Then & Now Slideshow

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BBC Homepage Wales Home Then & Now Slideshow more from this section Last updated: 24 November 2005 Ystradgynlais The family of Margaret Thomas have lived in the Coelbren's Bee Keeper Local Photographs Ystradgynlais area for generations. Here's her slideshow of Penrhos Playing Fields pictures showing how local life has changed over the years ... Phototour Steve Meo BBC Local Then & Now Slideshow Mid Wales Useful Info Things to do WW2 Memories Your Town People & Places Ystrad Art Club Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio

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Neighbouring Sites North East Wales A photograph of my family - showing seven brothers and North West Wales two sisters - which was taken around 1910. In the South East Wales background, you can see the family shop - Corner Stores. South West Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Related BBC Sites Wales your comments Cymru Canolbarth R john lewis Halesowen west mids. At present I am trying to find any details about a spirit level that I believe was presented to my gt grandfather after the completion of a bridge in pontrhydyfen. The level has has a brass plack with the inscription "John Lewis Mayson,1814 or 1874". The brass has been polished over the years, and this is why the year has eroded. I would welcome any suggestions which would help me in my research. Tue Mar 9 19:09:53 2010

Val Fleming from Burnie Tasmania Australia Eric, "My"John Buckland LEWIS (Known at Jack Lewis)was living at 33 Lluest, Ystradgynlais on 21st January 1954 when his wife (my grandmother) Winifred Lewis nee Cutts passed away at the house.On her death certificate it states that her step-son John M Lewis was present.I am having trouble finding any referance to Jack or his son John M Lewis. Please feel free to email me. Mon Feb 8 11:07:05 2010

Eric Jones You mentioned William Buckland Lewis who was from Lluest in the 1950s.Could you please give some indiction of where this Lluest is, is it the name of house, village or town as there are a few places named Lluest Wed Jan 20 09:37:14 2010

Val Fleming Dear Eric Jones, Natasha Bastone and Lisa Owen please ontact me off list regarding John Buckland Lewis.Any info can then be posted back to the list. Mon Jan 18 09:06:38 2010

Eric Jones Lisa Owen/Natasha/Val.Re William Buckland Lewis (Will Buck) who lived in Ystradgynlais have some info, so please let me have some further details will do my best to help Wed Sep 30 17:15:56 2009

Keith Roberts from Colwyn Bay I am searching for the family of James and Eliza Roberts who were married in 1906 and had at least two daughters Nora Esther Roberts who married Gethin Owen in 1934 in St. Davids Church and may have gone to live in Lower Cwmtwrch, and Esther Marion/Maria Roberts born in 1907 in L Cwmtwrch. James the father was a railwayman and in 1911 the family lived in Lower Cwmtwrch but I am of the opinion that the family may have moved to Ystrad as daughter Nora was stated to be living in 12, Spencer Terrace at the time she was wed. Any hints for my search will be most appreciated as I have been looking for the family for a few years now. James is the brother of my Grandfather.Thanks for reading this. Keith Roberts. Tue Sep 8 10:14:55 2009

Albert Hawkesworth NSW Australia I recently commented about being a evacuee along with my brother in Ystrad during the War. If there are any relatives of Mr and Mrs Thomas and their two sons Mel and Bryn who were Coal Miners. I would love to hear from you. They were great people and took very good care of us. Thu Aug 27 11:05:28 2009

Michael Nicholls I am desperate to find out any information on my family the Nicholls who lived in spencer terrace around the 1930 era my grandparents were alfred george and eliza martha who had 11 children,any information would be so helpful Tue Aug 25 11:10:34 2009

Natasha Bastone Lisa Owen/ Val FlemmingI will try and find out some of my Grandads siblings names, that might be a bit more helpful, but I would imagine we must be related someway!! I will post some more information as soon as I can find out, I will see if anyone remembers A John Buckland Lewis, that is my Grandads Son name (my uncle) but we come from SE London. Tue Jul 21 15:58:47 2009

