Abercarn 2

Hi Jeremy,
Yes it's me. i'll be in touch soon probably via facebook. Good to know you are still going strong! must be down to all that walking up the woods or playing football and cricket up the cutting that we did. Remember John James? I think the three of us were the best of mates back then. Anyway it's great to hear from you and who knows we may even get together again in the future to talk about old times. I hope so, Cheers, Carl.

Hi Jeremy,
Yes it's me. i'll be in touch soon probably via facebook. Good to know you are still going strong! must be down to all that walking up the woods or playing football and cricket up the cutting that we did. Remember John James? I think the three of us were the best of mates back then. Anyway it's great to hear from you and who knows we may even get together again in the future to talk about old times. I hope so, Cheers, Carl.

This is a message to Carl Leaman.I would like to be back intouch.Please contact me via e mail or I am on face book. Jeremy

Are you the carl that lived at the bottom of islwyn street in the big house, and have a brother byron

My GG Grand father Mark Rossiter worked there in 1905 ..Can somone assist me with a little history ?
Await your reply

Pat Rossiter

I used to live in West End, Abercarn and my grandfather, William Amos Thomas was manager of North Celynen and Craig Fawr collieries ( I still have his old miners lamp and "baccy tin".) Sadly I never got to meet him as he died before I was born but my mother would love to know if anyone remembers him and his wife Florence May.

my great grandfather was ernest mark rossiter born 1889 dont no if any relation trying to trace family history.

Try www.welshcoalmines.co.uk. Its an excellent place to ask questions on mines and its people

My Grand father Mark Rossiter worked there in abt 1905.
Would love to hear from someone regarding history & also Abercarn Tin Plate works circa 1925-1931

sorry, I should have said GREAT gramma Lee

Hi, it was also my aunty Em and Audrey who lived there as did great gramma Lee, I have a copy of this picture. Can I ask who you are?

Great picture, how can I get a copy? My family lived at No 3 Islwyn Street (Lee's Grocersy shop). Aunty Em was the last to leave, after the shop front was taken out.

Elaine,
Thanks for the information. Yes I am a cousin to Ian Hollister, but a litle bit older, so that's probably why we did't know each other. I remember Garfield, but only as one of the village grown-ups. Thanks again.

Brian Watkins - I'm afraid I don't remember you but I do remember your gran - so you are cousin to Ian Hollister. Mrs Hollister in the picture is a different Hollister she lived in no. 4 and we lived in no. 5 Islwyn St. My Mam still lives there. My Father was Garfield Johnson, he played cricket for Abercarn. My Nana Richards lived in Cae Gorlan St and she is the lady in yellow in the picture and I am the little girl holding her hand crossing the road.

Hi Bryan
Did you go to Newbridge Grammar school?
Sylvia Morgan(nee Allaway)

hi brian and carl, just to let you know that edwards the bakers have moved his business to bargoed for 20 years and then retired, but i still live in newbridge, and enjoying life.

Hia Kerry,
I remember you and your brother very well. I believe our parents were friends as well. Remember when you moved away, all the way to Cwmbran and we never saw you again!
Hope you and yours are well and life has been good to you.

I went to school in West End with my twin brother John in the late 50's.....my maiden name was McCormack. Both West End and Abercarn village had so many shops it was a thriving community...it was certainly a lovely place to grow up.

Born in 1948 I can remember Mrs Salter serving in Salters shop, also Mrs Pike who took over, probably in the late 1950's.

My Nan used to live at 16. Her name was Lilian Salter. At the sharp bed in Islwyn St, where I think there is a bench now, there used to be a lttle shop. My Nan used to run it before my Auntie, Betty Pike took it over. All I remember is Whiskey the cat! My Nan's first married name was Thomas - my Dad's family name. I know my Nan Lilian's second husband's name was Gwyn. I think her first husband had the name James, or Jim. I have no idea what happened to him, as my father and mother have both passed away. Anybody know anything?

My Nan used to live at 16. Her name was Lilian Salter. At the sharp bed in Islwyn St, where I think there is a bench now, there used to be a lttle shop. My Nan used to run it before my Auntie, Betty Pike took it over. All I remember is Whiskey the cat! My Nan's first married name was Thomas - my Dad's family name. I know my Nan Lilian's second husband's name was Gwyn. I think her first husband had the name James, or Jim. I have no idea what happened to him, as my father and mother have both passed away. Anybody know anything?

