I am currently writing my memoirs and the end is now in
sight, having written approximately 55,000 words (you only need 60,000 for
it be classed as being of ‘novel’ length though I suspect I will need a
further 20,000 before it is finished.)
A significant portion of my book is taken up by my
memories of Brookfield School, of which I attended between September 1976 to
July 1982. If anyone has any memories of Brookfield during those years,
particularly photographs of the exterior and possibly interior, then I would
be very interested to hear from you. If any of the teachers I remember from
those years are still alive (I am aware that Mr Baldwin, the fourth year
teacher during my time there whom I loved dearly, passed away just nine
years ago) then I would love to hear from you. Mrs Carey and Mrs Griffiths
were among the teachers of the infants and Mrs Reece, Mrs Dewdney (forgive
my incorrect spelling) and Mr Baldwin were the teachers of the Junior
school. If anyone with any memories of them could get in touch, then their
input would be invaluable to me.
Date: 21/03/10 - Carol Lewis
Email: Click
here
Hi I was wondering if anyone has any
information on Cwrt Plythin Farm. My great great grandfather owned it
on the 1881 census. I believe it was located in Two Locks possibly where
Cwrt Bleddyn? is now. I was wondering if anyone knows anything more
about it?
Date: 09/02/10 - Christine Brooks
I am
hoping that someone out there is able to help me in my search for
information. I have recently moved into Machine Cottage, Incline Lane,
Henllys and would love to know the history of the property. I am aware that
it was originally used by the Colliery for weighing coal and was later sold
at auction. If anyone has any further information relating to the history or
it's occupants please respond. Click
here
Date: 19/01/10 - Lisa Hillman
Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows anything about Ty Coch farmhouse in
Llantarnam, (built 1613) it used to be just off Ty Coch lane before
Cwmbran drive was built and the lane cut in half. The house itself is
now behind the Parkway Hotel and has been integrated into another
building as part of one of the industrial units. I lived there for a few
years as a child (approx mid to late 1970's)
There was some sort of link to Llantarnam Abbey, in one of the rooms was
a trap door, which growing up I was told that it was an underground
tunnel that went to the Abbey. There was also a priest hole in one of
the rooms. I vaguely remember a story of either a priest or perhaps the
son of the farmer who would secretly meet one of the nuns in the disused
tunnel and that at some point she became pregnant and so he stabbed her
in the stomach to kill her and the unborn child and then walled her up
in the tunnel. I remember that if our dog went near there all her fur
used to bristle and she would growl. It was such an amazing house
to have lived in, with the big open stone fire places, one also had a
bread oven, it had window seats and wooden shutters and the original
leaded windows, I would love to find out more about the farmhouse and
it's stories but so far have found nothing. It would be great if anyone
could tell me more about either. If you can help click
here
Date: 07/09/09 - Janine:- I am trying my family tree and my great great
grandmother lived 8 Newtown (New Town) Cwmbran Llantarnam UD, I was
wondering whether anyone knows where this could be and whether the houses
still stand? If you can help click
here
Phil Jenkins responds: In 1886 the terrace row was known as Fairwater
Cottages, with a house (farm?) called Wern Fawr just to the Southwest. On
the 1902, 1922 and 1954 maps the row was marked as Newtown with Wern Fawr
still shown. Between 1902 and 1922 there was a second terrace at right
angles to Fairwater Cottages which may have been known as 'Masters Row'. It
had gone by 1954.
Colin Rowlands responds: Number 8 New Town was part of a row of cottages
that are still existing today; it is now called Fairwater Close and is
adjacent to the Fairwater Shopping centre.
June Tamplin responds: Newtown was around
the area of Glan Rhyd and just above towards Coedeva. On the 1911 Census my
Great Grandfather, John Peterson was living with his family at Fairview
Cottage Newtown, but I think it comprised just a few cottages and farm
buildings dotted about.
Date: 30/01/09- Joanna Griffiths:- Hi to all, I unearthed an old picture of
my Grandfather, Richard Mckenna, he passed away in the early 1980's,
was married to Evelyn Mole, was in the Parra's and worked for
Llanwern steel works, lived in Pontnewdd, just wondered if anyone had any
memories of him to share?, also my Great Grandfather Ernest Mole,
former Mayor of Cwmbran? Thank you in advance for any info/stories you may
have. If you can help click
here
.. Richard McKenna ..
Date:
08/06/08- Darrel Beake:- If any
one knows any history about the row of four houses No's 187,189,191 and 193
Llantarnam rd in particular No 187 and any old pictures would be great. I
know the road was originally called Cwmbran Road and I believe the houses
were somehow linked to the Star brick works. Any hints to the history of
this property would of interest. If you can help click
here
Response::-Wilding and Kent.