By Doris Shellard from Crickhowell Archive Centre:

"Did you know that where Crickhowell Library now stands there was once a little row of seven cottages? These were condemned and eventually demolished to make way for the new library which was opened by Mr J. T. H. Davies, the Chairman of Breconshire County Council on the 19th of October 1974.

When my grandmother was born there in 1866, it was called Printers Alley. This intrigued me but try as might I have not been able to find a reason for the name.

There was a master printer called Thomas Williams living in High Street who was in business between 1829 and 1867. One of his clients was the famous Thomas Price of Cwmdu or Carnhuanawc as he was known so perhaps the actual printing shop was situated somewhere in The Lane.

On the Beaufort Estate Plan for Crickhowell dated 1760, there is no sign of the cottages but there does appear to be a dotted line, perhaps signifying a footpath from the town centre to the church. By 1841, the cottages were all occupied and - according to the tithe map dated 1844 - owned by Mr John Jones.

The houses were built more or less the same, with the front door opening straight into the main room off the lane. This was approximately twelve foot square with a fireplace. The kitchen was situated at the back with a staircase leading to the two bedrooms.

Looking at census returns, it is amazing to see how many people actually lived in each cottage. Most had large families: the Meale, Parson and Morgan families each had mum, dad and six children living there! Mr Meale was a nailmaker, Mr Parsons a sawyer and Mr Morgan a bootmaker. There was also a whitesmith, a tailor, several agricultural labourers and masons. No printers in Silver Lane though!

Most of the occupants were born locally but in 1861 there was an organist who was born in London and a tile cutter from Staffordshire. The majority of the ladies appeared to be housewives, although there were several dressmakers and confectioners, and in 1851 a straw bonnet maker.

At the back of the cottages, there were small gardens with a wall separating some but not all. At the bottom of the gardens were separate toilets for each household. The gardens were mainly used to grow vegetables but some people managed to keep a few chickens as well.

The lane has always been a thoroughfare from the town, firstly to the church and then to the junior school when that was built. Now of course it is the pupils of Crickhowell High School who use it regularly.

A busy little lane, so busy at times that according to the 'Abergavenny Chronicle' reporting on a council meeting in July 1948, Mr.William Nicholls complained that cyclists and even motor cyclists were continually using Silver Lane to the danger of people living there. The chairman suggested putting up a notice, but Mr Nicholls said the kids will only pull it down' (things do not alter a lot).

The council agreed to erect a sign prohibiting the use of cycles and motor cvcles. There is no mention if this worked or not!

As you can see from the photograph above, there was a high wall opposite the cottages. Tthis was always whitewashed in order to reflect in as much light as possible. In the 1930s, on a day agreed by all the ladies (no gentlemen involved), an old tin bath was filled with whitewash and each lady used a sweeping brush to paint her section of wall. I think they made quite a day of it.

At that time there was a large post in the middle at the church end of the lane which the boys used to leapfrog on the way to school. The girls wore skirts in those days so did not attempt it, or at least not when mum was watching!

In the 1841 and 1851 census, it was called Printers Lane. In 1861, it was called Silver Street with Printers Lane in brackets, the same in 1871, yet on the 1881 census it was back to Printers Lane again!! If anyone could tell me why, I would be most interested to know. I do know that when I was a girl if you lived in one of the cottages and anyone asked where you lived the answer was 'down the Lane'.

So next time you visit the library, before you go inside to change your book, stand a while and listen carefully. You may be able to hear the ladies laughing as they paint their wall or the boys yelling as they leapfrog the post."

Written by Doris Shellard from Crickhowel Archive Centre.