The snow of 1947
Last updated: 08 February 2009
This photo of Castle Street in Hay on Wye during the heavy snows of 1947 was sent in by John S Batts who now lives in Sydney, Australia.
John:"The back of the photo says (in my father's handwriting) 'February, 1947.' A view (looking eastwards) of Castle Street, Hay, just east of the
junction with Belmont Road, in February, 1947. The adults with shovels
are my father (centre) and his brother Trevor (RHS). From the
appearance of the sunshine and the clothing, I'd surmise that the date is late February. Looking at it closer via the zoom, I am certain the pic' was taken outside 25 Castle Street, the old family house (unseen on the right hand side) where Trevor was still living. To the right hand side the front of the Mason's Arms pub' and Parry the Butcher's shop can be discerned.
Childhood recollections tell me that 50 degrees [Fahrenheit] of frost were reported that winter. School milk, delivered on a lorry from Leominster, arrived solid in the glass bottles at Hay Primary School in Heol-y-dwr -- if it arrived at all. Church services at St. Mary's [Anglican] were moved to the small hall at St. John's Place. Outlying roads were blocked by snow for weeks on end."
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