Lisa Owen Hi Val Fleming, thank you for your reply on the site. I do have an uncle John Buckland Lewis b in the 1930s, maybe this is the one you have information on. I dont know how to contact you other than by sending this message on the site wall. Love to here what you have if you have any on my family. Tue Jul 21 09:42:45 2009 matt, blackwood Currently researching the Lewis family from Cwmgiedd who were the local Blacksmiths in the mid 1850s onwards. William and his sons (one of which was called david) were both smiths. Not sure for how long this tradition of blacksmithing went on amongst the family. Sun Jul 19 18:57:06 2009 Val Fleming I have information on John Buckland Lewis if it is the one who lived in Lluest in the 1950s. Could Lisa Owen or Natasha Bastone make contact with me. Fri Jun 12 09:58:44 2009

David Holmes from Swansea Joseph & Mary Hastings had a grocer/wet fish shop in Ystradgynlais between 1905-1940. They were my Great Uncle & Aunt. Hoping someone remembers them. Mon Apr 27 19:02:52 2009

G Dymond Cardiff My Great grandfather David Lewis was born in Cwmgiedd 1854 He was one of nine children. The youngest was Hannah born in 1861,the same year her mother Margaret died. Their Father also David born 1812(coal miner)was born in Bettws Carmarthen.Do any of the family still live in the area? I am reserching my family tree. Fri Apr 3 09:08:51 2009

Richard Craven Looking for Ricard Craven 1776 Langafelach, Clydach Llandilo Tal y Bont Thu Apr 2 10:43:52 2009

Sarah Newson We moved to Ystrad nearly 3 years ago and moved into Garden House behind the old police station/court house off Heol Giedd. Does anyone know about the previous owners? We suspect the house was built in 1900 and could have been a stable but would love to know about the house if anyone has any details. Cheers Fri Mar 27 14:17:57 2009

Sian Jones Does anybody remember the Jones of Tanyralt, Cymgiedd. Robert Ellis Jones was my Dad, Dai his brother and sister Megan Harris. I remember lots of relatives when my family visited my grandmother in the 1960's. My grandfather was Llewelyn Jones and my grandmother Gwendoline who grew up on the Wern Farm at the top end of Cymgiedd. When I last saw it in 1986, it was derelict. I have lots of photos taken by my grandfather, a miner and a keen photographer of the family, village life and scenes from the silent village film in which he played a part alongside my grandmother. Anyone remember the Holdens farm, I can remember the sitting room filled with cats on every seat! and I still remember the lovely smell of chutney which Mrs Holden was making when my sister and I visited. Sun Feb 8 17:07:43 2009

Lisa Owen, South Wales I live in Ystradgynlais and my great grandfather was john buckland lewis my grandfather william buckland lewis,they were from this area too.in response too natasha bastone, we must come from the same family. my guess is we share the same gx3 or gx4 grandparents ;-) Sun Oct 19 16:46:29 2008

Kevin Belsey, Peterborough I am doing some family history research. My grandmother, Edith Coleman(born in London), may have died a spinster in Ystradgynlais in 1983. So far I haven't proved this. If anyone knew her, I would love to hear from them. Thu Oct 2 10:21:43 2008 Natasha Bastone nee Lewis My Grandad came from Ystradgynlais but moved to London, his name was Philip Buckland Lewis does anybody have any history on our family or is their any of his family that still live there. I would love to know. Fri Aug 1 14:58:54 2008

Fred Clark from High Wycombe I courted a Jean Morgan from tudor street wind road jan 1948 to feb 1950 many happy memories of my time in ystradgynlais I was serving in the royal air force at that time. Fri Apr 11 09:09:05 2008