Where exactly did you live? My nan was Mrs Kathleen Hollister who lived at 18 Llanover Street and later at 16 Railway Terrace.

This is where I lived an my Nan Richards and I are pictured crossing the road. Mrs Holiister, our neighbour, is the lady talking to the driver in the red van. Wonderful memories!

my grandparents lived at 27 Islwyn Street in 1918; Victor & Rachel Bailey, Victor died about 3 years later, I believe he was in his early thirties. Is there anyone who knows more.

Hi Can anyone tell me where I can buy a copy of the book Glimpses of West Gwent by Rex H Pugh?
Sylvia

Is there any mention of Shop Row in these books? That is where my family lived in the 1800s. The Waters/Walters family. Just looking for a trace of them.

Peter, I think you have the wrong name for Rex Pugh's book, the title is Glimpses of West Gwent, published in 1934 by R.H.Johns. I have copy number 35 signed by Rex Pugh. I also have a copy of A History of the Baptist Church which was published in 1932 again by R.H.Johns

Rex Pugh wrote a number of books including the History of the Baptest Church in Abercarn. I managed to purchase a copy while while doing a history masters at the University of Wales Caerleon. the most interesting book he wrote was a book named "Romance of the Old Name of Abergwyddon" which is the correct name for Abercarn. The book is out of print but I do have a photocopy of the whole thing. It is a mixture of folklaw and historical fact. (Pwka'r Trwyn is mentioned it also states that St Paul preached on Mynyddislwyn mountain. The first chaptor is "In the days of Ancient Britons" and the last is "Ghost Stories from the Western Valley.

Carl
As far as I am aware there are some B&B's in Newbridge, as well as Crosskeys and nearby is a sports themed pub in Croespenamen. If you want more detail, don't hesitate to ask

Thanks Brian,
Always seems a shame that things have to change but that's life I suppose. I just thought that a sleepy little place like West End might escape the modern world but I should have known that was wishful thinking! Good to hear that it is still a close community though, I hope to go back soon to see if I can trace any of my old friends.Do you know if the pub does b and b now? If not I suppose Newbridge would be the nearest place for accommodation?

Sorry to be the breaker of dreams.
West End is changed in that most of the shops have been changed into homes. The only shops left are "Hoffneys", still run by the same family, and the Post Office, which is now a news agent. Both bakeries have closed, MrsThompson still lives locally, but the Edwards family have moved on. The Crown is still open, and being run by John Sage, but the Nant Pennar is no longer a workingmens club, but is now privately owned, with rumours it may become a "night club".
Both former butcher shops are now homes along with the drapers, hardware store and grocer shops.The Fire Station is now sited near Abercarn Welfare, with the former site being a small industrial estate. The railway system has been reopened, but the nearest station is now at Newbridge. it is eveident, though is that the family friendly atmosphere still exists with many residents and long may it continue.

Very fond memories of this street. If I remember correctly the shop on the bottom left was a Mace shop. A little further up was the post office and then a ladies clothes shop. On the corner was an ironmongers and opposite that the nant penner?? club and Salters shop.Below this picture would be the butchers and Thomsons bakery and , of course ,the pub! I would love to think that this scene hasn't changed very much since the 60"s. I hope someone can tell me that it hasn't.

Sadly, with the closure of many Post Offices, the West End Office is no longer a Post Office. Fortunately the shop is continuing to stay open with the incumbents selling items such as papers and magazines, tobacco products, dairy products and food items. Its yet another sad occassion for the people of West End.

I visited the Post Office at Abercarn in 2008. It hadn't changed much; I think it even had the glass window at the counter where my father used to serve the customers.

I have a signed and numbered 35 copy of Glimpes of West Gwent. My family, the Lee family owned the shop next to the post office where Rex H. Pugh was post master. He also wrote a History of the English Baptist Church (pub 1932) again I have a copy

Hi Brian, not sure of your whereabouts, but I know the newsagents in Blackwood stock it.

I would love to have a copy of Glipses of Gwent by Rex Pugh, eitrher the 1932 or 34 version. Does anyone know where this book can be obtained?

During the 1920's and 1930's the postmaster at West end was Rex Pugh. He was a local historian and author of "Glimpses of west Gwent"