"We raise money for charity all year, holding raffles and a 200 club and after each Christmas we have a party for the OAPs and give money out to various charities and organisations in Conwy, like Tŷ Gobaith, St David's Hospice, the Scouts and Brownies, youth clubs and the Smithy - or Clwb yr Efail old people's home.
I'm married to a Jackdaw - the only ones I think. We live in the same street where he was born - he's never moved out of Berry Street! I was born in this street too, but moved up to Erskine Terrace, then back to Berry Street when I got married.
There are a lot more strangers here than there used to be - you used to know everyone in the whole town, but now there aren't many on the street that have been here years."
So why has Ken Hughes never left Berry Street?
"I don't live in the same house on Berry Street - I moved lower down the street when I got married. But my daughter's bought my parents' house, so she still lives on the street too. It used to be that everyone on the street was an uncle or aunt, but it's changed a bit now.
There wasn't any traffic on the street years ago. Now we get the main traffic from Bangor, unless they go through the tunnel. When there wasn't any traffic we used to play football at the top of Berry Street, using the archway in the town walls as a goal.
I come from a family of fishermen. I was mussel fishing all my life and although I'm 79 now I still do a bit.
In the old days, there were only about four families involved in the mussel industry - the Cravens, Roberts, Hughes and the Jones. I'm a Hughes - my dad was a fisherman and my grandfather before him.
I started working as a fisherman when I left school at 14. I did more musseling than anything because you get a better home life than on the trawlers. You know when you're working because it's tidal.
I used to go out in a boat with a rake that was about 20 foot long and rake the seabed. Mussel fishing is seasonal, from September to April, so we spend the time before September getting the purification tanks ready. You can't sell mussels unless they're purified.
It was a good job. I've never done anything else mind, but I did enjoy it.
I worked on the Mulberry harbour too, [structures used in the D-Day landings during World War II] although I didn't know what it was, of course.
My friend Raymond was a tea boy, just out of school and I was 14, working with Sam Craven. We carried stuff from the dock in Deganwy across to the Morfa.
We didn't know what was happening - no one around here knew - we had no idea at all. You'd never believe they towed it round to France.
They built two different slipways in Conwy - one like a big concrete block and another looked like the rigs, with big iron work. They're not there anymore, but there is a plaque on the harbour to remember Conwy's contribution.
Raymond Hughes and I got invited to the opening of the Mulberry pub and pulled the first pint there!"
your comments
Mike Duncalf, Deganwy
As most of you will know the Duncalfs lived at 8 Berry St (latterly 'The River Grill') and I was born there, making me also a true Jackdaw. I remember Aunty Annie who had the first television in Berry St, where all us kids used to go to watch The Lone Ranger and I agree that in those days Berry Street and Conway was like one big family.
Mon Aug 10 09:43:18 2009
john hughes ellesmere port
I'm looking for info regarding Idris House, 14 Berry Street, c.1881 residence of Isaac Jones Weslyan minister.
Mon Jan 5 09:38:30 2009
Jane Holliger-Kornelson from Victoria, BC, Canada
Yes I think that is my bro Johnny, we left July 8th 1957, went to Calgary Albert, then moved to Victoria BC. I am his sister, and I see him every week. I will tell him to look up this page. Hi to Terry Jones!
Wed Nov 5 08:53:30 2008
Claire Kay in Lancaster
My Nana was born at the Bishops Palace in Conwy in 1920 as Vera Blundell. Does anyone know much about the building?
Tue Sep 23 15:11:04 2008
Helen Götz-Gee Berne Switzerland
My name was Helen Gee and I lived with my family in Cadnant Park.My best friend at school was Jane Holliger - she was once the Rose Queen and received 42 boxes of chocolates! I still love Conwy although I've lived in Switzerland for the last 43 years. We come twice a year and I still dream a lot about the happy days in school, catching crabs on the quai, walking over Conwy mountain to get to Morfa beach, playing in Bodlondeb Park and picking bluebells there. It was and is a wonderful town.
Wed May 21 10:55:32 2008
TERRY JONES Chester
Came across this site. A name mentioned here rings a bell with me. I left Conwy in 1969 but went to school here from 1957 to 1968. My Mother informed me when I was at Bodlondeb School when I was there in 1957, my school friend was Johnny Holliger and at the time he left and went to live in Canada and according to my mother I was very sad at him leaving the area. I do have a photo of him and the class from that year. Is this the same John Holliger I ask myself?
Thu Dec 27 11:21:45 2007
Pam, Rhyl
I was very nearly a Jackdaw but my grandfather made my mum struggle down the stairs where she lived above what used to be the laundarette (which was next to the cafe at the bottom of high street)and made her sit up all the way to bangor hospital! My grandparents lived next to the arch in Berry street, which is where my uncle lives now. My nan used to work in conwy hospital and used to wait on tables in Pritchard's and was known as Fergie. My grandfather worked on the local council. They lived there for over 30yrs after falling in love with conwy after holidaying there.
Does anyone remember the beautiful dolls in the window by the arch leading down to the quay?? As a little girl I always had to go and look and what about the gorgeous meringues from Veales? I have many happy memories of conwy which I will treasure always.
Tue Nov 20 09:56:42 2007
Haydn Morris
My great aunt Alice lived in 6 Berry Street. She married Shem Jones who was a member of a long list of Shem's in Conwy. Does anyone remember them? My Taid Jack(John)Roberts was a fisherman in Conwy for many years and also painted the bridge during the Winter. I believe that's what happened then.I went to Aberconwy School before moving away.
Tue Oct 9 09:34:33 2007
jane {holliger} kornelson
Hi to Thelma and family, I do remember you, but can't quite see ur face. Ann Kitchen is my cousin, and so is Joy {Hughes}Roberts. her dad was Robin Hughes, he has died , and Rollie Hughes,who owned the Princess Christine, passed away too. My dad John Holliger, died Nov 4,06.
