.. Pontrhydyrun ..
John Jenkins formerly of Llandowlais street, emigrated to South Africa 1981:The photo is taken at Pontrhydyrun, ( in the early1950's ), and is looking in a south westerly direction, just around the bend in the road on the left of the photo is the "notorious" Pontrhydyrun railway bridge, followed by a steep hill rising to the Lowlands. The detached "house" on the right of the photo is actually a pub, `The Terrace Inn` and in front of the pub next to the pavement is a sheet metal bus shelter, sometimes used like other bus shelters of it's type as an emergency urinal. The bus belongs to the Western Welsh Bus Company Red, they and the Red & White Bus Company were the two main public transport providers in the Eastern Valley, Ralph's Buses also operated in the valley but only I believe from Pontypool and above. The advert on the back of the bus is for Vernon's football pools, a competitor to, but never as popular as the Littlewoods football pools, Littlewoods big weekly prize was �75000 which was an absolute fortune in those days.Anne Moore relates: The Terrace pub is on the right of the picture, where I think my dad spent a fair proportion of his teenage years, being born and raised in the village.My paternal grand parents lived at No 4 Moseley Terrace which is the row of houses on the top left of the picture. When I was a child my dad and I would visit my Gran every Sunday morning, walking through fields on which the Ty Newydd housing estate is now built. I never knew my grandfather but he was a soldier and there was a family rumour that he once went to bed wearing his spurs. Perhaps he was a cavalryman who had tethered his horse outside the Terrace pub for convenience and then "rolled home" and so to bed! I'll bet Gran was not amused!Steven Brooks relates: just behind the picture, on the right hand side was a shop where you could buy bacon egg and sausage sandwiches called 'triples'; when you ordered, the shopkeeper would shout into the back 'two triples please May' whoever May was? ..what beautiful food they served.. shame they've closed.
Linda from Pontnewydd: You can see Mosley Terrace on the left. Just to the right of Mosley Terrace you can see a shop. My auntie Joyce Williams owned this shop and the house behind it. The shop is now demolished.Mel Hillman recalls: I seem to remember a Co-op bakery was built on land to the left of the bus in the 1960s.Colin Bowen relates: Just around the corner is Pontrhydyrun low railway bridge a Double Decker bus crashed into it some years later.Ralph Williams relates: That is where a Double Decker Bus tried to go under the bridge, took the top off and was stuck under the bridge.
Steve Morgen relates: This is a view of Pontrhydyrun showing the Terrace Inn. The pub was our headquarters when I played for Pontnewydd Football Club and was run for many years by Ben and Phyllis Morgan.
Janet Wilson relates: Hi, looking at the Pontrhydyrun photos brought back childhood memories for me, I lived with my auntie and uncle Lil and Sid Wilson, their son Sidney, and Evan and Anne; Evan lives in Jersey. I would love to hear from him, so if your reading this get in touch eh,!!They lived in a place called river row, just the other side of the bridge it was at the bottom of a steep hill, there were only about 6 houses there, we lived at no 5 River Row. I wonder if anyone remembers River Row or my aunty and uncle? They used to have the toilets outside opposite your house, I remember it well, I was really scared of the spiders and would spend the time watching the roof in case one decided to drop down, then there was the Gregs, anyone out there remember the Gregs? It was a great place to play, there was also an empty field opposite River Row where all the people who lived there used to go and play cricket, I would love to hear from anyone who remembers River Row, it be great to hear from you. Email : [email protected]
Bryn John relates: Just a line to let you know a little about my favourite watering hole many years ago, The Terrace Inn. During the second world war, my father and mother used to attend dances at the Terrace. They were held in a long corrugated tin building in the garden at the back of the pub.In the fifties, the landlord was Ken Iggleton, and I used to drop off twelve copies of the Football Argus for him to sell on Saturday nights and collectthe money on Monday evening. After Ken retired, Dai Hughes took over and ran it for a few years. When Dai retired, Ben Morgan moved in and transformed it into a vibrant oasis.We had a Friday night dart team consisting of Lenny Carr, Mike Carr, Johnny Bloor, Bryn John, Les Bradshaw and Mike Hughes which played inthe local pub league.The favourite card game played on Friday nights (after darts) and Sunday mornings was Nap (short for Napolean)When I was in Cwmbran about ten years ago, I went to the Terrace Inn (renamed Faeces), but was very disappointed. It had lost itscharacter and quiet conversations were impossible due to the overpowering volume of the juke box. Where the housing estate over the road is, that used to be property of the Co-operative bakery, and apart from baking the bread, all the deliveryvans loaded up and left for all parts of the area.The house next to the Terrace was owned by ladies who had a few greenhouses and ran plant nursery, we used to buy our tomato plants from them. Some of the people who lived in Brook Street were Max Williams, Alwyn James, Jimmy Evans and Victor Carthew.It's amazing what Google Earth, street views can show you, so I often visit Pontrhydyrun (I was born and brought up on Avondale Road.
.. A Western Welsh bus ..
.. A Red & White bus ..
.. A Western Welsh bus ..
.. Pontrhydyrun AFC ..
Steve Roberts contributes: My Father played for Pontrhydyrun AFC. This is the team from 1949. Unfortunately I only know the names of two players, my Father, Barrie Roberts & 'Curly' Bradshaw. They are in the middle row, Dad is the 6th across L to R. and stood next to him is Curly. If you can name any of the other players, please click here.
.. Pontrhydyrun Chapel 'Boys' circa 1928 ..
Trevor Butler sitting 3rd from left, Charlie Butler back row on right, Bill Rowlands standing 4th from right. Who are the others?
Photograph contributed by Judith Seys (nee Butler)