Peter Harries, Hay (Aust) I have a Bible presented to my Grandfather, Arthur J. Harris, by R. M. Rhys, Minister, and the Sardis Sunday School (Lewis Jones was the superintendent)in Sep 1923. Unfortunately I never met him, and was wondering if anyone had any information on Arthur or the Church that they could share with me. The Bible was bought at the Jeffreys and Son Book, ... and Music Dealer. Is there any remains of this store? Mon Oct 15 10:05:15 2007

David Harris/Canada There is a book The Watkin Path to Patagonia by HW Williams 2006 with refs to The Temperance family .David Harris b1944 grandson of John Harris The Chemist 1874- 1964.Many happy memories of Cynlais c1953!!Also the Coronation celebrations ( hot summer ) and the Eisteddfod (very wet!!!) Fri Jul 13 13:37:31 2007

Rikky Rooksby, Oxford Does anyone remember Helen Morgan whose father ran the Post Office? She married Cedric Williams who went into the RAF in the 1920s. Cedric had two sisters and a brother. The family were also connected to the 'Temperance' cafe. His mother was widowed in 1915. I am researching Cedric and would be grateful for any information... Thu Jun 21 09:58:41 2007

Helen Jenkins Glanrhyd School does still exist. It is a wonderful school with excellent staff. You can visit their website on www.glanrhyd.powys.sch.uk I hope you visit it.

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Thu Oct 26 09:33:41 2006

Herbert Ryland Morgan Why can I find no record of Glanrhyd Primary school on the Friends reunited website? Does it no longer exist? Tue Oct 3 16:56:41 2006

Margaret Thomas Cathy.....David Lewis was my grandfather.Do you know any members of my family? Wed Sep 27 09:15:28 2006

Ted Bishop from Swansea Why was the old Cynlais school replaced?? I have memories of the old place, fights, having odd bits thrown at you by Mr Watkins for talking, the cane from Mr Griffiths for misbehaving, helping Miss Daniels home with her shoping, oh what was the name of that farm? out in the wilds, best place to go first if possible for New year. Helping Jack Morgan on Llwyn Bedw farm, that is where I learned to drive, Jack's Ferguson tractor. Deliverd his milk with him by horse float to the people of Cwmgiedd and parts of Ystrad, Happy Days. Tue Aug 29 17:06:07 2006

Cathy Davies Is Margaret Thomas any relation to David Lewis Jones whose family also owned Corner Stores around the early 1900s? Wed Jun 21 09:24:18 2006

Rod Wilkes, Jr. from Culver City,CA USA My mother Morfudd Jones was born on 02/02/17 and raised in Ystrad. She and her many sisters and brothers moved to the States in the 1940s. My grandparents along with their children formed a singing group that travelled for performances all around Wales in the 1930s & 40s. She is buried in the small church yard there. I wonder if she would be remembered. Wed Feb 1 03:44:15 2006

Ron Morgan I wonder if Margaret Thomas remembers old Mrs rachel Jones(previously Morgan nee Powell) who towards the end of her life lived at Wern Farm Cwmgiedd, she died in January 1948 Thu Nov 17 16:41:35 2005

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Neighbouring Sites North East Wales The Corner Stores shop premises today. North West Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South East Wales South West Wales

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Neighbouring Sites This photograph dates from around 1910. Pictured are North East Wales Jenkins Thomas and family outside their shop in North West Wales Cwmgiedd. South East Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South West Wales

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Neighbouring Sites North East Wales The shop in Cwmgiedd as it is today. North West Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South East Wales South West Wales

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Neighbouring Sites North East Wales Ynyscedwyn (Ynyscedwin) Colliery which closed in 1968. North West Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South East Wales South West Wales

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Neighbouring Sites The old colliery site is now a skate park, managed by North East Wales Penrhos Youth Club. North West Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South East Wales South West Wales

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Neighbouring Sites Part of the canal which used to run all the way from North East Wales Ystradgynlais to Swansea. North West Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South East Wales South West Wales

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Neighbouring Sites A bypass has now been built on the spot where the North East Wales canal used to carry goods down to Swansea. North West Wales 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South East Wales South West Wales

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