Transcript:
I received this book off my uncle Emlyn who was a fitter down the Hafod (colliery). He was dismantling a cabin down in the pit and he found this book wedged between the cabin and the rockface. I suppose you could call this a discipline book for young lads.
(Reading from the book)
There's one here; Wilfred Jones whose pony's name was Derby; James Jones, Brownie; Emlyn Thomas, Bess; Brynley Green, Diamond. The lads were reported by James Walker for riding their ponies. They played one day.
'They played one day'; That meant they weren't allowed to go to work the next day and they played I suppose.
There's one here,
November 7, 1919, Wiliiam Green, reported using bad language to Peter Williams Phillips, the fireman, on the night shift also for having picked up a stone to hit the fireman whilst in the mine.
There is another here of a lad who was disciplined on Nov 16 1920,
Robert John Edwards, Roger's lad, caught sleeping.
My grandfather was a coal merchant. One of the worst jobs he had was when there had been an accident or a death at the pit. One of the men used to come from the pit on a bike and he would inform the police. The police would go to the house of the man who had been killed. The man on the bike would then go to find my grandfather, wherever he was working.
He would have to drop everything and go with his horse and cart down to the Hafod or Bersham (colleries) and the body would be put on the back of a coal cart, still as it was, covered in a sack and brought to the surface and my grandfather would have to take the body to wherever the man lived.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Gordon for his help in producing this film. Gordon died in July 2008.
your comments
Gwenyth Green from Bradley
My husband's father was Allen Green born 1900 Ruabon. He was a miner until he was injured in an accident down Hafod colliery in the 1930s for which he received compensation because of the serious nature of the injury. He was also a lay preacher for the Rhos, Ruabon and Plas Benion area (he lived in Plas Benion until he married my mother in law Dilys Messham of Gwersyllt). He later became a porter in Wrexham War Memorial Hospital. I think that the William Green disciplined for swearing may have been my husband's grandfather. If anyone has any other memories of Allen Green or the accident down the pit I would be pleased to here from them.
Tue Apr 7 09:50:37 2009
Christine Madsen
No one has mentioned Bonc yr Hafod where I now walk my lovely border terrier, Iolo, a fitting tribute to all our brave men. Most of my family worked there in the Hafod, the statue and the views from the top are brilliant.
Mon Dec 1 08:28:26 2008
Melanie Davies, Summerhill
Answer to John Kyffin from Vincennes, Indiana, US. No, that's not the correct Morris Kyffin. My great great grandfather is Morris Kyffin the one you refer to. Who was your great grandfather? I know his 2nd family (his father John remarried) moved to Colorado. Follow this link and we can discuss more - genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/latest.cgi?kyffin
Sat Aug 16 15:17:59 2008
Alison Wood, Yorkshire
I have just obtained my great grandmother's marriage certificate and she married an Edward William Griffiths in 1910, in Ruthin. His father's name was Edward Griffiths who was a joiner. He lived at 103 Mwrog Street and was 26 when he married my great gran Selina Davis who lived at Wine Vaults, Castle Street. Her father was Frederick Davis and he was a labourer. If anyone thinks they may have connections please contact me or if anyone can help with info about the wine vaults please!
Mon Jul 28 09:33:00 2008
Yvonne McBurney (nee Ellison)
Message to John Kyffin (Rhostyllen). Hi John, remember me, we used to live two doors away from each other, and our family was quite close. My mum and dad were Bert and Nancy. How are you?
Wed Apr 2 16:02:32 2008
John Kyffin from Vincennes, Indiana, US
A question for John Kyffin of Rhostyllen. Was your grandfather or great grandfather also named Morris Kyffin? This Morris was a mine manager and later a pub owner. And apparently somewhat of a poet with a bardic name of Elir Aled, whatever that means. My great grandfather was his brother and moved with his family to Denver, Colorado.
Mon Feb 18 09:46:46 2008
Llinos, Ruthin
I grew up in Rhos during the 70s and 80s and what a change I saw in those years. My grandmother who still lives in Rhos was attacked and burgled in her own home recently, how times have changed! She is at present very poorly in hospital. Lee Sharpe, did you live in Ponciau, with a step father known as Willis? If so, I know you!
Mon Jan 14 09:19:13 2008
M. French, Shrops
I've just found this site by accident, how wonderful...I am looking for my greatgrandfather's family, they lived in Rhos, my g.grandfather's name was James French, married an Elizabeth French, they had 5 maybe 6 children one was my grandfather Edward French. If anyone knows anything about James or his parents I would be very grateful.
Fri Oct 26 13:22:07 2007
John Shelley in Yokohama, Japan
My grandfather Edwin Williams of Coedpoeth & Chirk was originally a miner. He narrowly survived a pit explosion around 1925 after being trapped for 4 hours underground, and escaped with a smashed leg, which left him crippled. I remember he told me 7 others died in the accident.I've been trying to trace where this disaster occured - the only close incident I can find on the Net in the region at that time was the explosion at Llay Colliery in 1924 where 9 died. If anyone can point me to a detailed account of the disaster where I might be able to confirm things I'd be very grateful.
