Pamela Smith                                                                                                                                                                         November 2022

I've come back to your excellent web site time and time again. My 4th great grandmother Ann Lewis was born in Brynmawr c1805. Her father was Llewellyn Lewis who, as far as I know, ran Brynmawr Farm according to census records. I wondered if you possibly could confirm this and if you know anything about this family.

I love the set out of your site which is user friendly.....congratulation. Looking forward to any info you can supply to flesh out the social history of my family.

Cheers from Australia

Pamela

 

Stephen Redmayne                                                                                                                                                                September 2021

August Newsletter - Very good.  - Wide perspective from nuclear scientist to the obligatory King Arthur legend.

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June Evans                                                                                                                                                                               November 2020

Eifion,  with more time on my hands I've taken a closer look at the Historical Society Web pages and have found it a great wealth of information.  

I discovered amongst other things, and no doubt many already knew,  that  Lloyds Bank used to be the Swann Inn.  Would I be right in thinking that the road beside Lloyds would have led to possible stables at the back?  I have seen the cottage at the back and wondered if that was linked to it too ? 

Well done to you and all the other contributors for the content.  It must take up a lot of time. 

 

Katherine Simmons  (South Yorkshire)                                                                                                                                   August 2019

Thank you for all your help and for an excellent web site

 

Elaine Davey                                                                                                                                                                                 August 2019

I've spent over an hour now exploring your website and some of the links to other interesting sites like the Ebbw Fach Trail, Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum etc.

It's wonderful to see the care and passion put in to the websites to educate others about our distinguished industrial past.

 

Howard Robinson                                                                                                                                                                  November 2018

Much enjoyed reading about idris table waters, thanks Eifion for all your efforts.

 

Cheryl Durham                                                                                                                                                                        November 2018

I have just seen your site which is very interesting.The photo of Edwin Jones brought back memories, he was my teacher at Clydach primary school between 1960/66. I remember him bringing to school some photos of the iron works. I lived at Bath Row Clydach as children we played in the old works. Happy days

 

Geoff and Ray  -  Friends of Hafod-Morfa                                                                                                                    September 2017

Many thanks for the invite to come and speak to you last night about the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks and Copperopolis. We were delighted with the warm welcome we received and the interest in work of the Friends Group.

You obviously have a very well run and successful Historical Society and long many you prosper.

With very best wishes for the future.

 

Mary Guttridge                                                                                                                                                                                  July 2017

Dear Secretary,

When doing Family History Research, I found on the 1841 Census of Llanelly Parish, a Thomas Remfry (Gt Gt Grandfather of my husband), his wife Maria and three young children, namely Mary 5, Maria 3 and Christina 4 months, living in B Pitt House, Clydach Ironworks.  Thomas was a sinker.

Could you tell me please exactly what a sinker did?  Also would you have any idea how long he was at the Ironworks.

I would just add that in the 1861 Census, Thomas, Maria and their larger family (some born on Sark, some born on Alderney) were living at St Peter Port, Guernsey and Thomas Remfry was a Quarry Master employing 11 men.

I found your website easy to follow and very interesting.

 

Steve Davies                                                                                                                                                                          January 2017

 I attach a booklet regarding Semtex from about 1966/67 I believe, it may be of some interest.The original is my fathers, who worked there and in fact appears in the photo on page 13, sorry the scan isn't perfect, but if you wish to use it or upload it feel free.

Reply from Eifion Lloyd Davies

Thanks very much for the copy of the booklet. I already have an original but I will (with your permission) put it on the web site for others to download.I hope you've enjoyed our web site, still on going and lots of interesting stuff still to go on.

The site is very good, keep up the good work  : )

 

Michael Jones                                                                                                                                                                        November 2016

I am researching the following family lines and wonder if you could point me in the right direction to correct family history society and is there a local paper for these areas that I can place a advert in please..

I am researching the following families and wonder if anyone can help.

Hall-Ambrey-Hough :-My G Grandmother was Helena Lewis Hall, formally Hough  2 High Street with her Daughter Janie Jones and Husband Benjamin W Jones and their son Dennis R. Jones and my G G Grandmother Elizabeth Hough window of William.Elizabeth  died 6th Sept 1899 Lilac Cottage Nantyglo John Lewis Hough rock Villas Blaina. I know that some one has the Hough family bible but have not be able to trace the family that has it .

Other family lines are Purchase-Talbot-Langdon- Wyatt-Talbot-Powell-Chalcroft -Jack Steel born in Brynmawr and was a gold miner in South Aferica he married my G Aunt Lillian Jones  - any help will be gratefully received.

I have found memories of Brynmawr when I worked  at the Dannimac factory in the 50's as a pattern cutter.

