your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
Laura James of Glynneath
As a child I loved to play up the manor, so many fields to run around..I wish someone would rebuild it and restore it to its former glory, it would properly put Glynneath on the map again!
Mon Jun 15 16:07:56 2009
Joan Bodman, Glynneath
I also enjoyed the photos. Unfortunately unless selfish people who would rather destroy the wildlife on the lakes adjacent to the A465 just below McDonalds stop using them for their jet skis entertainment we will have no swans, herons, geese, etc to photograph
Mon Jun 15 15:18:01 2009
Gwyneth Harris
I am glad I found these wonderful pictures. Whilst browsing and reading the comments of other users I noticed the name of a gentleman 'David Job'. I have attempting to trace my family line and was wondering whether he has any ancestors/family in Narberth. I know this is probably a long shot but thought I would give it a go!
Tue May 19 17:09:07 2009
Pat King Glynneath
What an asset to the locality Aberpergwm House could have been. Many years ago I heard of a plan to turn it into a country club, what a shame the idea was turned down as it would have saved it. If anyone has any history of nearby Pwllfaron Cottage I would love to hear from them.
Tue Apr 7 09:24:54 2009
Elise Evans. Glynneath
My grandparents owned Maesyfynnon House and my mother grew up there. However, I can only remember a limited amount of memories of the house and grounds as they sold it when I was about 5/6years old (I'm now 31!) I would love it if anyone has got past history on the house as I am very keen to research it's history.
Thu Mar 12 16:46:45 2009
Vic Walker, Pitlochry, Perthshie
As a boy I lived in Avon Street and went to Sunday School and services at the Pergwm Church. Our Sunday School teachers were Mr and Mrs Gowin also of Avon St. They had an evacuee from London whose name was Alfie Goode known to one and all as "alfie goodgowin".
I remember the big house as the NCB offices after the mines were nationalised. My best friend Tich Husselby and I used to often play in the churchyard and grounds of the big house so the pic brought back many memories.
I was also in a jazz/marching band...what innocent days they were.
Mon Feb 2 13:19:58 2009
Annette Thomas Glynneath
It's nice to read the notes on Aberpergwm. The one from Rose Kelly stuck out I knew Rose and I too was in the marching band. I lived in the next street to Rose...
Fri Jan 16 10:51:05 2009
emma n,ireland
Used to live in Glynneath until four years ago and when I go there - me and my fiance always go to the church and the manor. I have been looking for really old pictures of how it used to look when it was whole anybody know where I can get them?
Thu Dec 18 11:40:33 2008
David Job near Cirencester
I found this site because I am researching my ancestors who came from "Derifach" near Aberpergwm. What a pity that the building has been allowed to fall into such a poor state of repair! My Great Grandfather was Benjamin Reynolds whose family lived there for the second half of the 19th century (census 1861) and worked in the local mine. My great uncle William was still living there until the 1950/60's with his sisters and brother. I have very little firm information about the area during this timespan (only postcards showing the church and "The steps Aberpergwm Estate") so I am looking for more information in whatever form.
Wed Aug 27 16:19:39 2008
Brin Davies - Penarth
I am researching my mother's family history. The Jones' family had a grocery and drapery shop to the left of the old bridge over the river Neath, in the 1861 Census. The Curate of St Cadoc's church, then a Rev. John Davies, lodged with them. It is fascinating reading about the area, and looking at the photos, and I haven't finished yet!
Fri Aug 15 16:18:15 2008
Alison Lewis from Neath
I am seeking information on Caewern House. I believe it was once owned by the late Evans Bevans. Anyone have any ideas where I can find information and photographs dating back to when it was first built?
Tue Jul 22 10:58:37 2008
Paul Roberts from Glynneath
Truly amazing. It's right that places like this should be preserved as it's part of the heritage and history!Is it ok to walk around the grounds these days to have a look or is it private property? and who owns it? are they going to sell or would they sell it?
Mon May 19 16:53:54 2008
Kevin Stanley Glynneath
I remember playing in the grounds of Aberpergwm House as a kid - what a fab place that would have been today if looked after.
Tue May 6 09:08:57 2008
Janice Bowen from Glynneath
I too feel it is a shame that Aberpergwm house has been left to rack and ruin. I only live about half a mile away at Chain Road, and I remember when I was a child going there with my mother to work when British Coal were using it for their offices, and my late father telling me stories of when he was young sneaking over to Aberpergwm and watching the carriages and the ladies with their gowns coming out and the music coming from inside. It is a piece of history lost forever.
Mon Apr 21 11:17:52 2008
Ann Davies Glynneath
The book "The History of Cwmnedd" was published last October and is for sale at the Glynneath Training Centre.
Mon Feb 11 09:08:02 2008
kaz from auz
I enjoyed looking at the terrific photographs. My great grandparents are buried in Aberpergwym and my grandfather was born in Glynneath - I dearly would love to visit the area. Related to Williams, Lunn's Jones's, Taylors the list goes on..oh so much history
Wed Oct 17 12:30:14 2007
Tracy Evans. Resolven
I spent many a summer with friends in and around the grounds of "The Manor" as we called it. Shamefully, we used to run around inside the ruins playing many a game.I can now see as an adult how dangerous that really was, but then to us it was hours of fun, causing nobody any problems, or so we thought. We too used to dream about doing it up and all living in it together..Such a shame to see how much more dilapitated it has now become.
