i wonder how many of you on here remember parts of the old Swansea and its district ? When I was a youngster. I never thought that so much would change. ....... We had The South Wales electricity board then, what is it called now? ....... We had The Steel Company Of Wales then, .. it has had a few take over and name changes since. ....... We had two public transport bus companies then , The Red buses of South Wales transport, .... And the blue and white of the United Welsh buses We had the World famous and oldest railway in the World. THE MUMBLES RAILWAY ............ and probably one of the worst councils to go with it.... We had a railroad then that ran from Victoria Station in Swansea all the way to Gorseinon, through to Pontarddulais. ............... The streets of Swansea then were alive with Austin, Morris, Triumph, M.G., Jags And many other British made cars, including the Police Cars which were Wolsey. ........ Then we had all those famous motor bikes, B.S.A. Norton, Ariel, Matchless, to name a few. Then the push bikes, Only one sticks out in my mind,.....?.........My Mother who was a widow had saved up to purchase a bike for me on my Birthday,.... we travelled by bus to Swansea, and she bought me a gold coloured drop handled. HERCULES KESTRAL . Not so much traffic on the roads then, and I rode it all the way home and got a puncture outside the Fountain Inn. near home. That is the only make I remember as a few months later, I crashed and broke my wrist. ............. some of you may be able to educate me on other makes....... ..... Boundy does e lot of cycling. Anyway Who remembers the Plaza, the Empire, and of course the Albert Hall. ........ any way. I bet nobody remembers. .... THE VETCH With the most famous toilets. ? ? ? ? ? Anyway I will leave it there, you guys can add a lot to that I expect. ..... hope you were not too bored, I only posted it as it was a little quiet on here .
I remember N and C coaches which were brown luxury coaches that ran from Swansea to Cardiff via Neath etc. The north bank toilets always smelt nice for one game after a pre season paint job. Corner shops and pubs all over Swansea and then the advent of Tesco’s and their family of large sell everything stores. Before the onset of those large stores shops were shut on Sundays though there were some corner shops open for papers, fags and convenience stuff....
Number 24 bus into Neath , DMU trains , when Neath Road was the main route into town from Morriston. Jersey Road then the main route into town from Winch wen. The ammo dump near the Half Way in Winch Wen , The railway station .Social Club which originally was two storeys , The Vale works . The Travellers pub where Dylan Thomas restaurant stands today , all gone and all in Llansamlet .The Albert the Prince pubs in Morriston. The Bridgend Inn in Birchgrove on Boxing day watching the fox hunt meet , drinking in the Terrace Inn and the social club on Parc Y Helig ( where I met the wife ) I remember when Birchgrove road was tree lined with Elm trees but were all cut down due to dutch elm disease in the mid sixties. School desks with the flip up lids and yes ink wells , having a kip on green canvas beds in nursery where i met my best mate over 55 years ago . 1/3 pint milk where it was an honour to be the milk monitor and cadging the surplus milk at the end of the day but regretting it after it had turned during the day. Being a school prefect for a short while until I was caught singing the wrong words to a Christmas carol alongside my said mate. Lots of happy memories of my childhood and the place I love to call home. Taken tonight on my bike ride towards Mumbles
Some of the things I remember: Jenkins buses Merlyn’s coaches Creamline buses Neath Grammar School BP Llandarcy BP Llandarcy Club where I spent many a great day Weavers Flour Mill Struels Warehouse Talk of the Abbey in Neath (where I met my wife 41 years ago yesterday) Fletchers of Swansea CK Andrews (on the Kingsway)
Jenkins buses The sign for Jenkins Coaches was still there recently Merlyn’s coaches On Siding Terrace ? Creamline buses ? Neath Grammar School by the old bridge going into Neath ? BP Llandarcy I had temporary a job there to tide me over whilst I was waiting to join up ( cleaning the washrooms) I was fascinated by the boot cleaning machine in the entrance foyer , I was on the same wage as my Dad then a rude awakening on enlisting BP Llandarcy Club , never went there Weavers Flour Mill, Should have preserved it Struels Warehouse ?? Talk of the Abbey in Neath (where I met my wife 41 years ago yesterday) Fletchers of Swansea On Carmarthen road up from where Trainers is now CK Andrews (on the Kingsway) ??
Nostalgia time again That daily walk to Neath Grammar past the pickle factory by the bridge. Not a pleasant smell on a Monday morning The Windsor Cinema in Neath - so many memories from Saturday morning films as a young boy through to somewhere you would take a girl on a night out. I remember it was 1/3 in the cheap seats, 1/6 and 1/9 in the balcony. Talk of the Abbey opened just before I left Neath for the bright lights of London so only went there a couple of times.
Yes - The Windsor was where many of us took girls to ‘watch films’ - then it morphed into the Talk of the Abbey. I was a regular there - played football in the afternoon (Welsh League or Neath League) then a few bevies in town before the Talk of the Abbey, after that a curry on Alfred Street, then the walk home passing Neath Grammar/Dwr y Felin on the way ...
We used to go for a late night curry at the top of Windsor Road just before Alfred Street. I seem to remember a Chinese restaurant in Alfred Street. I took the opposite way home from you Taff. Up past the Gardens then up Gnoll Park Road past the rugby ground.
Lived in pubs for twenty years so didn’t have to go far for a pint whether I was working or having a night off.....
The Windsor became bingo hall I'm not sure if its still there . I watched the Kubrick film "A Clockwork Orange" there ,weird
The best things I remember are the rivalries and the camaraderie! We had a football team on our street that played against the next street down in Blaen-y-maes - then we would form a team between us to play against the Penlan team on Clwyd rugby pitch - we bought the same coloured t-shirts - the controversy when I moved from Blaen-y-maes to across the road from Clwyd but wouldn't play for the Penlan team!! We'd steal each other's bonfires and then when they were lit , gather around the last one alight - maybe throw on a potato - cooked best in between the rings of wire from the tyres! Then we'd all traipse down to Cadle mill (not pub) or through 'the woods' to 'the lake' Then 'IT' would happen - the olympic games where each street had their team - two lamposts for the 110 yards - once around the garages for the 440 - the right size brick for shot putt - bamboo for javelin and then the relays! Almost break a leg doing the long jump and to cap it all off the football final!
Buccaneer Bar No10 Bellis chippy Criterion Dillwyn Arms The Vetch Field Rays cafe by the Grand Ten Hong Si kong