your comments
Alun Turner, Chwilog
To William Scott, think you need to do some more research. There were four cinemas at various times in Blaenau.
Thu Aug 20 15:57:27 2009
Shirley M Williams, Utica, N, Y. USA
I have been trying for some time to get a contact name of someone associated with the Moelwyn Male Voice Choir, which was directed years ago by my grandfather's brother, Cadwaldr Roberts. It was the first choir from Wales to tour the U.S. and I have the original sheet music they sang and one of the badges they wore. I also have a number of photos of Cadwadr's funeral and if the choir keeps historical artifacts I would like them to have these things. Diolch yn fawr.
Thu Jun 25 09:19:42 2009
Delyth Jones, Morfa Bychan.
For Llinos Wyn Jones, Richard Vaughan Owen's mother Catherine Owen nee Vaughan was the sister of my great grandmother Gwen Vaughan.
Fri Jun 5 09:11:26 2009
llinos wyn jones
for Delyth Jones Morfa Bychan.Just been reading through the site again and need to thank you for the message. Have you any more information on Richard Vaughan Owen as I think he could be a relative of my grandmother.
Fri May 22 09:24:24 2009
W Davies Cornwall
Can anyone please tell me where "Four Crosses' was, or is, in Blaenau Ffestiniog?
Mon May 18 11:04:58 2009
Miss G. Weir
I own Caffi Bont in Blaenau Ffestiniog and was wondering if anybody could please outline its history?
Mon May 11 10:00:40 2009
Blaenau in Bloom
We're looking for volunteers to help plant up the planters in Blaenau Ffestiniog on 30-31 May. Meet opposite the Queens Hotel 10.30-11am. Please wear old clothes and working gloves or strong rubber gloves. Please bring a trowel if you have one.
Thu Apr 30 10:53:51 2009
Alwyn Wood, Telford
I'm thinking of relocating to Blaenau Ffestiniog and would like to hear from local people whether they think there is any problem with the air quality owing to the exposed slate and also the steam railway? I need to know as I have asthma and am very susceptible to any dust or fumes. Also is it a friendly place to live?
Wed Apr 29 11:59:27 2009
William Scott from New Zealand
Would anyone know when the last performance at the cinema in Blaenau Ffestiniog was and what the name of the last film? I'm putting together a history of TV and Cinema in Snowdonia.
Wed Feb 18 09:23:49 2009
mary instrell
I am very interested in the history of the Pengwern Arms Hotel as my ancestors the Jones family were the owners from around 1871 to 1920 the head of the family was William cadwaladr jones he had been in Australia gold mining prior to owning the hotel, i wonder if there and family members still in the area.
Mon Feb 2 09:54:27 2009
Sian, Blaenau
I remember having a 50 pence piece off my grandfather every Saturday to go up to the shop 1/2 Manod Road, we used to call it Siop Nesta! Plus, there is an Old Post Office in Manod Road, now called the Cake 'ole!
Mon Jan 26 14:11:50 2009
Walter Davies
Tracy - In that case, my great grandfather's shop would have been number 3, the one with the loading hatch and lifting tackle over the front door. At that time, roughly 1850 - 1870, it was a grocer and drapers.
Tue Jan 6 09:29:34 2009
Tracy Harrison
We now own the old shops at 2/3 Manod Road would be interested in the history. I know there are some comments on this page about it being a post office and shop. I heard no 2 was an old fish and chip. Can anyone confirm and give any more history/photos?
Mon Jan 5 09:27:41 2009
John Murray, Blaenau Ffestiniog
I was wondering were I can see an authentic Welsh choir perform. I am new to the area.
Fri Nov 7 13:18:39 2008
Walter Davies
Eirian - Thank you for the information about my G Grandfather's shop. Just to be sure I have the right one, was it the one with the lifting tackle arm over the upstairs loading hatch/window?I remember seeing 'The Old Post Office' when visiting Blaenau a year or so ago.
Wed Oct 1 09:19:41 2008
Delyth Jones, Morfa Bychan.
Re:- Llinos Jones's note December 4th 2007.I am also related to the blacksmith from Tanygrisiau/Maentwrog, the Reverend Richard Vaughan Owen was my father's uncle.
Mon Sep 29 09:40:38 2008
Eirian, Blaenau Ffestiniog
W Davies - My late father's house is The Old Post Office, Bethania (no 1 Manod Road is next door). It is no longer a shop. I remember it as a grocer's shop years ago. Then it was a clothes shop for a short while.
