Aberdesach, Gwynedd

Visiting Pontllyfni

I spent two wonderful summers in Pontllyfni in 1974 and 1976. I was a college student from the U.S., visiting Wales with a friend who had a cousin living there. The family owned a small inn just up the road from the beach. Visitors from out of country were somewhat rare in Pontllyfni at that time and we enjoyed the attentions of a number of cute young men. I remember the bridge and the "yucky, grotty pub" down the road. I wonder if anyone knows the whereabouts of Robert Wynn Jones? He'd be about 50 by now. I've lost track of him. He came to visit us in the U.S. in 1977 and we corresponded for some time after that. Well, thanks for the opportunity to wander down memory lane!

First view of Capel Uchaf

I first came to Capel Uchaf after my family returned from Australia. My grandmother was Mary Griffith who was living in Capel Uchaf, also there were my uncles Dick and Elved as well as aunts Rachel, Marion and Sarah Wynn.  My grandfather Grifith Griffith had died earlier. This was my mother's family and she was Annie Griffith. I remember arriving at some strange hour and my grandmother greeting us. What a strange thing she was - I couldn't understand her at all. I was stunned by the place and loved it. My vivid memory is of the baker's van arriving with the fresh bread - what a smell and taste. I soon met the hill down to Clynnog as I was to attend school there.  I loved it even though I was in a strange place and that  hill was the best fitness circuit ever. I can remember the little shop at Capel Uchaf and buying sweets from there. We eventually left and returned about two years later to live at number 4, my gran was still at number 3 and cousins at number 2 and 9. I loved that place and spent many days wandering the fields and getting up to mischief. My brother and I used to climb the hill at the back and sit on the stone at the top and view our domain, as it felt like. There was a story that my great grandfather carried the stone up there and used it as a seat for many an hour - where that came from I don't know but as a child it was a great thing to believe in.  That place holds so many fond memories for me and as I live in New Zealand now I was stunned to find this site with some pics. Another thing I recall is seeing my uncle's name carved on the organ somewhere in the church at Clynogg - he used to pump the bellows apparently. The chapel in Capel Uchaf was torture on a Sunday  for young boys wanting to get out and adventure. We used to travel to Penygroes by minibus for school and invariably the snow in winter stopped us -what a shame. I have promised that I will return someday and visit the most memorable place of my childhood.
Keith Scroggins
Auckland New Zealand

Good Times

My memories of Clynnog years ago were good ones, Halloween was our favourite time, we used to just pull gates off hinges, and leave them. The atmosphere of Clynnog then was very happy and innocent, no one to hurt anyone, all neighbours happy to help each other. We climbed mountains, and were gone for hours with no worries of danger,went swimming all day in the summers, with just a bottle of red Corona.

War Bunker

I remember playing hide and seek with family and friends, one of our hiding places was the war bunker at the park, then when they bricked it up, we were gutted. Every year we go back as my father was from Saron and I always look at the bunker.