"I was born in 1949 - we lived in number 68 Bishpool estate. It was one of the best houses we ever had. Mine was a family of 8 - 5 brothers 3 sisters. We had the best times ever around there ... the rag and bone man, the vinegar man who used to come round, the salt man sold a pound of salt for tuppence in old money. Even though it had a kitchen, a living room, toilet, bathroom and two bedrooms it was nice and cosy for us. Mam and dad slept in one room and 8 of us used to sleep top and tail in one double bed ... they were the best days of our lives ."

"Like others, I have very fond memories of the prefab my granma, as we called her, lived in in the 70's and 80's. She lived in Treberth Estate (Violet Herbert) and I adored her and would love to stay every week with her. They were cold in the winter, yes, especially in those days when there wasn't central heating installed (my grandma had a cold fire and a Calor gas fire only!!). I can remember every room, every cupboard and space of that prefab as if it were yesterday as well as the neighbours who surrounded her - June, Tom and Betty a few streets away, Mrs Moore. Most if not all have died now but happy memories nevertheless."

"I was born and brought up in a prefab, 12 Prncess Crescent, Trinant. It was a different prefab to those in Newport - ours was similar to the one that is in St Fagans living museum.

"Our prefab was so warm and cosy. It broke our hearts when we had to be moved out and rehoused by the council. We had so much storage space and our new home had none. It was so basic compared to our lovely prefab where we had the luxury of having a fully fitted kitchen then. We were very privileged to have all that - the fridge, copper boiler for our washing, and cooker.

"When we left the prefab every thing was still in working order - my parents had to buy every new to go in to our new home. In the prefab we didn't need any wardrobes - there was so many cupboards for us to store our belongings. Where we lived in Princess Crescent we had our own little community. It really was a lovely place."

"I was born in Herbert Street, the third child, and my birth gave my parents enough points to get a prefab which was 46 Masefield Vale, close to the Gaer.

"I remember what I thought was UTTER LUXURY and the designs, for the time were totally brilliant. A modern version for starter homes would be a brilliant idea.

"I can't remember school-aged frends, possibly because we moved to 42 Shakespeare Crescent (one of the "four-bedrroms" up the Gaer proper) when I was six but I do remember the strong sense of community. I think I had a lot of "aunties".

"I revisited Masefield Vale not that long ago to see the prefabs being replaced by bunglaows. At some point this HAS to be done, but the best way, where possible, is to move people out, then back into the bungalow which replaced the older building. Time moves on. The prefabs could not be there forever.

"I'm a writer now. I write mostly as Alex Keegan, and the prefabs and that idyllic time often feature in my work."

"Oh what fond memories of growing up in a prefab on Ridgeway Hill. It was warm and cozy, and we lived in one of the most beautiful scenic areas of Newport. For close to ten years, from the fifties thru' the sixties, I lived in the second row from 'the top'. Down through Newport's most affluent housing, I walked to St Mary's Primary and back every day.

"I remember the comments of those who lived in Fields Park Road about me living in the 'Sardine Tins'. We never had a car but we had the ubiquitous bus. Mam accused me of smoking countless times as I liked to ride on the top and stank of smoke after a ride. At Christmas everyone descended ... where did they all sleep? It was wonderful! Santa always made it! I remember Jackie Ryan's mobile shop, and going down Ridgeway Hill countless times on a bogie. They were halcyon days.

"Before the prefabs were demolished I made a trip home to take photos of the old place ... number 48. I have them framed in my office! Nowadays people call me 'Doctor' and sometimes ask about the picture over my shoulder. I smile and tell them they don't know what they missed!"

"I was born at No 11 Bishpool Estate and lived there until I was 23. My mother brought up four of us boys in the house. Everybody knew everybody and help and support through the various problems was always forthcoming. The majority of us had nothing but everything was shared. The prefabs afforded us a good home. I can remember the frost on the inside of the old Crittal windows and the pipes freezing over for days,then the water bubbling out of the ground (or in the house) as it thawed. Climbing up onto the roof to bang ths chiminey pipe with a bit of iron to 'sweep' it. Getting wood from 'up the break' and the various woods around to suppliment our coal supply.Our gas fridge used to go out regularly, and fuses blew readily, the warm air central heating never worked for as long as I can remember. We had everything there we could want, except the stigma that some financially better off than us tagged us with. I loved my prefab and I loved all my neighbours. I can't go back in time, but if I could, I would like a shot."

"Bob Dumbleton has written a book called Help Us, Somebody: Demolishing the Elderly about the replacement of the prefabs. I had been involved helping the elderly in Newport, when I read the book I cried - so much more should have been done and could have been done. The residents groups including ourselves (the Prefab Residents Association) were used and verbally abused by those running the scheme. I once was told by the Chair of the Trust to stop writing to the Assembly as it was causing her more work! Read the book yourself, decide for yourself, would you have wanted your mother or relative to have suffered like many of our residents did."

"I lived in a prefab on Treberth Estate until I left to go to University in 1969. It was a great place to grow up - a big garden, lots of neighbours and a friendly community. The prefab wasn't very high - my sister and I climbed on the roof of the prefab one day to see what it was like. She jumped - and broke her leg. I climbed down and got a neighbour to get an ambulance."

