I am newly moved into the area and would welcome any information regarding the Glebe and the cottages at Dyffryn Row, Dyffryn Road, Abertillery.
Thank you.
Carolyn
Hi Sue,
My husbands family lived in Duffryn Row and I lived in the Gelli Crug (Heather Grove) area although I cannot remember the exact date Duffryn Row were demolished I would say around the late 70's or 80's. I remember them being there in the late 60's as I had friends who lived there who I believe were orignally from Canada (His nickname was Canada) but later moved away from the area. I think his family name was Bevan and his sisters name was Gloria. Sorry to hijack the post there but thought I would mention it whilst fresh in my memory should anyone remember them.
These are two old photos of the area, the first taken sometime in the late 50's or early 60's and the second one circa 1900. The first depicts the area know as the Glebe, where the old powder house is still visable, on the second you can see the Duffryn area, Duffryn Road as I knew it in the background. Some people called this area Scotch a Deeg or Dee I will leave admin to give you the correct spelling and fill you in with further details we did at one time have an article on the Gelli Crug area linked to the home page.
Duffryn Row is at the top right hand corner on the second photo next the the large house, although somewhat obscured by trees
Sue
Dyffryn
Oh my! Thank you very much, that's really helpful. Thank you too for the pictures.
Regards, Sue
beavancalgary
I lived at #1 Duffryn Row with Mike (Canada) my brother
Hey there both. I lived at Duffryn Row with my grandfather Albert Brookes at #1 - and his brother lived at the other end at #11 - Arch and Nanny Brookes - they were both miners and lived there all thier adult lives. My name is Jo-Ann Beavan and my brother Mike used to be called Canada as we had returned from there and lived with my Gramply for a number of years 1961 - until 1966 or there about. I attended Gelli Grug school and then the British. On the Row there was a guy called Mr Lawrence who had a huge pig in his shed that used to get loose. I remember a boy called "Gerkas" not sure of the spelling and I think that was a nick name - he was only a couple of doors down from us. At #2 there were a couple of old sister maids who didn't take to us kids very well and were always throwing us off our bikes. The cottages around the corner was were my grandmother lived - Evelyn Brookes nee Daunter - who came from Six Bells. I remember the "Glebe" behind us very well as we played there a lot. The Lawrences lived on the other side in the Bungalows. Hope this helped fill in a bit. Regards
Jo-Ann
Anne
Duffryn Row
Hi,
It was a little row of eleven cottages (no one had a bathroom except for the italians . Would love to see pic from front if anyone has one.
Occupancy - 1960's - early 1970's
No 1 - Mr Brookes (Jo-ann Bevans Grandad)
No 2 - The Meeks (Daughter and grandchildren Jenkins - Shirley and Alan and their three sons, Michael, Philip and Christopher)
No 3 - The Pinnochios - Marilyn and Lamberto, 3 sons Normando, Juliano and Peiro
No 4 - Griffith family - whose husband only spoke welsh, children dai and moffat (daughter Shiela) and anne (Paul, Paula, Heilwan and Christopher)
No 5 - Mr Lawrence and his wife - Maureen?
No 6 - myself, mum and brother
No 7 - Mr and Mrs Minty
No 8 - Mr and Mrs Baldwin (grandchildren came often - lived on Bishop Street - dad was a fireman - Anita granddaughter)
No 9 - The Youngs (Marylin and her husband, children Alison and Tracy)
No 10 - Miss Doris Turner
No 11 - Mr and Mrs Brookes (Jo-anns uncle)
Was a lovely row , very safe to play, I remember extremely long gardens where people kept chickens, pigs, rabbits (all were of course used for dinner). We used to have a great big bonfire every November at the end by Jo-anns Grandads house. We used to play cops and robbers in Jo-anns grandads 2 old cars, theres an old oak tree where we used to carve our names. I have never loved eating bacon after hearing the pigs squealing going into Mr Lawrences shooting break (going off to market).
Mrs Griffiths used to skin the rabbits and pluck the chickens, we used to put lucky rabbits fett around our necks !
The Glebe was the place we made dens, mud pies and played for hours. Over the back was the Winnets Farm, there was a little brook we used to cross on stepping stones to get to school (Gelli Grug), instead of taking the long way round to the big hill.
There was three little cottages next to the Glebe - middle was my aunty Maureen (mums friend not by relative), she had a little dog called Tiny and next door was Maureens uncle Albert. Behind was a great big allotment, the man who used to tender and sell us fruit and veg I thought looked like Seth (from Emmerdale).
. Would love to see pic from front if anyone has one.