My nain would make the "guy" for Guy Fawkes d day, and we would go around trying to get Money for the Guy. Usually did well, It was a great night on Conway beach.
Mon Oct 8 10:27:26 2007
Rita Lomax(nee Guy) Wakefield
Hi Pam, My Nain used to live at 2 Machno Terrace in Conwy and we visited there in August.It is now Mountain Road and Nian's house is re-numbered to 16. Her married name was Alice Halkett nee Gavin. There are 3 cottages on the right-hand side just before the path leading up Conwy Mountain.
Mon Oct 8 10:26:28 2007
pam powell, Llandudno
I am researching my family history and my Taid was born in Machno Terrace, Conwy. Does anyone know where it is? I can't locate it on any map and would love to know what happened to it. My Taid's name was Tom Hughes, born 1903. Any info welcome. I have lived in the area all my life and Conwy is a beautiful place to visit.
Mon May 14 10:39:29 2007
lorraine
Does anyone remember Thelma Roberts who lived in berry street? i am her daughter and she always tells stories of when she was a child, to my children and grand children. i have told her about this website and she knows nearly everyone on it.
Tue Apr 10 10:13:33 2007
Lorraine Hughes (King)
hi jane - you dont know me but i think you know my mum i have just been reading your message because she was born on the quay as soon as i mentioned your name she recognised it - do you remember thelma roberts and brother billy? they lived on the quay then moved onto berry st up the entry above the co op my mum said you also used to go tap dancing in the melba cafe and you all used to call the teacher bunty as her name was Mrs Bunty and didnt you have a friend called anne kitchen? i hope you are the same lady my mum is thinking of it would be really great to hear from you and i can pass my mum your messages mum said to send her love bye for now look forward to hearing from you.
Mon Feb 19 10:19:52 2007
Rita Lomax (Guy) from Wakefield, W. Yorkshire
I was born at 29 Upper Gate Street, Conwy, in 1941 (so I am a true Jackdaw) and later moved to Plas Newydd, Deganwy. My last school was Aberconwy Secondary Modern. I remember some of my school friends being Peggy Wrench, Magggie Butch, Denise Meaby, Valmia Parry, Billy Taylor and Malcolm Cox.
I had many happy times playing on Conwy Mountain whilst staying at my Nain's who lived at 2 Machno Terrace, going to play on Morfa Beach and crabbing on the Quay near the Liverpool Arms.
Most Conwy people would have known my late Mother Lily Roberts (nee'Gavin/Guy), brothers Ray and Billy Guy, Gary Roberts and sister Pat.
My husband and I visit Conwy at least five times each year enjoying meeting many people and old friends, viewing the wonderful scenery, the historic buildings, and not forgetting the many pubs and the hospitality we receive.
Although we enjoy living here in Yorkshire we do have the urge to return and settle in the area.
I would however like to hear from some other 'Jackdaws' maybe leading to a re-union/meeting.
Fri Feb 16 14:27:58 2007
edward smith oldham
does any remember "jones jones",the butchers boy who rode his butchers bike up and down the high street . must have been in the late 1950"s ?.
.
Mon Jan 15 10:03:30 2007
jane( holliger) kornelson victoria b.c canada
My nain lived on berry street #17. Jane hughes, loved to go to nain's to get our stockings for christmas. She always had them washed and drying on the fireplace , ready for us to pick up. We would all go to the castle on christmas eve to see father christmas and hope he would call out your name. I was lucky enough to be one of them.
My dad john holliger had melba cafe on castle street and mam and dad would go to erskins'pub for drinks which was across the road. Loved fair days too, loved the rock. MY mam passed away jan 12 72, and dad died,! my dad on nov 4 06, he will be sadly missed.
Tue Dec 5 09:31:58 2006
Jon from Conwy
The original name of the Berry Street is actually 'Bury Street', so named because it was used as a plague pit twice during the two occurences of Black Plague that swept through Conwy hundreds of years ago.
Mon Jul 24 11:45:23 2006
Lorraine Hughes (King)
It was lovely to find this website and especially this page, as I am a Conwy girl myself - I lived in Swan Terrace as a child and it was great as my nain and taid lived just around the corner in Berry Street. They were Alice and John Roberts, one of the fishermen families named previously, my Aunty Glad also lived in Berry Street and she also went to Taid for mussels. I have brilliant memories of my childhood days in Conwy, playing on the quay and going on half hour trips on my Taid's boat Seaspray. I used to look forward every Christmas to the Conwy Legion children's Christmas party. I remember lots of people coming to my nana's house to watch the first landing on the moon on television. I remember when my mum Thelma and her sister Lynne dressed up a boat, and myself and my cousins all dressed as Hawaians for the Conwy regatta, but my best ever memory is when my nana used to cook me cod roe - I used to sit waiting for it and although you can still buy it now it will never be as good as my nana's was. I LOVE YOU CONWY. Lorraine.
Wed Feb 1 16:14:53 2006
George Hughes, Chester
I was born on the quay and remember the years after the war well,the musselmen who worked in their family groups,the Hughes,Roberts,Cravens,Rimmers and the odd ones like Ivor Pullin and others. In the summer you had the pleasure boat trips with boats named Non Pareil,Glendoveer,Collingwood and many others, price one shilling per half hour. The fishermen were always smartly dressed in their navy blue jumpers and trousers
Yes Conway is a great place and i love coming there a number of times each year.
Mon Nov 28 15:27:21 2005
Denise and Ken Hughes are true Jackdaws, but how has life on one of Conwy's oldest streets changed over the years?