"I grew up in the house next door to the 4 prefabs in Archibald Street, Newport. I remember them being built as a little girl. Everything was built into them, including a washing machine, fridge cooker, a drop down table in the kitchen, also an ironing board. Glass doors to shut on the fire in the living room, which heated the water as well as the room. Built in cupboards in all rooms, including hall. The family that moved in had 4 children which I still see. Very cramped but very happy."

"Having lived at Treberth estate, Newport, from the years 1946-1964, then emigrating to the USA, I have many fond memories of them - cold as heck in the winter - but fun anyway! My mother continued to live in the same prefab for over 50 years! Rowlands our local grocery store had everything that kids could want - those were the days! But having seen the new bungalows I must admit that they are beautiful, but they're not prefabs, are they?"

"I lived with my parents in their prefab for 3 years and always found the property to be warm and cosy. You were also surrounded by brilliant neighbours who were more than willing to help each other out on a day to day basis. I remember helping my Dad in the garden, which had a huge amount of space.

"In my opinion the prefabs needed to be replaced because of 50 odd years of wear and tear, bearing in mind that these dwelings were only supposed to last 10 years if my info is correct.

"I have very fond memories of my parents' prefab and also the people/community that live on the Treberth Estate.

"The new homes are really outstanding and I feel that when tenants do eventually settle back down in their new homes they will flourish. It was a very sad day for me when I heard the news that the prefabs were to be demolished. However I suppose in the long run it will be good for the people who will have brand new homes. Still not the same though, is it?

"My parents have now moved into their new bungalow, and I must say.... It is fantastic. I am now happy that the prefabs were replaced because, as much as you loved them, they were outdated. The new bungalows are modern and offer all mod-cons, as well as looking much nicer. I still regard the Prefabs as being great for the amount of time that they lasted and they also hold a great deal of personal history for each and every person who has lived in one or is some how connected to one. All that is needed now is some sort of community centre for the tenants of these estates and a bit more Police presence (unfortunately)."

"I was there from 1964 to 1968. At the time I was a young policeman in the Newport Borough Police and was the local beat bobby stationed on the Gaer for some time. The prefab that I lived in was a rented 'police house'. During the time I lived there, my wife and I were very happy and we still have fond memories of the time spent there. The prefab was the ideal bungalow of its day, the design of which would stand up well against some of our more modern dwellings of today. It is a shame that nothing lasts for ever, so it must be a very fond farewell to the prefab. A lot of people will be very sorry to see them go."

Charles Nunn from Upton, Wirral, responds:

"As a young Police Constable I also occupied a prefab in Drinkwater Gardens from 1955 to 1958 when I joined the Bechuanaland Mounted Police. Almost certainly the same prefab as PC Sachs. I took it over from the resident Gaer Bobby, one Jack Gooding. Ideal for a young family with a fridge and central heating. A great luxury"

"As an organisation representing residents who have been through what must be one of, if not the most traumatic upheavales in theri lifes we feel that your documentary on Palaces for the People was so sanitized that it showed not a fraction of the problems that elderly and disabled residents have been inflicted with.

"There was no mention of any stress factors or inconveniences, which the people have experienced and, that said, we feel that the documentary was sterile and not close enough to the real situation.

"There are, no doubt, satisfied residents and this fact is acknowledged, but by the same token there are also a lot of dissatisfied residents who seem to be pushed into the background.

"Before the start of the redevelopment all sorts of promises were made and very quickly forgotten once the vote went the way Trust desired.

"There are horrendous episodes of heavy-handed and insensitive dealings with vulnerable peole that are very quickly swept under the carpet and unless these issues are addressed in a future more FACTUAL documentary we as an Association must feel a little aggrieved."

"I was only 11 when the war ended but my brother lived in a prefab when he came out of the service. I didn't think they were still around.. thank you."

"I lived at 32 Ridgeway Park Road, Newport, from the age of 5 until 18 years old which was from 1948/9 until 1966. Here was the first semi-permanent home I had as prior to this I lived at Malpas Court where my Father converted an ex-army Nissen hut to our first home.

"However at Ridgeway I have very happy memories of attending firstly Clytha Junior School when Miss Bevan was Headmistress, playing football on the ridge, in the winter using a sledge which my father made for me from electrical pipework. November 5th was always a special night when I believe half the town would come to the top of the 'ridge' for free use of fireworks which would be considered dangerous today.

"Us children, for most of us this was the first time to have a home that our parents could improve and make a 'real home'. Of course we had no shops near us ... only Westons the paper shop where I bought my first bar of chocolate, Spencer's Dairy shop where my mother bought most of our food and during the week was allowed credit which she paid on Fridays after my Father received his weekly wages, and of course on the other side was the post office behind which was a dairy where our daily milk was delivered from - this was owned by the Mosely family from Cross Keys.

"As children we also attended Nantcoch Sunday school which was and still is in Fields Park Road. People of my generation were David Lloyd, Gordon Small, Tony Pitt, June Phillips, Natalie Lloyd, Geraldine Council (whose father worked in Whitehead's Iron and Steel co, where I started at 16 years of age as an apprentice), Peter Thompson who emigrated to Canada, Karl Woodward who was a sports journalist with the Western Mail after he completed his studies at Newport High School."

More about the history of Newport's prefabs