"I've lived in Borth all my life. It's a very special place with a strong sense of community. For geomorphological reasons, it is often referred to as 'the unique village'. It's one of only two places in the world to be built on a storm beach. Those who decided to develop a village here many centuries ago were brave souls.
Borth started life as a fishing village and once had a thriving herring industry. Some of the original beach stone cottages built by the first fishermen are still standing and it's striking to note how the village has changed over the centuries. Many of the houses are named after the ships that sailed all over the world from here.
Years ago, the houses on the beach side would have had very small windows looking out to sea, and roofs which went right down to the shingle to protect the building from stormy seas. Now when you walk along the beach, all the houses facing the sea seem to have huge plate glass windows. It's the triumph of hope over experience and the confidence that the next great storm will never come! The fishing industry has since declined, although we still have a few fishermen - Abbo and Sampson mainly - who go out in all weather.
Since the mid 19th century, our main industry has been tourism. Borth has one of the longest beaches in Ceredigion - a three and a half mile stretch of golden sands with safe bathing. It's not surprising therefore that the arrival of the railway in the 1860s turned the village into a popular tourist destination.
At one stage, the railway line used to terminate at Borth (it took them two more years to reach Aberystwyth) so we were the end of the line. During this period, substantial Victorian buildings sprang up as hotels. Pantyfedwen (formerly the Grand Hotel) was one of these and it was a crying shame when they knocked it down in the early 1980s.
Borth was an idyllic place in which to grow up. There were so many wonderful places to play and during the summer we would spend most of our time on the beach and in the sea as do my children and their friends now.
In the 1960s, the village would be teeming with visitors during the summer - especially during the 'Birmingham Fortnight'. For a period of two weeks (usually the last week of July and the first week of August), all the factories and foundries in the Midlands would close down and it felt as if the whole population decamped en masse to Borth.
Borth has two sides - a summer side and a winter side. As children, we'd have summer friends and winter friends. Some friends used to come to stay in the same house every summer for the full six-week school holiday - their parents were either well-off and had a summer house here or they'd be staying with relatives in the village. Back then, there was a much higher number of second homes in the village, especially those properties on the cliff and along the beach. Nowadays, almost all of the houses are owned by locals who work in the village or commute to Aberystwyth or beyond.
When our summer friends arrived, we'd pick up where we'd left off the previous summer. Even though we hadn't kept in touch all winter, it was as it they'd never been away. Some of those who used to holiday here as children still visit now.
The highlight of the summer has always been the carnival. In 50 years, I've only ever missed two carnivals - one because I was in the States and the second because I was pregnant and thought I had better behave more decorously. How wrong I was! Everyone in the village joins in - babies and children, teenagers, young people, parents and grandparents. It's a fantastic day out and the hwyl goes on into the early hours.
At the end of the summer, the locals often breathe a collective sigh of relief. For a few weeks - before the winter weather sets in - we have the beach to ourselves. September is one of my favourite times of the year. The weather's still warm, you can have an impromptu barbecue on the beach and the youngsters can go straight on to the beach when they come home from school. It lengthens the summer for us."
By Jackie Lawrence from Borth
Read part two of Jackie's pen portrait...
your comments
Keith Hampson, Congleton
With no family still living in Borth it is strange to go there now and not walk into my nan's house, Panteg. I meet up with John Tomkinson (see comments) in Santiago and we always talk about the people of Borth, John's first job was working in London's marzipan cake decoration factory, in Boston house before it moved into the old station building,where my mum worked for many years. He now works with me building railways in Chile, what a small world.
Sun Feb 7 18:49:17 2010
Sarah king, Birmingham
We have been going to Borth all my life,,im now 37yrs old and i took my 7 yrs old son there for the first time in Aug,he imediatly fell in love with the place and now wants to live there. It always feels like im home whenever we travl there and breaks my heart when we have to leave,have always loved borth and it holds so many happy memories for me cause my mom passed away 2yrs ago and she also love being there, the momument on the cliff especially.Thanx for sharing the history with us,it was lovely to find out so much more than we knew about the place that we love.
Mon Sep 14 07:05:18 2009
Chaz Meekcom, Handsworth Birmingham
What a beautiful place, don't know how I missed it on my travel t Wales the fishing the scenery all amazing,and lovely people to best hol ive had in ages,i definitely will be returning.
Thu Aug 27 16:11:07 2009
Chaz Meekcom, Handsworth, Birmingham
What a beautiful place, dont know how i missed it on my travels to wales the fishing the scenery all amazing,and lovley people to best hol ive had in ages,i definatly will be returning ,
Thu Aug 27 14:22:45 2009
Molly Wilkinson from Cumbria
I enjoyed reading this article and my Nan was born and brought up in Borth. She met my Grandpa when she was working at Pantyfedwen hotel. I went to Borth when I was very little and played on the beach were my dad used to pay when he was younger. I found these facts very useful. Thank you.
