your comments
Edith Welsher nee Williams
Does anyone remember the Heath Camp? After the war and the Americans moved out of the camp my father who was stationed at Maindy Barracks got hold of a handcart and we became the first squatters to move in there. Oh, that freedom as we were living in two rooms in Allensbank Road. We lived opposite a Norman Harvey at the Heath Camp and he later had Harvey's Garage on Penarth Road. I have photo of a Street Party at Allensbank Road taken about 1945.
Elaine Thomas, Newport
I grew up in Whitchurch Road and in the late 1950s spent many a happy evening over the Heath allotments with my mother. Part of them were still being cultivated but a lot had been left to over grow and it was there we used to go. There was always an abundance of fruit to be picked such as blackberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, gooseberries, and if we were lucky some strawberries. You could also find rhubarb and if you wanted some wild roses. We often went home with too much fruit to use and gave dishes of it away. Once the Heath Hospital build was started all this land was cleared and so ended a very enjoyable part of my childhood.
Anne Haines, Cardiff
When I was old enough I would catch the bus from Llanrumney to my grandparents house in Fairfax Road, Birchgrove, and would love to bring a friend along with me. After a drink and cake I would take them to visit the smallest cottage I had ever seen, next to the DMD works. My gran's sister brought 3 sons up in this little cottage and it was literally a one room up and down cottage. I always wondered how on earth she managed, but she did and they were all very happy. Apparently on the same bit of land was the Phoenix Brickworks - my family also had connections there. My grandparents lived in Birchgrove for most of their lives and now I live in Pantmawr and my parents live in Rhiwbina so it's like returning to your roots.
Caryl Griffiths nee Williams
Reading the stories of Sybil Marks, I too remember her very well. As a child every Saturday morning I attended tap, ballet and ballroom dancing lessons. Mrs Williams, Phil's mother, used to play the piano, and there was a lady called Barbara who used to help with the teaching. Every year we had a 'display' at Bindles ballroom in Barry, or the Park Hotel in Cardiff town. I remember one year dancing solo, and can clearly remember Sybil Marks prompting me in the background. I have several photographs to remind of those lovely times. I wonder if there are any more of us out there from the late 1940's to early 1950's times?
Carmel Britton (nee Jones) Newent, Gloucestershire
I lived in St Cadoc Road until I was 4. Then my family moved to a brand new house in King George V Drive - all very exciting. I remember Heath House well. I attended ballet classes there. I also remember playing tennis on the courts and many hours playing around and about and in the woods. We made lots of dens and fires and cooked sausges. Roath Park was also a fovourite place to visit.
Blair Furlong, Cannock, Staffordshire.
I can remember playing at Heath House in the mid 1950's. It was already abandoned as a dwelling place in those days. There was a walled garden with a small pond in the middle, where we would "fish" for frogs and newts. The garden was running to weeds even then. Does anyone remember the "Heath Citizens Fair" held in the field behind the house each summer? As a small boy I remember the excitement of the coconut shy and other attractions. Does anyone have any records of the Heath Citizens Association? I can also remember the bulldozers starting to clear the woods behind the gardens of Heath Park Avenue to clear the way for the building of what would become King George V. Drive. I was very young, and think this must have been about 1953/4.
Blair Furlong, Cannock, Staffordshire.
I can remember playing at Heath House in the mid 1950's. It was already abandoned as a dwelling place in those days. There was a walled garden with a small pond in the middle, where we would fish for frogs and newts. The garden was running to weeds even then. Does anyone remember the Heath Citizens Fair held in the field behind the house each summer? As a small boy I remember the excitement of the coconut shy and other attractions. Does anyone have any records of the Heath Citizens Association? I can also remember the bulldozers starting to clear the woods behind the gardens of Heath Park Avenue to clear the way for the building of what would become King George V Drive. I was very young, and think this must have been about 1953/4.
Elaine Turpin, Leeds
I was born in Cardiff and my mum was born (1916)and brought up in Inglefield Avenue. She, my dad and I left in 1951 but visited my grandparents many times in the following years. I remember being sent up the back lanes for a jug of milk to the dairy at the top of the road. I remember long walks to and around the lakes in Roath Park, and visits to family graves in the cemetary. I can dimly recall a rag-and-bone man with his horse and cart. I remember the big old terraced house very well, including the doors out the back for the coal house and the outside loo.
Caryl Griffiths,Cardiff
Re: Leslie Baverstock. Reading Leslie's comments reminded me of Whitsun Treat trips with Heath Gospel Hall, to Tucker's Farm on the back of a lorry. That was somewhere in Roath, and we had so much fun. If my memory serves me right, Farmer Tucker was a lovely man, he was quite portly and a loveley red healthy complexion. Happy days.
Yvonne Caul (nee Croat), Swansea
I loved going to learn to dance in Sybil Marks and Phil Williams school back in the mid 50's. I was only looking at my medals I attained when I moved earlier this year, one bronze, silver and gold all with distinction. Oh how I wish I could start dancing again! Saturday nights were the best - I think it was 2/6d for the evening and I still have some of the records that were danced to. Wonderful memories never to be forgotten.
Andrew Wright, Yateley, Hants
As a young lad we used Heathhouse as changing rooms prior to playing football/rugby for the school I attended,As you walked into the court yard the changing rooms were in the old stable block on the right hand side. There was no heating and any water for the showers was always ice cold !!! The park keepers had their own little office on the left hand side of the court yard where they advised which pitches we could use. From Heathhouse we had to carry the goal posts down to the pitches, in some cases over 800 yards. The court yard held all the grass cutting equipment, spare tennis nets for the tennis courts etc.Over a period of time in the late 50's and early 60's Heathhouse was vandalised many times and was set alight. When I left Cardiff in 1967 Heathhouse was a ruin.It's a pity that Cardiff City Council allowed this beautiful landmark to become vandalised as it had many stories to tell.
Gerard Charmley, Cardiff
Further information on Heath House may be found in Tom Lloyd's 'Lost Houses of Wales'. I am reliably informed that Heath House became derelict and burned in the 1960s, the remains being cleared.
Leslie Baverstock
My uncle George Tucker used to rent and farm, with a transport business, a beautiful old house - either Heath House or The Heath. It had a long drive from both sides and a great arched entrance into a beautiful courtyard with galleried verandas. It was a large house with a huge billiard room. I think he also had a farm at Roath. A friend tells us that her father used to play football in the fields around tne place. Can someone please help us with information about this beautiful house. We have been told that it may have been demolished in the 60s.
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