 

Eifion Lloyd Davies has been in touch with Mr Jones and given him several contacts to try and help him with his search, if anyone can help, please contact the website and we can forward the information to Mr Jones .

 

Joyce Arnold                                                                                                                                                                        12th August 2016

As a child I was evacuated to Brynmawr during WW2. I would like to know if there is any record of children who were there at that time in the museum or on line,

Currently I am in Wales for a short period of time and would consider visiting the town.

 

Genet Bevan                                                                                                                                                                                      April 2016

Hello, wonder if you can help. Do you have any information on a Brynmawr Operatic Chorus that existed in the 1920's/1930's and a soloist by the name of Mary Wathen or Mary Thorpe, her married name? I am pursuing an enquiry logged with me in my capacity as Secretary of Crickhowell Choral Society - someone's great-grandmother, born 1913 in Brynmawr, who is in a photograph taken outside what is possibly the Pier Pavilion in Penarth.

Sorry, I am trying to follow up on a few different leads! Any information would be gratefully received. Thanks

Reply from Eifion Lloyd Davies

There is another person asking about a Wathen, photo taken possibly in Worthing. Choirs from Brynmawr did go there to perform. I have no information but will ask Operatic group if any have info.

It's the person who has been in contact with me. After much investigation, we decided that it was Worthing Pavilion. It's been hard trying to establish which choir, so anything you have would be helpful.

Reply from Eifion Lloyd Davies

I'll ask the Operatic group as I said but it may take some time, should meet one of them tomorrow afternoon.

Worthing adopted Brynmawr during the depression sending toys and gifts to children and offering places to have holidays etc (Brynmawr Museum will have information on all that). Some girls also went into service there. Maybe Worthing museum could help here, they would certainly be interested in a copy of the photo.

Worthing Museum and Art Gallery , Chapel Road, Worthing , West Sussex   BN11 1HP

01903 221448 (Tuesday to Saturday)         museum@adur-worthing.gov.uk  

 

Sam Newnes                                                                                                                                                                                     April 2016

Hi there,  my great grandma was from Brynmawr her name was Mary G Wathen, born 1913. I think mom 'n' dad Pollie Wathen . I have a photo of her in a choir but its in front of Worthing pavilion she would have been around 15 to 17 years old, I really need some help can anyone help me please

Reply from Eifion Lloyd Davies

There was a William Wathen living in 49 Glamorgan Street in Brynmawr in 1907. This could be family, possibly the father.

That's the only Wathen in the town in that period.

 

Adenclai                                                                                                                                                                                            April 2016

Hi, I am doing a little bit of research for a possible article in the Abergavenny Chronicle about Clydach Gorge and Gilwern, possible ghostly sightings in the area and the connection to the ironworks and I am fascinated by the Lion Terrace Chapel graves that were exhumed, (not least because my mothers house is a stones throw away!) I am a bit mind boggled by the information online and wondered if you could shed some light on theoretically why these graves were unmarked and whether there is a strong possibility they were all linked to ironwork workers who would have died prior to there being death records? I wonder also could this have been a cholera pit? or is this unlikely as other graves with headstones were placed on top of the other graves? Is anything known about these souls that had to be exhumed please?  If you can point me in the right direction for my article Id be very grateful and happy to quote you also! Thanks :-)

 

Susan                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sept 2015

I am trying to trace a relative their address was 10 miles row Darrenfelin Llanelly hill Abergavenny which I have been led to believe has been demolished.

Just wondering if you have any information pictures or maps regarding Miles Row and the date it was demolished.

The family I am trying to trace is the Marchants or possibly the Knotts?

Reply from Eifion Lloyd Davies

Hello Susan

I've been reading the memoirs of W.J. Williams of his life in Llanelli Hill and the area. He was born in 1900.

He mentions Miles Row as the cottages as you enter Darrenfelen. He writes:

"On arriving at Darrenfelen the first house you come to was an old lady named Mary Lenard. apart from cleaning the Mission Church she kept a little sweet shop, there were no scales every sweet was counted out 5 for half a penny. For a sweet bag a piece of Echo paper was twisted into the shape of a sweet bag like a cone. Then we had Miles Row. Will Miles we knew as the old Flower, he had a wonderful bass voice......"

From which side he was coming into Darrenfelen there is no indication, cold be from the Gellifelen side or Brynmawr.

I still haven't had the chance to talk with the local Darrenfelen people I know, but as soon as I do I'll let you know.

 

Nicholas Beswick                                                                                                                                                                     6th May 2015

Congratulations on the excellent website.  To our visitors: we would love to hear from you if you have anything to contribute."