Nostalgic memories of Blaenllechau's local history
Share your own memories of Blaenllechau 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 13 in total
My parents often told me this story.
My Great Grandfather was John Roberts. His son, my father, Thomas Glyndwr Roberts and my mother Myra Roberts (Evans) as young children were playing on the swings in Blaen Park.
My father was pushing Myra on the swings and she asked him to stop as he was pushing her too high. He said I'll only stop if you say you'll marry me.
She finally agreed ...see more
blaen has always been special to me as it is the first thing you see when you walk into the house as mountain row is immediately above the railway station in ferndale and the big tip is above ferndale on the llanwonno road it used to be a busy community but the school and post office has closed??????????? you had to go thru blaen from mountain ash from ynyswbwl from ponty short cut shame now kids have to go miles as ...see more
my childhood growing up in blaenllechau was one big adventure,we had so much fun as youngsters spending most of our times on the mountains and surrounding woodlands i,e, box canyon,mothers nature the quarries or up the best kept park in the rhondda thanks to tom roberts and trever,it was such a close nit community everybody looked out for each other, i also spent alot of time on blaen farm with john jones helping mike ...see more
born in sunny blaen in 1954 growing up in the village was and always will be the highlight of my childhood so many good people i remember playing in the Glyn with Kevin hughes slapperers around blaen sports day up in the field by the two walls going up to sids farm for sacks for the sack race sports day on blaen football field harvest feistival in Carmel chapel houses both sides of commercial street blod ...see more
I am a Blaen boy, born in 7, Wind Street, just came across this site. I remember some of the names mentioned. I was born in 1946, my mother was Cath Drumm (nee Walters), my father was Sean Drumm from Tullamore, Ireland (ex R.A.F. where he met my mother during WWII, he flew on Lancaster bombers). Lived for a few years at 26, Aberdare Road also before moving away. I have two aunts in Mountain Row, Margaret Richards (nee ...see more
I was born in 54 Mountain Row to Richard and Mary Jane Tustin. I remember Blaenllechau as one huge playground and when someone asked you where you lived, you always said "up the Top" it was a magic place where the sun never seemed to go down and when it did then you knew it was time for bed. People seemed to look after each other in them days, no need for locks on your doors. On New Years Day a lot ...see more
Born and bred in Ferndale, a stone's throw from Blaenllechau, I am researching my family tree. One of my earliest memories is of my grandmother talking about her father - William Williams (1870 - 1957). He was a coal miner originally, but I've heard stories of him having a milk round and driving his horse and cart through Ferndale. I assummed the farm was in Llanwonno, but yesterday I found out there were ...see more
Born and bred in Princess Street, Blaen, stayed until the family moved to Maerdy and from there I went to East Glamorgan Hospital to train as a nurse. Now in Bangkok working as a consultant to a large general hospital, haven’t been back to Blaen for about 20 years or more but must get there next time I am in area.
One of my earliest memories is of New Year’s Eve in the mid-1950s, I was ...see more
Hi I just came upon this website completely by accident. My Mum was Judith Hatton, sister of Graham, and Tont Wills was their adoptive brother although he was a cousin. I used to stay in Blaenllechau with my gran when I was a child, my brother and myself loved it there. Now I'm almost 50 I am doing a history degree and we are studying the Rhondda valleys and the coal industry. It's brought it all back to me, the ...see more
My great uncle was Mayor of the Rhondda, he lived in Commercial Street, his name was Evan Edwards, he was married to my grandfather's sister, they have a son who now lives in Ferndale.