Can you help

Date: 28th October 2007
Sharon Herridge

I have been tracing my family tree now for ages and thought that perhaps someone could help?

My father Thomas Donoghue was born in Cwmbran in 1909 and lived in Llandowlais St. I have managed to trace his parents and have found his grandfather came over from Ireland. The problem I have is that on the census record there is no place in Ireland mentioned and I wondered perhaps immigrants to Cwmbran came from a particular part of Ireland ?

Date : 7th September 2007

Gill Morris

I left Oakfield Park Estate in 1960, and am now living in the centre of France. I went to St. Dial's school and then Llantarnam Secondary. My dad, William Morris was the local free-lance reporter and the kids called him 'scoop'....

Enclosed is a photo of Court Farm Youth Club taken in the 1950's. My dad (William Morris) is on the far right. Also included, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Joy, Mr. Sutton and I just can't remember the names of any more ... Perhaps some visitors will though!

If you can help Gill out please click here

Date : 8th October 2007

Garnet (Chippy) Chapman responds: With reference to the photo of court farm youth club in the 1950s, here are some more names.

Joan Robertshaw(now Taylor) who worked in personnel department of Girlings, Cwmbran. Alan Robertshaw. Horrace Siddaway. Dennis Crowley. Chris Smith (my best pal who emigrated to Australia in 1964 ), Christine George. Royston Doughton. Billy Turnbull. Dianne Goulding.

Through your web-site I am now in contact with two of my old pals, John Jenkins (Shenko) and Allistair Howard (Popeye)

Keep up the good work!

Date : 6th July 2007
Chas Black

Excellent website - brings back a few memories of my early life in Cwmbran - One memory that does bug me is the location of the Masonic hall in Old Cwmbran - I seem to remember the building being near to where the current Doctors surgery is (opposite side of the road to the Rose and Crown pub) ! I can not find any info about it but I'm pretty sure that was where it was situated. From my distant childhood memory I seem to remember the building being large yellow with dark blue windows !

Response: The Masonic Hall was housed with in the old Wesleyan Methodist Church on Wesley Street.

Date: 23rd April 2007
Name: Shaun McGuire

.. Weston's Biscuit Factory circa 1937..

Shaun McGuire relates:-

The young girl, 2^nd from right near the back is a cousin named before she was married, Sonia Jones.

She is aged about 14 then so the photo would be 1937.

Her family were Hugh and Ethel Jones (nee Morgan and sister of Penry) and her brothers and sisters were named Lionel, Glyn and Glenys.

The family emigrated to Seattle, USA in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s and I think that Glenys came back for a few years and attended Llantarnam Comprehensive school.

.. If you can add any information about this photograph or Weston's Biscuit Factory etc; please click here ..

Date: 2nd April 2007
Name: David Compton

Back Row:- W. Jones, A. Davies, A. Walliker, W. Smith, E. Morris

Middle Row:- W. Jones, R. Rees, E. Petheram, H. Maggs, J. Hewings, F. Hewings

Front Row:- R. Clapp (mm), T. Burns, (Lieutenant), F. Wood (Captain), R.D. Owen a.i.c (2nd Lieutenant), G. Hollister, E. Pike

David Compton relates:- The Cwmbran Chemical Company works was situated, I believe, on what is now Cwmbran Stadium, this photo belonged to my grandfather, Herbert Maggs. I recall him telling me that when Cardiff City won the F. A. Cup in 1927 he was working afternoons; his Manager walked up to him and his colleagues and said " your team has won the F.A. Cup! ".

.. If you can add any information about the Cwmbran Chemical Company etc; please click here ..

John Jenkins formerly of Llandowlais street, now residing in South Africa responds:

I’m convinced that the man in the front row of the photo, Mr. E Pike, is ‘Pike the Cobbler’ who worked from his house in the 1950’s and maybe even later, his terrace house was in Two Locks Road next to a shop which also acted as a bus stop opposite Two Locks Nursery, can anyone confirm that?

John Jenkins: Although called the Cwmbran Chemical Company it was generally referred to by the locals simply as `The Chems`, the works is shown on ordnance survey maps of the period as the Vitriol Works as it manufactured sulphuric acid.

It was established on or before 1882 as its shown on an ordnance survey map of that date, (ref www.old-maps.co.uk).

At one stage it employed 60 workers but it closed circa 1930 as the sulphuric acid was being produced cheaper in Avonmouth, (ref; Community Project Centre book ‘In those Days’).

