Nostalgic memories of Gilwern's local history

Share your own memories of Gilwern 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.

A couple at a laptop

Add a Memory!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?

This week's Places

Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:

...and hundreds more!

Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.

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The bottom part of this secen now lies under the Heads of the Valley Road. This is taken before the ‘old’ road was built, showing open fields down to the canal bank and the former Navigation Inn. You can see the Congregational Chapel in the left hand corner. The Farm was demolished when the old Heads of the Valley was built, but there is a footpath across the fields to Ty Gwyn.
This is the view from Brunant Road, over Brunant Farm to Maesygwartha and Pantybeiliau. The Old Rectory just on the left edge.
Looking across the Clydach Gorge from Pant-y-Beiliau Farm, before the Heads of the Valley Road was built. Brunant Farm in the middle of the picture. My grandparents’ house is in the middle left. The railway line running clearly across the middle. I grew up in a new house built next to my grandparents, so it’s fascinating for me to see how things looked before I was born. The thing that strikes ...see more
The boats were owned by a Mr Goodin, he hired them out by the hour and people came from all the valleys to go on the canal. We as teenagers used to make some pocket money by rowing those that could not row up the canal. They were fun times. Now the scene has changed since those days, it is now narrow boats that are on the canal.
I attended the old primary school via School Lane through the 1930s and early 1940s, the teachers were E L Richards (head), Mr Withers, Miss Austen, Miss Lewis. The school by the old canal was a very happy school, and through the last war we had a big school garden where we grew food and shared it in the village. We also had to help on the local farm (Jim Llewellyn's, at Ty Gwyn) at potato picking time, we had ...see more