many years renowned for its beautiful interiors, their opulence virtually unparalleled in South Wales. From its pink and green dining room, a 19th-century visitor could wander throughout the castle enthralled by its vast and remarkable collection of stuffed animals on display.