Childhood In Penygraig
A Memory of Penygraig.
I was born at Llwynypia Hospital on June 10th 1947, lived at 6 Bishop Street, Penygraig, went to school at Penygraig Infants in 1950 and Hendrecafn Juniors, Tai Juniors, Craig-yr-eos Juniors and Seniors. Bishop Street is right opposite Craig-yr-eos School so I didn't have far to go, and always went home for lunch. Llanfair church was in the next street down and Mr and Mrs Williams's fish and chip shop, fabulous fish and chips. Also in this street was a small shop selling bread milk etc and sweets, I remember buying lots of sweets, especially when I saw my Uncle Ken and Auntie Tydfil, they would always give me pocket money. I remember going shopping with my mother, the sawdust on the shop floors, buying butter from a big slab that they cut some off for you, walking all the way to Tonypandy to save a halfpenny on some sugar. I remember Pat Gibbon's shops, a clothes shop and a toy shop, there was also a Woolworths and I worked there on weekends and school holidays until I started my nurse's training at East Glamorgan Hospital in 1964. During school holidays as a child,I spent many hours with friends at Penygraig Park, watched my grandfather play bowls, up the mountain with tin trays to slide down the mountain on, I don't know how we actually survived this but we all did. The summers were dry and warm, we usually had snow for Christmas, times were tough but happy. We occasionally caught the bus to Pontypridd to go to the market, it was a big day out for us and usually involved a trip to Pontypridd Park also. I have good memories of growing up in Penygraig, I left the valley in 1964 to start my training, moved back after 18 months until I got married in 1970 and moved to Tonteg, Pontypridd. Myself and my family emigrated to Australia in 1982. We have been back a few times since, obviously there are lots of changes, not all good, but my time is full of good memories, respect for your fellow man, the community, leaving your front door open without any worries, freedom to be a child and outside in the street playing with your friends. I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
Susan Ford, nee Davies
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Comments & Feedback
Lovely reading your memories, everything you mention is familiar to me also! I recently moved home to South Wales but other than a few familiar landmarks its a different place to that I remember, a shadow of the mighty and friendly Rhondda as once was. I grew up a few doors away from Ken & Tydfil in Hendrecafn Rd, they were really wonderful, truly kind people. They always looked after me in my early years and I remember them dearly also.
I hope you still visit this site , I've just discovered it whilst looking for a neighbour who lived in 13 Bishop st. I lived in no 15 from the age of 2yrs . I was born in 1952 so you were 5 yrs older than me . My mum & dad lived there until 1977 . Maisie & Tom Shallish . I also went to Tai & have so many happy memories of walking to school , can't imagine letting my grandchildren walking that distance on their own now , they live in Chepstow ,a sign of our times & not a positive one unfortunately . I live in Caldicot Monmouthshire but did buy my mums house in Bishop street when they moved to Porthcawl in 1977 & lived there for a couple of years . My aunty Megan still lives in no 12 , I can't wait to ask her if she remembers you because im sure i should but I just can't . Even though shes nearly 90 she has a much better memory than me . I do go back & visit her from time to time & Craig yr eos school is unrecognisable . I remember sliding down the mountain on a tray & also running down screaming cos I'd cut my bottom on a piece of glass . The mountain is all fenced off now , such a shame .Wonder if you remember me & my family . My dad , & me as I got older , always took a tray of sherry to every house in the street on New years eve , our house was the top one in the street & we organised a bonfire on the spare ground next to our house every Nov 5 th . All very happy memories of a close community & although its changed a lot I know the neighbours are still really good to my aunty .
Gaynor Paul nee Shallish