Abercraf, Powys

Glanaman Square

Further to previous postings this photograph is of Glanaman square taken from near the front of Bryn Seion chapel where the pelican crossing is now. The first shop, with awning, is now the chemists - then ran by Hubert Jones. The middle shop is Waterloo House, grocers, then ran by my grandfather Arthur Jenkins. It is now Martin Jones the Butcher. The third shop was Fuller the ironmonger and the next was shop Gwen (then a chippie I believe) but now shop y pentre. I was raised there so there is no doubt. In the distance, to the right of the photo you can see the gable end of the Co-op.

The Square (sgwar)

My brother and I were born in 1931, the only twins in the village at that time (Elwyn and Eifion Goss). Bryn Seion was always in our sight whenever we went to the shops on the square. The first stop was to the Co-op which was situated obout 50 yards to the right of the chapel. In between the chapel and the Co-op was the bank which was housed in the front room of Rock House where the Jones family lived. In the house lived my very best friend Tegwyn Jones. I spent countless happy days at Rock House playing with Tegwyn. Against warnings not to, we played in the bank and often set off the alarms which were activated by push buttons under the counter. We often went to the bakery, to the left of the chapel, where we bought a baker's dozen cakes. As a reward I was given the extra cake.
Sunday was the time after Sunday School when we all met in Carpninis for coffee and ice cream made on the premises by Joe and his father, a wonderful old gentleman. Next door to the cafe was the newspaper shop where I bought the first ever biro, a truly amazing invention at the time.
Glanaman was truly an ugly wonderful place, as Dylan Thomas said of Swansea.

Capel 'Dadcu'

I recently found a photograph of this chapel among some old family photos and have only today discovered its identity. For many years we were told as children that our grandfather John Davies (also known as Dadcu Ffynnon Lwyd) had been the master craftsman who did the  interior wood work of a chapel in the Glanamman/ Brynamman area. The photograph has prompted me to investigate further as to whether this is 'Capel Dadcu'. He lived in Brynmargam Glanamman in 1913 and was a student at the School of Architecture (although I don't know where that was). I have discovered that the chapel was built in 1909 -1910, that the organ pipes were added in 1911, and that the builder was a William Evans from Ammanford;also that it was designed by Henry Herbert of Ammanford. It's a bit of a long shot, but I wonder if there are any records somewhere of other persons who may have worked on the interior - and whether my grandfather may be listed among them. I have seen a photograph of the interior on the web and the style looks remarkably similar to my grandfather's work....though that could be a case of wishful thinking on my part. I would be very pleased if anyone has any further information on the building of this chapel. Diolch yn fawr. Amelia Davies, Aberystwyth (formerly from Carmarthen and daughter of late Wendell Davies).

Are you sure?

I believe this photo is not of the square. I think this photo is further up, maybe the old co-op? I have being doing a lot of family research on my ancestors from the area which is why I think that this is not the square. My great grandfather used to own the bakery, and my great great grandfather built the building next door to the bakery that later on was owned by the Carpanini family. There is only 1 first floor window on the Carpanini buliding.

Just an observation, but I think I'm right.