Nostalgic memories of Barry Island's local history
Share your own memories of Barry Island and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 11 in total
I remember the Donkeys in Barry Island very well some times i used to go for a ride on a donkey on the beach at Barry. That was many years a go when i was young we used to go to Barry Island quite often on day or afternoon trips as we lived in the Rhondda Valley. Not far from the coast. Also to Porthcawl and sometimes to Aberavon.
Is there anyone reading this with memories of Barry Island in 1955? I am writing a book and two of my characters stay in a holiday cottage late summer of that year. Where can you suggest would be an area at that time that had holiday homes. You may even know a street name or two. What was the name of the nearest pub to the holiday home. What visitor attractions and what else would our holiday couple ...see more
On a bank holiday my mother would take us to Barry on the train. We would spend lots of time in the beach then go on the shows, we'd have a great time. My dream was to go in to Butlins, I'd see the kids playing in the outdoor pool, I wish I could have gone in there. When I got older and had kids of my own I took them there, what a wonderrful time I had, I only wish it was still open, I'd take my grandkids there. My ...see more
Redbrink Crescent, Barry Island was where Emma Ellen Mitchell and her husband James John Mitchell lived, these house were built by James Michell's father, the mariner John Maerdin Mitchell.
My dad was born at no 36 in 01 July 1920, while my grandfather Sydney worked the local shipbuilders. Grandma was a Mitchell, Alice Lousia. They moved to Bristol- Bedminster, circa 1925. My G'Grd Dad Mitchell was the light house keeper for 32 years.
In the early 1940s my father was a coastguard stationed at Barry Island. I was about 5 years old and I vividly remember that one day I was sat on my 3-wheeled bike at the top of the hill and a German aircraft flew over at a very low altitude, I could see the pilot's face clearly. It was followed by two Spitfires which with one burst of gunfire shot it down over the bay.
Could anyone out there give me the date that this happened?
Derek Cousins
I was born on 'the Island' and lived there until I was 17 years old. Nell's Point used to be my play ground.I have many fond memories of counting the coaches that used to bring the visitors from far and wide, the coaches would park in the Municiple coach park on Forest Drive above which was a nine hole golf course,the old army barracks and the Coastguard station. I am a member of National Coastwatch ...see more
I recall as a kid jumping into the water from these platforms, and the call of the beach inspector over the load speaker system 'Attention on the beach and promenade, will the parents of guardians of XXXX please come to the beach inspector's office which is situated in the centre of the promenade'. Now who would lose their kids today!
Some of my best memories of Barry Island are from the week-ends I used to go to the skating rink which was situated above the block of shops on the sea side of the pleasure park overlooking the prom and sea. Three of us waited all week for this wonderful evening. We were, me, Pat Baker (Overstreet) Christine Pearce and Jackie Felix. We all saved hard to buy our own spanking new, white leather ...see more
I was born and bred Barry Island. My mother and father had a fish and chip shop under the Western shelter. I can remember wonderful summer days, playing on the sands and making friends with children from the valleys. They thought my life wonderful! Can anybody remember the Gwalia cafe built on the rocks at Nells Point and the swimming pool below it that filled up at high tide? Oh such happy days! Mary Morgan (nee Lewis)
I lived at the Navy station Nells Point around 1943 to 1947. I went to school at Clive road and attended sunday school at st Johns. I remember the army camp,and at the end of the war the squatters moved in the huts.I allso remember the U.S army giving us children lovelypartiesand eating my first donut. the one with the hole in. Pat Perring nee Nurse