Bryncoch

A Memory of Neath.

Though I was born in London in 1938 I spent a lot of my childhood at my grandfather's home, then when he died in 1946 it became my Uncle's home in Bryncoch. The address was Glasfryn 132 Main Road Bryncoch, the house was nearly opposite the Lamb and Flag Pup. My Mother was born in this house in 1904, she had a older sister and brother. My Mother was Edith May Williams and her brother was named Johnny and her sister was Lilian. My Mother married my father Philip Ley who was from Swansea, they lived in London where I was born, a few years after my Father died my mother moved back to Bryncoch and lived at 3 Heol-ty-gywn Bryncoch until her death in 2002.
As a child during the the World War II and just after I attended the local school and had many friends from the village.
As an adult I returned many times to visit my Aunt and Uncle and then later my mother and spent many a excellent night in the Lamb and Flag, where I also brought my sons and daughters to sip a ale, often quite late at night.
I now live in Australia but consider myself a Welshman from Bryncoch.
My Mother when she moved back to Bryncoch lived at 3Heol-ty-Gwyn until her death at 97 in 2002. Last year when on a visit to see one my sons I went to Bryncoch and to the graveyard at Duffryn Church to pay my respects. I still found the area around the church lovely but was shocked to see the Lamb and Flag had closed.
My Grandfather and Uncle both worked for a while in the old Bryncoch coal mine

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