Wed Aug 26 14:37:18 2009
mark Mead,, Tovey, Arlo, Bryn and Louis from Arund
Went to Borth by chance as a dear friend of ours who was born nearby wanted to celebrate her 40th birthday there, and we found your festival, perfect! being a family of surfers even better, festivals and surfing dont hold hands often.My wife and I sat on your dunes and agreed how much better our heads would be to reside in a place so beautiful, I've been racking my brains since. Loved it as soon as we landed, so much so we'll be back in a couple of weeks.Thanks very much to all the Borth locals for being such fantastic host's and look forward to revisiting under quieter circumstances. The west coast of Wales is my favourate part of the UK and I've seen it all, I can't believe it toke me till 41 years old to discover it.
Fri Aug 7 15:06:18 2009
Bob Dinsdale, Geneva
We had relatives living in Borth for generations, and every summer we would spend a week or so there, climbing over the rocks hunting for prawns or playing at the fun fair. My parents retired there after owning a house on the sea side for many years and when they passed away my sister bought it and still has it. It was always a magical place and the family plan to have a reunion there in 2008. Reading the other comments you realise how the place has remained a charm that never goes away. Watching the waves crash on the breakwater in a winter storm makes you feel alive like nothing else.
Wed Sep 10 16:17:48 2008
Charlotte from Plymouth
Very happy memories of Borth and I have not as yet taken my own children, my Mum and Dad used to take us for the day the once a year trip from Ludlow and we used to cheer when we saw the sea. We then stayed in some very nice bungalows opposite the beach, we played on the beach all day whatever the weather, what wonderful memories of wonderful Borth.
Mon May 12 08:45:05 2008
Chris Baxter, Wednesbury
I've been going to borth all my life , i remember dave sampson taking me and my brother andy baxter out fishing in his boat and the mackeral cooked fresh from the sea was mouth watering ,i went last year ang guess who i bumped into in the railway inn ? yes sampson all these years on and still got the same beard and really friendly welcome, cant wait to go again in september.
Wed Apr 30 15:13:54 2008
Paul Fereday Ashford Kent
I moved to Borth in 1966 as my mum & dad had taken over the job as Golf professional & stewardess, at the Borth & Ynyslas Golf club.With my older brother Dow, I spent many hot summer days on the beach.Eating sandwiches from plastic boxes & drinking a bottle or two of coca-cola.My father Len's health deteriorated, & we all moved to Talybont.Unfortunately a matter of weeks later he passed away in 1971.My mum , Meg wasnt to keen on Talybont & we moved back to upper Borth in 1978.My mum passed away in 1983.I stayed in Borth until I moved down to Kent in 1992 ish.Dow still lives in Llanon, where he lives with his family & runs a recording studio.I work as a technical engineer, & am still mad on motorcycles....11 at present!Anyone remember me?Paul Fereday ....AKA Fuzz
Wed Mar 26 09:09:22 2008
Dave from Burton-on-trent
Borth is THE finest place on this planet
Fri Mar 7 14:53:55 2008
Sue Rees-Williams , Penrhyn Bay, Nr Llandudno
I was born in Aberystwyth. I went to Borth VP School. I also went to Ardwyn Grammar School. I moved away from Borth in My 20s but have never really been away!! Borth gets you like that. It's a very special place. I am married with two childen.I now return on a regular basis - once a month and am due to visit next weekend. I can't wait!!I always see somebody I know or grew up with!
Mon Dec 31 14:42:43 2007
Rachel Shanahan, Cardiff
I have had many happpy holidays in Borth all my life. For 35 years I have stayed either with my parents in a touring caravan, our static vans, a B&B, or at friends' houses. For many summers growing up as a teenager I met lots of other people -either living in Borth or staying in a caravan like me. I can say that I have had lots of pen pals from different parts of the world - whom I met in Borth. There was no e-mail then but the postman always had something for me. I am still living in Cardiff and still visiting Borth. I brought a little souvenier back with me some years ago - Glyn Bond - who was born and raised in Borth. He has been living in Cardiff for over 14 years! We have known each other for alot longer ..... We have a touring caravan of our own now. We have two gorgeous children whose grandparents are Des and Joyce Bond, they live in Aberwennol. They are lovely well known members of the community..... heres to many more visits.......
