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Cowbridge, and Bypass 1966
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Cowbridge, and Bypass 1966 Ref: C313081
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 Cowbridge, Town Hall c1955 (ref: C313050) |
Year: 1940s
193940 School Days
I remember the Town Hall at Cowbridge. In those days there was no one way system around it like today. The school boy interest was the Merryweather Fire Engine that was kept in a garage at the side of the Town Hall. Great fun to see it being driven out bell clanging and the firemen in their then shiny helmets hanging on. A local resident and Fireman was a Mr. Bond who fought fires in the air raid on Cardiff in WW2. He won a medal for his work there that night. The Caretaker lived on the premises, cannot remember his name but when the L.D.V later the Home Guard used it as their H.Q he was the Sergeant Major. They slept there at night, duties involved manning a road block at the top of East Street. The officer in charge of the Company was Mr. RH. Williams, Captain Williams who was the local Chemist. The other Sergeant Major was Mr.Bishop. He was a Porter at the Railway Station. Gone is the Pub called 'Jimmy Blairs' situated almost opposite the Town Hall. Thankfully the Town Hall has been kept and it is an old part of this ancient town. I believe it is used still for many functions and activities. The town was bypassed and there were many fears that its commerce would die, but it was the opposite as it is now a flourishing town with many shops and a popular area to live. Last edited: 20/02/2007 09:20 by Roy Newton |
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Year: 1940s
War-time
My Grandfather, Clifford Taylor, was a Civil Servant at RAF St. Athan during the Second World War. He could not join the Forces at all because he had club feet and was rejected at his Call Up Board. He used to be involved with giving out the uniforms, as well as other duties, which obviously changed when Peace broke out in 1945. Grampy had a fantastic sense of humour and would sometimes be allowed to bring one or two of the Airmen home to his wife and baby girl (my Mum) to have a meal. He stayed at the Base until his untimely death at 50 in January 1964, meaning that I never met him. Posted: 10/03/2007 23:56 by Caroline Scott |
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 St Athan, West Orchard Farm, Higher End c1955 (ref: S435068) |
Hammett's Farm.
This building was known to us as Hammett's Farm, properly West Orchard Farm, in the Higher End area of St Athan. Arthur Hammett and his wife ran the farm and I occasionally helped to deliver milk from the farm around the village from a horse and cart. Arthur, who lived to the great age of 92, and continued farming to the last, would bottle his own milk in a tiny parlour. He was a lovely chap and always gave us a mangold to make a lantern for Halowe'en night. The farmhouse is alongside the old main road from Barry to Llantwit Major before the huge RAF Station at St Athan was further enlarged and another road had to be built. The establishment was behind West Orchard Farm to the north. Posted: 06/04/2006 16:20 by The Frith Memory Archivist |
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 St Athan, the Village c1955 (ref: s435032) |
Mustow's cafe.
I lived with my family in St Athan village from the time of my first birthday in 1946 to my marriage in 1970. Mt wife and I were married at the church shown in the photograph. The church is dedicated to an Irish saint by the name of Tathan. The village was once known as Llandathan, then Saint Tathen and finally St Athan(s). At this church I was a choirboy, Sunday School teacher and bellringer too. There are six bells in the tower cast by Warners. Mustows' Cafe figures prominently and this shop was run by Dai Mustow, as we knew him, along with his wife and they lived next to his brother in one of the two houses that are shown. The cafe provided nourishment for locals and visitors alike, being frequented by lorry drivers and cyclists. Dai also sold newspapers and sweets. I can well remember going to the cafe with money from my father, together with our Ration Book, for the weeks supply of confectionery. In my youth we used to sit there drinking coffee and feeding the juke box. Petrol was sold in front of the cafe and the pumps promised BP, Shell, National Benzole and Power petrols. Sometime in my teens the wooden building was gutted by fire and another wooden cafe was built in its place but that has also gone now. Posted: 06/04/2006 16:20 by Mr Wm Price |
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Year: 1975
The Town Hall Steps
When I was very young I can remember that my mother used to let me run up and down the town hall steps. Posted: 14/07/2006 00:23 by Ceri Bosley |
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