The derelict remains of the works building were large and substantial, all were painted or coated with a black substance and were possibly made of concrete, the buildings and the adjoining waste area was a favourite playground for kids during the 1950’s.

A stream ran through the grounds and was clean on entering but was bright orange on exiting having I suppose been discoloured after passing through the acid polluted ground, the stream was referred to by the locals as the Acid Brook.

The buildings were demolished circa 1960 using explosives and pneumatic hammers, I know this to be fact as I was there as a youngster when a workman offered me “a go” with the pneumatic hammer, I couldn’t resist but I came within half inch of losing a couple of toes.

Contrary to popular belief the main buildings were not situated where the Cwmbran Stadium is but approximately 300 yards further north on the other side of the present Henllys Way.

Ref; Cwmbran New Town Book:

Around 1860 James Gibbs established a Vitriol Works, in 1911 it was taken over by Cwmbran Chemical Company and in 1926 it was merged into the Imperial Chemical Industries( I.C.I.) Group. At it's peak the plant produced 450 tons of Heavy Sulphuric acid.

.. Vitriol works .. ref: Book entitled: In those Days ..

Date: 3rd January 2007
Name: Shaun McGuire
Email: Click here

This is a photograph of my mother (Gwynneth) aged about 6 months, sat in rocking chair and her brother and sister, Jack and Anne Gillard. Anne went on to later run the Forge Hammer hotel with Jack McGuire my father’s brother who she married. I believe this photo was taken at the `wooden houses` and the date would be mid 1911 as my mother was born 27^th December 1910.

.. Can anyone confirm that it is the Wooden Houses? ..

Date: 3rd January 2007
Name: Shaun McGuire
Email: Click here

.. This of a group of people on some sort of outing or meeting ..

It would have been taken probably in the early 40’s; On the photo is my cousin Tessie Powell, born probably in the mid to late 1930’s.

The ones I do know are :-

Top row :- 6^th from left - Harry Powell, my aunt`s husband.

Bottom row :- 2^nd from left holding child - Jack Gillard, child 3^rd from left – Tessie Powell, daughter of Harry

There is a black person at the top far left and I wonder if anyone knows who the gentleman is ? or the names of anyone else ? or what the occasion was ?

Date: 3rd January 2007
Name: Shaun McGuire
Email: Click here

.. Again what is the occasion and who are on there? ..

The photo dates prior to 1949 as my aunt Muriel Powell (nee Gillard) is on this one and she died in 1949.

My guess is about 1946+ as Tessie Powell looks now a lot older than the previous photo.

Again the ones I know are…

Top row.. 4^th from left – Jack Gillard, 6^th from left – Harry Powell

Lady with dark hair below Harry Powell – Anne McGuire (nee Gillard)

Bottom row :- 4^th from left – Muriel Powell (nee Gillard), 5^th from left, child seated holding something to her mouth – Tessie Powell.

Date: 6th August 2006
Name: Val Beechey
Email: Click here

Hi There, Browsing, as ever, in the hope of finding some reference to any of my ancestors, found your site and wondered if you could point me in the right direction for info. on employees of canal and railways in Cwmbran during early 1900's.

My Mom says she remembers visiting as a child and remembers a blue house on the canal. She also says there were so many Copps (Surname) living in the same lane it was known locally as Copps Lane. Seems one uncle was a lock keeper, another worked on railway, one of these uncles was a William Maddox.

Would appreciate a nudge in right direction.

Date: 20th July 2006
Name: Nigel Jones
Email: Click here

Can you help?

Does anyone have a photograph of the Steam roller that was in a playground near the `Threepennybit` fairwater some years ago ?

Date: 12th July 2006
Name: John Rye
Email: Click here

I was interested in your information about Henry Parfitt.

I own a Spirit Level that was presented to him after he had rebuilt the

Cwmbran Furnace of Messrs R S Roper and Co May 31 1860.

I am interested to try and discover how it came to be in the possession of my

father who was a carpenter in Bristol.

I would love to here from any of his descendants who can throw any light on

the problem

John Rye

.. On Saturday 22nd of April, 2006 - the Cherry Tree Club burned down ..

The Cherry Tree Club, situated on Graig Road, Upper Cwmbran was completely destroyed by fire, fortunately the Club building had not been in use for several years.

.. Click on each photograph to enlarge..

If you have any memories of your time spent at `The Cherry Tree Club`, or if anyone has a photograph, when the Club was open please click here to email me

Can You Help ?