Thu Nov 29 09:25:22 2007
Sue Barrett
My mom and dad used to keep a touring van at a field near borth in the 50s, where I spent weeks playing in the dunes.I had never forgot these wonderful childhood days, so when my own children were small in 1990 I set off with my huaband to try and find this wonderful place. The first memory to greet me was the up and downy road approaching from inland, on reaching the cross roads was the view of the golf course where you could go left to borth or right to ynyslas,I cant explain how excited I was driving down towards the estuary I was, as there on the right was my childhood caravan site "sea rivers". we stayed a few days, then bought a static where my children spent all their school holidays playing in the dunes as I had done. We left the caravan site when Roger sold it. My children and I will always have wonderful memories of Borth and its surrounding areas and feel privileged to have spent many childhood days there,one year my two kids came won first and second prize at Borth carnival, and can you recall the year there was a ladybird explosion.
Mon Nov 12 08:05:02 2007
Tracey Palk, Huddersfield
My family have returned today from a short half term break at Borth and we really enjoyed it - especially the wonderful surrounding scenery, fantastic beaches and walks for our boisterous dog! - we will definitely return soon!
Fri Oct 26 08:23:15 2007
John Tomkinson from Santiago
I used to live in Borth for many years. I always remember it fondly.I left Borth to search for myfanwy jones in patagonia. so far without sucess, though I did go to the patagonia opera house but i missed the concert due to the rebels cutting the elecricity and the coca cola machine breaking down...
Tue Oct 23 08:52:56 2007
Jayne Watkins, Warley, West Midlands
I have been visiting Borth for 40 years now. My first visit was when I was 6 months old and I've been going ever since. Our family travelled to Borth every year by train for 2 weeks holiday in August. My parents Pat & Brian Baker and us kids,5 of us and usually some of our friends. We stayed on Brynowen for most of that time but for several years we stayed at Gleanor, the wonderful big house owned by Jane & Thomas Morris. We got to know the locals and we would take part in the carnival and go to the discos on the night. Most of the shop owners knew us and would welcome us like we had never been away. Mr & Mrs Morris were so lovely, they would have us children down in their cave under the house and Tom would show us how to cook perrywinkles and tell us stories of old Borth. Mr & Mrs Matthews owned the shop a couple of doors away and we knew the people who owned The Harlequin cafe. My father passed away September 2006 and just before he died he was having a bad day and I said "come on dad shall i take you to Borth" he replied " ooohh yes, just let me lie down on the beach and close my eyes, that'l do for me". He never got to Borth again. Cant wait til witsun when we'll be back. Borth is brill...
Fri May 4 14:22:22 2007
Victoria Burch from Derbyshire
My family was lucky enough to have a second home on Borth as I was growing up in the 70s & 80s. I regard Borth fondly as my second home. My family took part enthusiastically in the carnival, with one year in the 1970s I remember my mother made me sit on the roof of our yellow polo in the procession with a yellow hat on, pretending to be the sun! I also won the competition where you sit on a chair & wait for the tide to come in.
I remember getting 99s from Surrey Cafe, crusty bread from Mr Fielding, lovely fresh meat from Pete the Meat and seeing my grandmother have a glass of sherry in the Grand Hotel before Sunday lunch.
Unfortunately the cottage has been sold now, but I have so many happy memories - I would love for my children to have such an idyllic childhood.
Sat Mar 24 18:05:54 2007
Ian Brodigan, Norfolk
spent many holidays in aber and borth as a child use to stay with my mums dad in aber, my dadcu (proud to say all my kids call my dad dadcu now despite not having visited aber hardly at all)but used to visit my dads family in borth which was mainly by then my aunty ena who lived when i was very little next to the old school up the hill,then moved into francon at the bottom of the cliff road which was the old family house,in later years her brother,my uncle john moved in when he retired after working in africa and the middle east,loved borth beach,so much better than aber's as dad would constantly remind my mum,and in the winter the storms were magnificent especially when viewed from the big 2nd floor window at francon,pity i now live as far away as you can get in this country or would visit more ,happy memories
Tue Nov 28 09:28:58 2006
Tony Dry, Solihull, West Midlands
I remember holidays in Borth with my parents and sisters from 1958 to 68, going to CSSM on the beach, and staying either at Brynowen (then a very small field) or in the Pantyfedwen Hotel (where I remember a giant harp in the hall).We went fishing in the Lerry and played in the dunes. My grandparents were from Newtown (Headmaster at Grammar School, William Dean-Jones)and my mother spent most of the 30's in Borth leading up to the war. I still remember it fondly though my own family prefers Greece to Wales nowadays (sorry..Jackie).
Wed Oct 25 15:31:25 2006
Do you live in Borth? Have you spent holidays here? Add your comments here:
Jackie Lawrence is Borth born and bred. A secondary school teacher and mother of two grown children, she plays an active part in village life and has chaired the Community Council since 2005. Here, she reveals why she wouldn't want to live anywhere else but Borth. 
