your comments
David Hart. Acrefair/Cefn
Apologies to Christine MADSEN for spelling her name wrong in my last posting. Sorry.
Fri Apr 24 08:28:37 2009
David Hart. Acrefair/Cefn
Reply to CHRISTINE MARSDEN re Canada Bill. I asked an aunt of mine, who is 98 years of age and has lived in Fron all of her life, how the Nickname "Canada Bill" came into being. She told me that he worked in the quarry belonging to the Kilns, and he married a CANADIAN lady. Wales being what it is, and our area in particular, this is where the name was derived from, and stuck for posterity. She is certain that he never visited Canada. Hope this helps.
Tue Apr 21 11:39:42 2009
Chistine Madsen
Still cannot find out who 'Canada BILL' was in relation to the Fron kilns, please can anyone tell me?
Tue Apr 14 09:52:34 2009
Mandi, Wrexham
Pam from Buckley, thank you very much for your information, I am very grateful. I knew my uncle Hubert as Uncle Jack (I don't know why), I was very young when he passed away, but I do recall being very fond of him, and him driving a bright blue Volkswagen beetle. Thanks again, Mandi.
Mon Mar 9 10:16:52 2009
John Roberts from Flint
Two earlier contributors mentioned Francis Roberts (builder). He was (as Gareth says) born in Ysbyty Ifan in 1853. After a time in Liverpool he moved to live in Nant, Trevor. He was my great-grandfather and I would be grateful to hear of any memories of him, his family or the business. I know that the business survives as a funeral directors in Cefn Mawr. In particular can anyone tell me when exactly he died and where he is buried? The same info about his wife Jane would also be valuable to me. Thanks.
Thu Mar 5 08:03:30 2009
Len Salisbury, Acrefair
To Chris Madsen, I took a picture of that stone last year and it is on one of the links of Froncysyllte site. Have a search and you may stumble on it. Well I hope not.
Mon Mar 2 10:27:20 2009
Chris M
Having walked from Trefor basin over the aqueduct to Chirk and back on Sunday afternnoon with my lovely dog, Iolo, and my son and grandson, we came upon a big stone in Fron stating that it was Canada Bill who worked for the Chirk Castle limestone Company. Who was Canada Bill and why was he remembered?
Mon Feb 23 09:06:19 2009
Chris Madsen
For Alan Salisbury, I have passed on your details to Malcolm's son, Andrew. I expect you will hear from them soon.
Thu Oct 2 07:59:33 2008
Alun Salisbury Cardiff formerly Cefn Mawr
Chris Madsen – Thank you for your help. Asking folk in the village I have located the house formerly known as Sunset Villa. It is a semi detached property, with Sunrise Villa to the east, and what was Sunset Villa to the west, now renamed Owl Cottage.
Tue Sep 16 10:58:48 2008
Chris Madsen
For Alun Salisbury, I have seen Malclom's son Andrew and told him about this website and yourself. They do not have a computer but would love to hear from you. I will willingly pass messages.
Fri Sep 12 08:35:34 2008
Pam from Buckley
Mandi, Wrexham - your Uncle Hubert (not Hulbert) lived in No. 17 Charles Avenue, Trevor, with his wife and daughter, Vivienne. They were lovely neighbours, and Hubert took me with them on many occasions when they had a trip out in the car. At the time I think your Aunty Lois lived in The Moors (St Martins), because Hubert used to go there quite often. Vivienne got married in 1969 and Hubert died around 1971/2, after that his widow, Nell, moved to live in Borras Park.
Mon Sep 8 09:35:16 2008
Alun Salisbury, Cardiff formerly Cefn Mawr
Chris Madsen – I, together with the rest of the family have lost both Malcolm, and his brother, Kenneth's contact details. If you are in contact with either of them would you please ask them to telephone me? If you're willing, I will request that the web team forward my email address, and telephone number to you for contact purposes.
Mon Sep 1 09:26:43 2008
Chris Madsen
To Alan Salisbury, I know a reletive of yours, Malcolm Bartley. Maybe he could help you in some way.
Mon Aug 25 19:10:21 2008
Alun Salisbury, Cardiff - formerly Cefn Mawr
I am researching the death of my great Taid, Edwin Bartley who drowned crossing the Aqueduct. He was buried 11 March 1903 in St David's Church cemetery Froncysyllte. The cemetery records show that at the time of his death he was residing at Sunset Villa, Froncysyllte. Does anyone know the location of this dwelling and whether it is still standing?
Mon Jul 28 09:18:45 2008
Mandi, Wrexham
My father, Carey Powell, was born in 1922 at Vron Issa and was brought up in Vroncysyllte until he left about 1939 to fight during WW2 in the RAF. I am researching my family history and would be very grateful for any information or if anyone remembers my dad or other family members. My uncles were Gomer who lived in Vron his entire lifetime, Hulbert (aka Jack) who I believe moved to Cefn and worked in Monsanto, Miriam, Thomas, my aunts were Lois and Evelyn and my grandparents Thomas and Margaret Jane Powell. I know it is a long shot, but here's hoping...
Mon Mar 31 10:22:36 2008
Chris M
To Clare, Agnes was a lovely lady. I knew her when I was a child. She was always nice to us and had time for us.
Wed Feb 6 08:34:54 2008
Clare Kempster
Well, I know that people say it's a funny place, I guess I have to agree a little. However I do have happy memories of Fron as I used to go now and again with my Nana visiting her sister Lilly, as my Nana was from there, Agnes Kempster, nee HUGHES, and my great aunty lived there, Aunty Nelly. Don't know if anyone remembers them...
Tue Jan 22 08:11:11 2008
Johnson from Brantford
Would Phil Wilding know if his gandparents, Jim & Pollie, had a friend named Jess?