Mon Sep 24 10:09:28 2007
Margaret Hughes, London
Does anyone remember my father, Dr Harrison, who was the GP in Rhos from 1938 to 1947 when we moved to Wrexham. He left his practice in Chester to help the miners. We lived at Bryn Awelon, Hill St and the surgery was a wooden shack further up the hill!
Wed Sep 5 11:35:18 2007
Kathleen Thomas
I believe that Deryl Jarvis( Croydon) is speaking of my great grandfather, Robert Jarvis. Deryl's father Brynmor and my mother Rhona were brother and sister who used to live in Rhosllanerchrugog.
Wed Jul 11 09:15:34 2007
JUNE PHILLIPS (nee Evans)
Message for John Kyffin, I remember your father and mother well as I was a pal of your sister, Pam. I also used to live next door to your grandparents in West Grove, Rhostyllen. Nice to hear of you again.
Tue Apr 10 08:15:18 2007
Edward Griffiths
My dad worked down the pit at both Hafod & Gresford. He was known at Hafod as Charlie Grace, and at Gresford as Charlie Cowboy because of his love of cowboy films. My great grandad was also a coal miner, born in Rhosllanerchrugog, and his name was Edward Griffiths. His wife was called Pheobe, and he had four daughters, Gwladys, Jinnie, Mary Ellen, and Grace. If anyone thinks they have connections with this family, let us know via this forum please.
Tue Mar 6 08:44:30 2007
Deryl Jarvis, Croydon
I was interested in the article about notifying relatives about a death at Hafod colliery. My great grandfather Robert Jarvis, aged 29, was killed in an accident at Hafod colliery in 1879. He lived at Mountain Street, Rhos, and was a strong trade-unionist (to the extent that you were allowed to be), reflected in his Welsh poetry. My grandfather, also named Robert was born in 1880, several months after his father's death and became a greengrocer in Rhos. Robert's other son was John Jarvis, who was also a poet writing under the name Ioan Maelor.
Tue Jan 16 08:51:26 2007
Lee Sharpe, Cefn Mawr
Hi can anyone help me, as a young lad in the 70s my Taid, Thomas Harold Sharpe (Tommy), used to tell me endless stories of his football days and his days down the pit, has anybody got any stories they would like to share? I would be very grateful.
Thu Jan 4 10:20:13 2007
John Kyffin (Rhostyllen born).
My father, Morris Kyffin (born in Chapel Street Ponciau)1909, was a shot firer in Hafod for 37 years from 1920s till the 60s.
I always remember as a little lad waiting for his bike light to come up Church Steet in Rhostyllen, having cycled past Bersham Pit on his way home.
Tue Nov 28 12:27:54 2006
Caroline Hack, Sheffield (formerly Acrefair)
I believe that the Brynley Green mentioned in the discipline book for riding his pony, Diamond, is my paternal grandfather. Bryn passed away in 1982; he was nearly blind I think when he died, and walked bent over with a stick; it makes me smile now to think of him as a naughty youth having a laugh with his mates and riding that pony. Thank you.
Tue Nov 7 09:59:21 2006
Josephine Smith Cardiff
I am from Rhos, born and bred and was amazed to see on the short film the photograph of Gordon Griffiths' grandfather, Mr Iago Read, as I have a copy of this photograph. The other man with the shovel in his hand is my grandfather Benjamin Jones and I believe they were cleaning the streets of Rhos. Diolch yn fawr.
Mon Oct 23 09:18:38 2006
Janet Gray, Wrexham
My great grandfather William Ernest Williams was killed in the Llay Colliery Disaster of 1924, aged 41. I believe he left a widow and seven children. Many more family members were miners, including my grandfather Robert Ernest Ditchfield, and uncle Norman. I would be pleased to hear from anyone who may have known the family as I am trying to build a family tree to pass down to my children.
Mon Sep 11 09:20:46 2006
Patricia Williams
It was lovely reading about the mines. My mother's family came from Llay and Gwersyllt, most of the menfolk were colliers. Thank you for bringing this bit of history alive.
Tue Aug 29 15:38:24 2006
Trevor Lloyd Jones, born in llay
How interesting. My dad worked in the Llay mine, 1927/1929ish, my brother and I was born there, me December 5th 1928. My Dad & Mother were from South Wales but had to move where the work was. I have found as the years go by that you can take a Welshman out of Wales, but never take the Welsh out of a Welshman/woman. We moved back to South Wales about 1931, and to Coventry 1937, I emigrated to California in 1952, married a lovely California girl in July 1957; two children, four grandchildren, life is good.
Fri Aug 18 10:54:16 2006
Councillor David Bithell Johnstown
I am pleased and grateful the BBC have taken the time to remember the history of the mining community of Hafod Colliery following the recent sculpture of a miner created at the summit at Hafod.
Thu Feb 23 14:34:30 2006
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