I was born in Cwm Rhymni, as my Welsh speaking father called it. The Rhymney Valley. The land slip at the beginning of the film was at Abertysswg. This happened in 1930. My family had strong connections throughout the valley, especially in Aberbargoed, Phillipstown and Rhymney itself. My father, H H Roberts, was Chief Financial Officer for Rhymney District Council, until his death in 1955, at the age of 40. He never fully recovered from his wartime activities. The council building is still standing, on the Main Street in Rhymney. It’s hard to pick out lots of the places but the Square Cafe, owned by Mr Minoli, shows clearly that much of the footage was filmed in the town. These were the days before the pit head baths! You can see one miner washing away the grime in the sink….or a BOSH…..to us. These baths changed lives. My childhood bath was a tin one, which hung on the door of the outside toilet. I would hazard a guess that the school is Rhymney Lawn, still functioning today. The hospital looks like the one that was near the brewery. I think the church is the St. David church. The stain glass window is still intact. Next to it was the Eisteddfod Football ground, where I played many a match. I left the valley in 1971. The mines closed. They took our resources and left the communities to rot. I left because my Taid (grandfather) said:- “John, when I was your age I moved here from Blaenau Ffestiniog for work. It’s your turn to move now. There’s nothing left!” I still have my memories. Miners climbing up our street in Aberbargoed, Bedwellty Road, the steepest hill in the area. Covered in coal dust, wearing flat caps, roll ups lit. I owe it so much. Final thought. I remember watching “How Green was my Valley” with my grandfathers. “Look you? Who did you ever hear saying that?” That was Taid Will. “Dreadful. Smiling as we left work? Yes. Singing? We didn’t have enough breath left after climbing Bedwellty Hill, in Aberbargoed.” That was Taid Jack, hard as nails with a heart of gold. I live in leafy Worcestershire now but 25 Bedwellty Road Aberbargoed will always be right in my heart.
The vicar in the last few minutes was my grandfather, Canon William Cooper Lewis. He was still working well into the 1970's before retiring to Caerleon. I just about remember going there as a very small child and running round the vicarage grounds. As an aside the first Matt Smith/Karen Gillian Dr Who episode was filmed inside and in the grounds of the vicarage in 2009...
Very nostalgic. The film is listed as 1947 but given there is some military content I wouldn't be surprised to learn it was at least a couple of years earlier than that. As others point out,the lack of sound or narration is a shame.
Showed this to my father I recognised the scoutmaster in the film. His name is Norman Gilbert and he used to teach Mam (My mother) He had a brother Hubert Gilbert who was an artist and was a lecturer in Newport College of Art. His daughter lives/lived down the terrace in the end house, nearest the Brewery Club (Rhymney)
grandfather managed lloyd's in the 70s, i remember the snow piles and the lovely big doggy in howard's shop. moved to tucson in 80, dear god what a world. you know you can drive your car through the walls of buildings here like cardboard.
I was born in Cwm Rhymni, as my Welsh speaking father called it. The Rhymney Valley. The land slip at the beginning of the film was at Abertysswg. This happened in 1930. My family had strong connections throughout the valley, especially in Aberbargoed, Phillipstown and Rhymney itself. My father, H H Roberts, was Chief Financial Officer for Rhymney District Council, until his death in 1955, at the age of 40. He never fully recovered from his wartime activities. The council building is still standing, on the Main Street in Rhymney. It’s hard to pick out lots of the places but the Square Cafe, owned by Mr Minoli, shows clearly that much of the footage was filmed in the town. These were the days before the pit head baths! You can see one miner washing away the grime in the sink….or a BOSH…..to us. These baths changed lives. My childhood bath was a tin one, which hung on the door of the outside toilet.
I would hazard a guess that the school is Rhymney Lawn, still functioning today. The hospital looks like the one that was near the brewery. I think the church is the St. David church. The stain glass window is still intact. Next to it was the Eisteddfod Football ground, where I played many a match. I left the valley in 1971. The mines closed. They took our resources and left the communities to rot. I left because my Taid (grandfather) said:-
“John, when I was your age I moved here from Blaenau Ffestiniog for work. It’s your turn to move now. There’s nothing left!” I still have my memories. Miners climbing up our street in Aberbargoed, Bedwellty Road, the steepest hill in the area. Covered in coal dust, wearing flat caps, roll ups lit. I owe it so much. Final thought. I remember watching “How Green was my Valley” with my grandfathers. “Look you? Who did you ever hear saying that?” That was Taid Will. “Dreadful. Smiling as we left work? Yes. Singing? We didn’t have enough breath left after climbing Bedwellty Hill, in Aberbargoed.” That was Taid Jack, hard as nails with a heart of gold. I live in leafy Worcestershire now but 25 Bedwellty Road Aberbargoed will always be right in my heart.
What a fantastic video, it took me back to my childhood. Thank you.
The vicar in the last few minutes was my grandfather, Canon William Cooper Lewis. He was still working well into the 1970's before retiring to Caerleon. I just about remember going there as a very small child and running round the vicarage grounds. As an aside the first Matt Smith/Karen Gillian Dr Who episode was filmed inside and in the grounds of the vicarage in 2009...
Very nostalgic. The film is listed as 1947 but given there is some military content I wouldn't be surprised to learn it was at least a couple of years earlier than that. As others point out,the lack of sound or narration is a shame.
Showed this to my father
I recognised the scoutmaster in the film. His name is Norman Gilbert and he used to teach Mam (My mother) He had a brother Hubert Gilbert who was an artist and was a lecturer in Newport College of Art. His daughter lives/lived down the terrace in the end house, nearest the Brewery Club (Rhymney)
grandfather managed lloyd's in the 70s, i remember the snow piles and the lovely big doggy in howard's shop. moved to tucson in 80, dear god what a world. you know you can drive your car through the walls of buildings here like cardboard.
Hey i live here right now
Are those the abondend factories near the train station near the terrace?
It does look like it I played there as a child although i dont think i was aloud to
Oh really I was born in merthyr and know Rhymney really well where did you exactly played
Is that norman Gilbert the scoutmaster.my first physics teacher in 1977
I know the name Norman gilbert. did he teach in the school in Rhymney. I lived in rhymney from 1946 until 1967. I was Jane Jones
Yes it was a lovely man taught me physics in rhymney comp I'm Jason Jones
Yea my father said it was.
Its a shame there's no narrative to accompany the footage
Shame there’s no sound
I was born in Tredegar and all my family are from the valley
Are some of the scenes from Bargoed ?
Loks like Rhymney High Street towards the end.
what year was this filmed please and is there sound?
It was filmed in 1947
I was born in Rhymney in 1964
My husband's family where miners there,
Shame the way it is now