Tue Aug 29 10:11:07 2006
Bill Evans, Oswestry
If anyone wants to see lots of old pictures and comments about Froncysyllte. Log on to http://www.btinternet.com/~billevans/fron/
Mon Jun 26 10:04:45 2006
Len Salisbury now of Acrefair
I too remember the Church Institute because I was contracted to take some wedding pictures of a couple who had just been married at Fron Church and the reception was held at the institute. My camera was on a tripod and one of the guests' children knocked over the tripod and the camera fell to the floor and the film was exposed. Does anybody recall this incident and who were the couple that were married?
Mon Feb 20 18:01:19 2006
Phil Wilding now of Bowling Bank, Wrexham
I think Len Salisbury's guess of 1947 as one of the years the canal froze over is a good one. During that cold winter Acrefair school was closed for some weeks and I went to live with my grandparents (Jim and Pollie Wilding) and Uncle Cliff. My great grandparents and grandparents lived, from the 1870s, in the nearest of the 3 sandstone cottages (demolished mid 1960s) to Scotch Hall on the side of the Trevor basin (The Wharf) where my father was born. To help eke out the fuel supply in the wintertime Cliff used to collect firewood. On one occasion he took me with him, being pulled along on his sledge, and walking on the ice of the frozen canal past Scotch Hall, then past Diggory's foundry towards Llangollen. After nearly 60 years my memories are somewhat hazy, to say the least, but what I do remember very well were the repercussions of that trip. Much to his later regret Cliff admitted to walking only on the canal ice for the whole trip including under the bridges where it's at its weakest. My mother went ballistic when she heard this and this story reverberated around the family for many years. It is amazing to visit Trevor Basin now. Until 1949, when my parents moved to Wrexham, I spent a great deal of time at The Wharf with my grandparents and the only boats I can remember seeing were flat bottomed canal maintenance barges and these were very rare. Today the M25 comes to mind. If anybody has any photographs of the Wharf cottages I would dearly love to see them and have them copied if possible. When Jim and Pollie moved in with my parents all the family photographs were dumped in the disused mine shaft that was just behind the cottage.
Tue Jan 24 10:45:54 2006
Local, Fron
Hi uncle Bill, yea Jonty was fantastic. But we all know what the outcome of him on stage would always be!! The photo is amazing, i just wish i could have seen it frozen. I have fond memories of the village and the happy times we shared.
Fri Nov 11 16:52:22 2005
Len Salisbury Cefn & Surrey
I recall the canal being frozen and would suggest it was 1947 as a good guess.
Mon Oct 24 12:50:57 2005
Bill, Fron
Just to set "Local, Fron" right. The wooden hut is still there, but it is no longer wooden. It is now a depressing concrete. It is not the community centre, that is a recent addition. It is the building alongside the canal which used to be the Church Institute. It was the scene of church Christmas parties and also seved as the local dance hall. Live dance bands not juke boxes. Does anyone rember "Jonty" playing the drums? He was the local comedian who took part in many variety concerts. I don't think Victoria remembers the time when the canal really froze over, if so she must be older than my mother aged 95 who still lives on the canal towpath. That picture was before her time.
If she is please get in touch with me, my email address on the Froncysyllte website.
Tue Oct 11 00:30:53 2005
Victoria, Local
I have lived in this cute village all of my life, i have had my fair share of queer moments. I also remember when the canal froze, it was a cold day and i was utterly starving. I remember my dog fell in the canal, my brother tried to save it, i have a hazy memory of it coming out all stiff. Many of the children skated along the ice, it was very dangerous thinking back.
I am still there today, so if anybody would like to know anything just post me up a question and i will do my very best to get back to you. NOTE TO VICTORIA: Please contact the Web Team via email, wales.northeast@bbc.co.uk
Wed Sep 28 16:39:13 2005
Local, Fron
The wooden hut is still there, also known as the community centre, where local events occur from time to time. I have a cracking picture of when the aqueduct sprang a leak one winter many years ago and the water gushing from the great height froze, i must post that soon.
Tue Sep 20 15:58:40 2005
Alun Salisbury Cardiff & Cefn Mawr
The scene brings back memories of the winter of 1962/63 when even the river Dee was frozen. Also of an incident that occurred at Fron later in the decade when I worked as a gas fitter at Cefn Mawr. One morning I was tasked with fitting a two-burner hotplate at the village hall! (Wooden hut, alongside the canal, close to the Aqueduct). Key access was from a person who lived somewhere near Methodist Hill. Handing over the key, he asked whether I had a blowlamp, and if so, would I thaw the water pipes, which had frozen? Being a young, ‘green’ gas fitter I readily agreed. On entering the hall, I completed my task of fitting the hotplate. As a precaution, before thawing the pipes, I searched in vain for the water stop tap. Unable to locate the tap I cast caution aside, ignited my blowlamp, and began to heat the frozen pipes. A decision I was to regret. Unfortunately, I had failed to spot that ice within the pipe, which was acting as a plug, had forced a fitting apart. Too late, whoosh! Now thawed, the water hit the tin roof above before cascading down on me and flooding the toilet and kitchen floors. I had to wait over two hours, soaked through and in wet and freezing conditions before a local Water Board man arrived home for lunch. He lived in a house on Gate Road, directly below the wooden hut and was the only person who knew the location of the stop tap. Pipe fitting repaired and water restored I returned home for dry clothes and to think of a suitable excuse why the simple job of fitting the hotplate had taken over three hours to complete. Is the wooden hut still there and was it the village hall? Perhaps someone can advise.
Thu Jul 28 15:32:38 2005
Podgea D from Chester
Wow this looks COOL!
Fri Sep 17 14:19:23 2004
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