View From Craig-Y-Merched c1955, Ystalyfera
View From Craig-Y-Merched c1955, Ystalyfera Ref: Y25008
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Memories of View From Craig-Y-Merched c1955, Ystalyfera
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Ystalyfera & local memories
Read and share memories of Ystalyfera and West Glamorgan inspired by Frith photos.
Ystalyfera 1940
I'm probably the oldest person writing on this site!! Just after the war started in 1939 I was sent down to live with my aunt in Ystalyfera because we lived in London which wasn't safe. My aunt was Dora Rees and she and my uncle Evan Rees lived in Bryncelyn (now an old people's home). I have many memories of my cousin Conway and I playing on 'the tips' which were off a road near the house. They were coal tips covered in grass and we would run up and down them for hours. The aunts, as they were called, lived at Wern House and they were 4 maiden sisters - Rose, Lily, May and Violet. I also remember Aunt Annie who had a sweet shop in the village and when we had a penny to spend we would go there and she would put the sweets in little paper cone bags. I'd love to hear from anyone who knows what I'm talking about or... Read more
Graig Y Meched
Hi Elaine. I enjoyed reading your memories of Graig -y-Merched, I have wonderful memories of the area, I grew up on Tan-y-Wern lane and attended the Wern school and the Ystalyfera Grammar School. My grandparents lived on Cyfyng Road but they owned a field that abutted the Graig, I spent many a summer day sliding on cardboard, and also picking blackberries and enjoyed the tart and custard afterwards. My grandmother was related to a family named Lewis, I remember the names Maureen and Pat, and also a woman that I called Auntie Maggie, she was my grandmother's cousin, I was wondering if you knew that family? Sheena.
Another Clare Road Memory...
Like my sister (Sharon Bondy), I also have great memories of Clare Road. We lived at 8 Clare Road (the Williams's). I am the oldest of 3 kids (my sister Sharon & brother Leyton). I vaguely remember moving to this house from our Pen-Y-Grug house (I think I was 5 of 6 yrs old at the time - early/mid 1970s). Many of our friends lived on our street, and we would walk to school together since the Wern School was at the end of the street. We spent a lot of time playing at Alltygrug Park - we could be gone for hours and our parents didn't worry about us - those were the days! we would also play in the "patches" (near Alltygrug Park). Our neighbors were the Lemars on one side, and the Jones' on the other. Our garden backed onto a lane, and across the lane lived Gary & Betty Lewis - my brother was best friends with Berwyn Lewis. Some of my friends lived on... Read more
Joseph Williams - Joe Bach
Joseph was my great-grandfather who lived at Tirbach Road. During his life he had much bad fortune. He lost a leg in an accident, his wife died at a young age and a daughter was drowned in the canal. According to a person who wrote for the local paper, at the time, in spite of all he maintained a bright outlook on life. Alltygrug in a tribute to Joe Bach tells a story of him digging for coal behind his house, a friend told him to "come out" before a fall came. He declined and a fall buried him up to his shoulders. Prompt steps were taken to free him and meanwhile he maintained his cheerfulness, his only concern being for his artificial limb - "Mind my leg" he implored his rescuers. He and his white horse pulling a cart carrying coal were a well-known sight in Ystayfera in the late 1920s - early 1930s. Alltygrug notes on his death in 1933 - "His horse and cart frequently an interesting... Read more
Graig-Y-Merched
Hello Ystalyfera!
I have just discovered your site and I am ecstatic!
Having been born and brought up on Graig-y-Merched in the 1950s and 1960s, I have loved your photos. Having 'emigrated' to Baglan a mere 26 years ago (not through choice) they have brought back memories of some of the best times of my life.
I grew up with 4 older brothers, which made me the best fielder in cricket on the 'Graften', because obviously, as the only girl and the youngest at the time, I never got to bowl or bat! The 'Cae Slide' was the best place to go with some cardboard, and by the end of the summer holidays it was like glass!
I remember looking down on the Farteg and the viaduct and the hump-back bridge, to the left the Black Mountains and my dad used to say that on a clear day, right up the mountain you could see Swansea.
Playing over 'Garreg Fawr' with David, Cynwyd, Myra and Betty, our world knew no... Read more
Clare Road
I lived on Clare Road in Ystalyfera, and the Wern school was at the end of our street. I remember having a street party for the Silver Jubilee. I emigrated to Canada in 1978, but have not forgotten the Wern School and all of my friends there. I had a favourite teacher named Miss John, and I also remember that we listened to "Morning has broken" by Cat Stevens at the beginning of each school day. My grandmother ran the newsagent in town, and my grandfather was a coal miner. My parents worked at the Tic Toc factory as did my other grandparents. I also remember going to the Ponti pool for swims on a hot day. It was a beautiful place to grow up. There was also a wonderful shoe store in town - it was always exciting to go into the store and there were shoes in boxes piled up to the ceiling - it's strange the things that stay in your memory from childhood. It was a... Read more