Mon Jul 23 09:56:04 2007
marjorie pearce from reading
Hello. I was very interested in the picture and comment of Aberpergwm House, Glynneath. My grandmother and grandfather lived at Aberpergwm Farm (which I think was next door) they were James Williams and Cecily Williams. They lived there with their daughter Phylis and her brother Cecil. There was a long drive up to their house with a stream running through - we had some very happy times there.
Tue May 8 09:55:35 2007
Helen Rhigos
I recall visiting an auction held at Aberpergwm House as a very young child with my parents. I can still remember how impressive it was - walking up to the front door with its avenue of trees and internally with all the oak panelling, and the sweeping staircase.
I have vivid memories through the eyes of a child of Aberpergwm House that still remain with me even today. I fell in love with the house and dreamt about owning it one day - but we can all dream!
It is very sad and extremely disappointing to see how dilapidated the house is in terms of its state of repair. All that will be left in the near future is a mere pile of stone where a great house once stood.
In my opinion, houses like Aberpergwn should have been preserved and maintained for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
The charm of Aberpergwm had it been preserved and maintained could have equalled Tredegar House and Craig y Nos Castle etc....... An important lesson needs to be learnt .....
Wed Apr 25 15:36:28 2007
Mary from Neath
Lovely photos capturing the beauty that can be found in our area. My favorite is number seven - the Heron. Look forward to seeing more of your photos.
Thu Jan 25 11:04:14 2007
Margaret Kelly, Caewern
Beautiful photos my son who lives Scotland sent the web site address. Hope you will put many more for us to see and enjoy.
Wed Jan 17 09:06:14 2007
Kimberley of Glynneath
I would just like to say thank you to Ann Davies for the information she posted for me.
Tue Jan 16 11:04:23 2007
Rose O,Flaherty/Kelly
I lived in Glynneath until I was 15 yrs old I was brought up in foster care that was about 31 years ago. Loved the photo of Aberpergmn House, I was in the marching band called the Aberpergmn Dragoons which we named ourselves after. The house looked so derelict.
Fri Dec 1 09:21:08 2006
Lynfa. Newfoundland Canada
Thanks . Seeing these pictures bring back lots of memories for me . How many walks did my family and I take along the canal up to Rheola. There's no place like home.
Mon Nov 27 09:31:51 2006
Ann Davies from Glynneath
It was interesting to see Peter Gosse of Norwich talking about him being at Aberpergwm House, I remember the children coming to Aberpergwm Church. A few of us were talking about it the other day.
A group at the Glynneath training centre are writing the history of Glynneath.
Kimberley all the information you need about the Williams Family of Aberpergwm is in Glynneath Library.
Mike Davies's photographs were superb.
Mon Nov 13 09:18:13 2006
Shannon - I live in GlynNeath
It's really cool that a picture of the house is on here because we are learning about that in school now and it give's me a bit more information about the house.
Tue Oct 31 16:33:12 2006
Peter Gosse Norwich
So sad to see the photo of Aberpergwm House or rather what is left of it. My old school the East Anglian Schools for Blind and Deaf Children at Gorleston on sea Gt Yarmouth and now closed, were evacuated enbloc to Aberpergwm House in 1940 until I left in 1945. We had such fun on the mountains behind the house - if we didn't get caught!
Classes were held at Maesyffynon House just up the road. Most Friday afternoons we went along to the cinema at the Miners Welfare that was opened just for us,we thought it better than going to school. It was only later we found out that those visits meant that we! lost a half day off our summer & Christmas holidays!
Tue Oct 24 08:54:18 2006
Louise from Glynneath
It was great to see a photo of the manor on here, had many fun times over there as a kid which was not that long ago!
Wed Oct 18 14:16:36 2006
Kimberley O'Flynn in Glynneath
I was wondering if anyone could help me with my research of Aberpergwm House aka the Manor of Glynneath, or of the Williams family who owned the property. I would be very grateful if anyone could help.
Tue Oct 17 10:16:02 2006
Christopher Williams from Newport
My fathers family came from Glyn Neath and are related to the Williams of Aberpergwm House. What a great photograph of the house, even if it makes me sad. I wish that I had the money to repair it. What an asset it could be for the local community. Thanks for taking a great photograph again.
Wed May 17 08:56:09 2006
Robert Sims. Resolven
That shows a good picture of the river in flood! you cant even see the canal, all you can se is the small line of stone work.
Thu Mar 23 22:44:27 2006
Pilot (Dave)
Had a look here as well, you certainly manage to take some great images of a beautiful area.
Best wishes "Pilot" Dave.
Tue Mar 14 19:18:25 2006
Ann Buck. Birmingham.
I am an ex Resolven girl living in Birmingham it was good to see some photos of local scenes brings back memorys especially the ones of Rheola and the canals.
Fri Mar 3 10:32:24 2006
Did you enjoy looking at Mike's photos? Send in your comments here.
