Nostalgic memories of Blackmill's local history
Share your own memories of Blackmill 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 all 10 Memories
Though I lved in the Wyndham us kids used to walk via Cwmbwch to Dimdath (is that correct spelling?) and go all the way down to Blackmill Road and pick bluebells for our mams on the way home in the 1950's.
Hi my name is David Waterfield and I lived in the Wyndham from approx 1949 to 1969 and often stopped in Blackmill to catch the red and white or Nand c coach up to the Gilfach to friends and have long been curious about the railway (?) towers that crossed Blackmill valley - though from a recent pic they may have been taken down. Does anyone know of the history of this railway - some of the remains can be seen to the left above the road to Bridgend further down the valley. Thankyou, Dave.
Hi everyone, I wonder how many of you can remember the coal train, with all its trucks full of coal, breaking down on the Gilfach line behind Isfryn prefabs; it was there all night and plenty of people had full coal sheds by morning!
talk to you soon
Dave Diamond
I lived in Glyn-Llan (Penny McKay) 1 of 6 girls. I loved spending my summer days down the Dimbath, building dams so we could swim and build forts. We would take a picnic and off we'd go all day and our parents never worried about us and they knew we'd return when we were hungry. I also loved picking blackberries and going to the bluebell woods. I went to school in Nantymoel and took the Stanton buses. I also loved ...see more
My name is Beth McMillan - Mckay then. Now living in New Zealand. We lived in Glyn-Llan but I spent many a hour walking up and down that road to Blackmill, getting the shopping in the Co-op and little shop/post-office on the corner. Some times I would catch the Gilfach bus back home if I was rich - it was 3d - old money! - as I recall. I also have so many wonderful memories of Blackmill from very early childhood ...see more
I can remember seeing a photograph of the viaduct complete with railway tracks etc.. not sure where I saw it. It might have been in the 'smithy' - can't recall, it will come to me soon. I was put to understand that the railway was pulled up for the war effort, can any one confirm this? I remember Robert Powell whose father was Jack Powell - he was a train driver. My oldest brother Henry was his ...see more
My name is David Diamond. I was born in Blackmill 63 years ago (in a house called Glas yn Ys - Blue Island in english) my fond memories are of going up to the Dimbath pond along with my mates with our father's shovels and spades to dig clodgings to dam up the pond - great stuff. We would be up there all day, our parents never worried about us in those days - kiddies were safe - not so today. I had an evening ...see more
My name is John Lewis. I was born in Blackmill in 1946 in a cottage on the mountain, lived in the village later, played soccer with my friends and in the early 1950s we all went and watched children's TV in Lloyds Farm.
It was a very friendly place and close knit neighbourhood, and there was plenty to do in the 1950s and 1960s, fishing, playing in the woods, and on the mountains.
The fathers of some of the ...see more
The name is Gareth Davis, and my grandfather (Harry Davis) lived at No 2 Ivor (Ifor) Terrace in Blackmill, although I later lived in Bryncethin I used to travel with the local butcher Clive Heale back to Blackmill to deliver meat to homes there. I now live in Australia, and at the age of 60 last year was fortunate enough to be able to visit Blackmill on a nostalgic visit, to visit my grandmother's grave at Paran ...see more
In 1965 Blackmill seemed such a sleepy village. The summers were warmer and drier, and we played up the mountains with our friends. We played Cowboys and Indians. We seemed to spend all our time out of doors ... in the park or making swings on trees in the woods.