The transcript below is taken from a series of interviews by schoolchildren as part of a project called, Bridging the Years.
Transcript:
Child: "What can you tell me about flooding?"
Malcolm Lloyd: "That for me, at the time, was quite good because I didn't have to go to school and, at that time, I wasn't that bothered because I wasn't that keen on school. It was an horrendous time for people who lived in the village. Where I live, we had quite a view, and could see just how much of the land was covered because we live at the top [of Bangor on Dee]."
Ken Griffiths: "The main thing about the old bridge is that there is a ring and a chain on the first arch. When the river comes up, when it gets to the ring, the river then was flooding on to Graig Lane - as soon as the river reached that ring it meant the river was coming out on the lane, where the first of the flooding used to come. Then it used to make its way up the village."
Jane Johnson: "The way you were told the flood was coming - up by the Graig Lane - was from the milkman. He used to come about 6.30 in the morning and he used to knock on the door and tell you that the flood was coming. Most of the houses didn't have carpets, they had tile floors. So, what you used to do, because you knew it was coming, you'd get bricks and raise your furniture up."
Hilda Turton: "On one occasion the only item left downstairs was a Christmas tree in the front room, still with its decorations on. And, in the kitchen, there was kitchen table and I had left the leaf of the table down and the rise of the water had actually lifted them up and the table was floating around the kitchen. I had waded down into the kitchen and I was wading around in this huge pool of water in the whole house and I opened the pantry door and tomatoes came out to meet me."
Ken Griffiths: "I remember it coming in these council houses in the front where my dad lived and it came in the house about two inches but one on the far side it was coming in through the windows. And then when I got married at our house - further down the road by the baskets shop - it was three foot six inches in the house. In those days we used to have what was called a 'modern grate' and it [flood water] was level with the top of the grate. We used to live upstairs. All houses in those days had upstairs fireplaces and the flooding was an annual event so we used to go upstairs and the women would cook on the fire. Then they used to bring the soup round - there used to be a boat that came in the village with hot soup. The fella down the bottom by Johnson's basket shop, well, if you go further down there used to be three little cottages. When the water went down that road it would be a foot high. One day when the milk lorry was coming through the water he made a wave when he came along. So the fella who lived down the road, I saw him come flying out of the house to the driver and he said, 'every time you come past with the milk wagon you put the fire out!' because he was making a wave [laughter]. 
Bridging the Years
This transcript and recording was taken from a CD called Bridging the Years, made as part of a project to encourage pupils at Ysgol Sant Dunawd to develop their awareness, understanding and appreciation of the local environment through oral history. The pupils interviewed local residents and recorded their memoies of Bangor on Dee in the 1960s-70s.
With thanks to Wrexham County Borough Council. This was a Rural Community Action project which was funded and facilitated by the Welsh Assembly Government and Wrexham County Borough Council and delivered by Northern Marches Cymru.
your comments
Michelle Owen
Tracey King, Wrexham, was just reading about your great grandparents, Rose and Joe Edwards who lived on Station Road. I knew them both, especially Rose as she used to come and visit my nan just up the hill from Graig House at the council houses at the top. I used to stay with my nan a lot, her name was Pamela Fowles, they were very good friends. Just thought I'd send you a quick message. This is going back to about 1976 ish so quite a while ago.
Mon Jun 22 10:45:30 2009
Bill White, New Zealand
I was on a farm (Y Ddol) upstream from Bangor at the time, where the river cut right through the house and yards as we were at the top of the "horseshoe" bend. I would be interested to learn of anything you can find, newspaper reports, photographs etc. It was an exciting time. I can add my own comments if you like.
Fri Feb 20 09:52:09 2009
Brian Young now Bedford
With regard to David Mahrenholzs' comments. In 1964 I was photographed being carried as a baby along the Whitchurch road, next to the smithy, in water, with watermarks around 5' high on the buildings. Sorry Gordon, but maybe your memory isn't what it used to be. Regards, Bungy.
Tue Jul 15 08:33:18 2008
Pauline Evans (nee Downs) Cornwall
My parents had the Royal Oak Hotel during the war years. My father, Thomas Prior-Downs, and my mother, Dora Downs, had to cope with many floods. Even though the pub was next to the Dee, this building was usually last to get the impact of the flood. The Dee began flooding around the other side of the village and if it reached our pub, then the flood was severe. I can remember as a child hearing the barrels thumping against the ceiling of the cellar, below my feet when it was flooded out.
Tue Jul 15 08:15:05 2008
Elsie McVittie (nee Griffiths)
I was living in Bangor-on-Dee in the late 60s in the Whitchurch Road area. We were flooded and lived upstairs for 3 days. People used to come past in a small boat and ask us were we all right and did we want anything. I think the year was 1968.
Thu Oct 25 08:11:25 2007
Tracy King, Wrexham
My great grandparents Rose and Joe Edwards used to live at Graig House on Station Road and my mum remembers the floods in the '60s. I remember my great gran telling us all about how everyone helped each other through it all.
Mon Sep 3 09:24:58 2007
Rich Haycocks, Wrexham
I can remember Bangor getting floods in the 60s so it's not that long ago. PS was born in 1947.
Wed Jan 24 08:39:54 2007
David Mahrenholz-Blaenau Ffestiniog
The contributors must have long memories because Gordon Mytton told me in the Buck House Hotel (free plug for Alan!) that the village hasn't flooded since 1947.
Wed Dec 6 16:06:49 2006
Hilda Turton, Bangor-on-Dee
The launch of the CD 'Bridging the Years' at St Dunawd Church on Monday went really well. Thanks to all concerned. A big thank you to Heather Williams and Ken Howarth for this wonderful project, history has been made.
Fri Oct 20 09:57:01 2006
Hilda Turton
I enjoyed working with the school children. The children got really interested in the project.
Fri Oct 6 07:58:14 2006
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