Mon Sep 29 09:30:20 2008
Mark Smith from Suffolk
Who made the derelict but quite lovely rock (slate) garden above Tanygrisiau?
Tue Sep 2 15:19:15 2008
Kenneth Hill from Birmingham
Is it possible to buy monolith slate stones from a local quarry, I don't like being ripped off by our local garden centres and would rather give my hard earned cash to a land I love. PS. Gives me a good excuse to go climbing!
Mon Apr 28 10:19:24 2008
Meirion Roberts
Had a nice visit to Blaenau Ffestiniog a few days ago, it is a village I hope to visit again soon so I can do a bit more exploring. One of the reasons I visited the village was to locate the Tabernacle church as I was looking for a ordnance survey mark located on one of the church' walls. After extensive searching I could not find any sign of the church! I did however find a private house (flats?) in the area where I expected to find the church. Does the church still exist as a church? If so where is it? Or has it indeed been converted like a lot of old chapels & churches into private! accommodation? Thanks you. Diolch am eich cymorth Meirion :o)
Fri Apr 4 09:32:52 2008
Suey, Wirral
Has anybody got any information on the burial stone with the words Merw Esgidiau, and a carving of boots. Coming from the Betws area to Blaenau, as you come into Blaenau it is on the left hand side just off the main road on a hillock? I know it is something to do with the first world war. But that is all. Thank you.
Mon Feb 25 13:16:29 2008
Tim Davies from Bury St Edmunds
My grandfather William Job Davies went from Ffestiniog to the USA in the late 1800's "to teach the Americans to quarry slate" He returned to build "Bryn Hir" in Llan and work as forman blaster at Llechwedd, any information on this American trip ? William Job's sons Wynn and Merion worked in the Maenofferen quarry until joining the RAF, I have a photo of my father (Wynn) with eight members of the Maenofferen black gang in 1928, he carryed the photo all his life.
Mon Dec 10 10:01:55 2007
Kate from Yorkshire
Christina from Corris: the Oakley family also gave money for the restoration of St Twrog's Church in Maentwrog in 1897 (Queen Victoria's Diamond Juibillee)
Wed Dec 5 11:22:01 2007
Christina Miller from Corris
I am carrying out research on the Oakley Family of Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, who were involved with the Blaenau quarrying industry in the 19th Century. They gave £2,000 towards the construction of St David's Church at Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1842, as well as money towards the building of Holy Trinity at Penrhyndeudraethin 1858. They also built the quarry hospital.I am looking at he family papers which are in the Gwynedd Records Offices and National Library, but I feel that there is more information out there. Is there anybody who can help?
Mon Nov 19 15:10:49 2007
enid b morgan from enfield
I was born in 1937 in the manse of Sion Baptist chapel in Blaenau Ffestiniog. My parents moved in 1938 down South and I have only ever been back once. Could someone tell me if the Chapel is still in use?
Mon Nov 12 10:07:32 2007
W Davies
My great great grandfather, Walter Davies, had a shop at Bethania, Manod, in 1850 - 1870. It was at the junction of Manod Road and High Street. I would be interested if anyone knows anything of its history etc.
Wed Oct 10 11:34:42 2007
Moira Towell (nee Griffiths)NorthamptonshireMy
My grandfather Robert Griffiths of Prestatyn built the first cinema in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Does anyone have any information on this?
Mon Sep 3 14:59:45 2007
Prof. Steve Bruce, Aberdeen
Have just read Isabel Emmett's A North Wales Village: a community study from the late 1950s. It is based on a rural community near BF. I would like to see how much has changed in the religious life of the village since. Does anyone know which was Emmett's village?
Tue May 29 11:23:53 2007
Jim Buckley, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog
Does anyone know the real story of Boot Hill on the Crimea? I've heard of different ones but have only just come across this one; it resulted from some research by a London scout group! "As far as I know it draws its name from the manner of its creation. After the First World War, Canadian and and New Zealand forces were billetted in Blaenau Ffestiniog while waiting for transport home. Unfortunately the Americans had commandeered all the ships to repatriate their troops, leaving others to wait. In protest, one evening the disgruntled soldiers went to the top of the pass and bur! ned all their caps and boots. Hence the name."
Tue May 29 10:21:29 2007
