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St Athan
St Athan maps
Historic maps of St Athan and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all St Athan maps
St Athan area books
Displaying 1 of 3 books about St Athan and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of St Athan
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of St Athan.
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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,... Read more
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.
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.
South Glamorgan memories
My Birth
I was born in Gileston Manor Cottage. My father was chauffeur to the manor residents, Mr and Mrs Clay. I had grandparents living in West Aberthaw and Sea View Farm, Batsleys. We then moved to Glyndwrtthan where I lived until I was married in St Athan methodist chapel which is now Chapel surgery. I am proud that my dad Cyril Harry was the first chairman of the parish council and was presented with the chain of office made by RAF St. Athan. My mum lived in Glyndwr Avenue until 2001 and was married to Mr James Eadie who had passed away in 1991. My husband and I moved back to Llantwit Major in 2003. Llantwit Major holds many memories for me as I worked in the Co-op in Llantwit Major with Merryl Holmes and Vera Price. I also worked in Llantwit Major Post Office in Wine Street. the postmaster being Gilliard and Elsie Evans.
Courting......
I recall going out with a girl for quite a time who lived with her aunt in these cottages......they had been renovated then.......I'll keep the name secret for privacy
The Kirks , 1 Panty-Coed
I lived at No 1 Panty-coed from 1965 until I think 1973. My mother and father are Elsie and John Kirk. Elsie died 2 years ago, John still lives in Barry. I am their oldest daughter and the second child of 4. I attended Llancarfan primary school when Mr Lewis was the headmaster. I remember the Corona lorry that came around, I think it was weekly, the mobile libary, the mobile shop run by Milivan Yankovitch and an occasional icecream van! I remember the post box was in the wall of the big white house across the road where a girl called Poppy lived, who used to sit on the bonnet of her parents' Landrover as they drove through the village. I remember walks through the lanes and down to the river, bluebells, adders, primroses and races down the field banks on trays in the snow. I remember a pub at the end of the main village and for a while a large Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Names that spring... Read more
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.
