Vernon and his colleague Pete Thomas volunteer for various community groups in Bonymaen, and Pete recalls:
"When I first moved to Bonymaen in 1964, my dear old grandfather said to me:
"Well, you'll be alright now, because you can cross the river using the ferryboat to go work, and it will only cost you a halfpenny."
He didn't realise that the ferry had closed down many years before I was born."
From the 'Memories' page:
Phillip of Maidstone has these memories of Swansea:
"My father, David John Clarke and his father used to assist in the running of the White Rock Ferry at Swansea during the 1920's (I think). They were well respected members of the community and there is now a road, Clarke Way, named after our family in Llansamlet. Has anyone heard of this ferry or remember it?"Do you have any stories or memories of the White Rock Ferry to share? Add them below.
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.
To Dave Ammanford
According to my mother Myra Ford (nee Clarke) there was a Folland Ward at the old Swansea Hospital in St Helen's Rd Swansea. Whether this has anything to do with you family we don't know but worth going into the archives of Swansea Hospital as they must have done some good works for the hospital to have a ward named after them. Good luck in your search, I hope this is your familyGaynor, Holland
Sun Jun 28 18:46:31 2009
Dave Michael, Ammanford
Does anyone have any information regarding the Sunshine Club. I am researching the Folland family and I gather that Mrs Henry Folland was the president of this club in 1926.
Fri Jun 12 11:24:07 2009
Brian Perrins Swansea
[the White Rock site is]...in need of some T.L.C. the undergrowth needs cutting to see what's there and the Smiths Canal tunnel needs some urgent repairs to the brickwork to ensure it survives.
Thu Jun 11 15:40:42 2009
Hughes
My father would cross the river using the ferry to visit his family, who lived in...[a cottage]...called Waunllester Llansamlet lower. Can anyone give me any information? I have been told that chapel services were held there. The family name was Llewellyn.
Wed Apr 29 13:01:31 2009
John Copp - old Cae Bricks resident
Would anybody have any photographs of Cae Bricks Road in Cwmbwrla. I was born there in 1943 and left there about 1958 or thereabouts. I lived at no 57, next door to the Dowers at 55 and the Gibbons at 59. Any photographs of that road to look at would be very much appreciated.
Fri Mar 6 13:18:46 2009
David Goss, Swansea
My brother and I used the ferry returning from our visits to our relatives in Foxhole. David and Mariah Clarke were my Dad's uncle and Aunt who ran the ferry.
Mon May 19 16:38:40 2008
Howard Jones of Skewen
Can anyone doing their Swansea family history confirm that there was a road off Carmarthen Road at Waun Wen, called California Row? I found a business directory, which names somone, not my family, at a California Inn, which could indicate a street or row having the same name. Also found Fabian Street, possibly now Fabian Way, and a Fabian Inn, which I understand that my grandfather, Samuel Jones kept, and my father Stanley Jones was born there.
Fri Apr 11 11:22:53 2008
Maureen Clarke (Swansea)
Our local church All Saints Kilvey, was built by the Grenfells and overlooks the site of the Copperworks and where the ferry crossed. We are currently fundraising to replace the roof which is in bad repair and ruining the inside. There is a lot of history in the church including memorials of the Grenfells.
Mon Feb 18 10:21:46 2008
Gaynor Ignram from Holland
How can we get a copy of the above photo? Any ideas, wonderful picture of the ferry boat crew - Gaynor (Granddaughter of George and Olive Clarke)
Wed Apr 18 16:39:14 2007
Brian Perrins Swansea
All you people who are interested in the White Rock Copper works built by the Bristol Coster family in 1737 and the other remains on the westbank get your camaras out because they will be cleared to make way for new developments if our city fathers have their way. Another bit of our heritage lost.
Mon Feb 12 09:47:02 2007
Dianne (nr 3 ), Swansea
I am the 3rd eldest Granddaughter of George (the Ferry Boat Man) and Olive Clarke of St. Thomas, Swansea. I have fond memories of watching my grandfather George mending his fishing nets in the garden in Lydford Avenue, awaiting the turn of the tide for yet another bucket full of mackeral. One day my grandmothe Olive, twisted a muslin cloth only to have her hands pierced with a mackeral trace. My Grandmother was a lady and only swore under her breath, and had a quite word with my grandfather when the children where not around.
Has any film producers thought about making a film about the old east side of Swansea, the Ferry Boat man, the Copper works, The Sunshine Club. Eastenders and Hollyoaks would not get a look in! So come on film producers, contact the old families of the Eastside of Swansea before the history dies. I am sure our CZJ would be interested in a small part!
Fri Jan 12 08:49:59 2007
Peter Hutchison
Cliff
Maybe but it is more likely to be from the White Rock Works, bits of which are still standing. White Rock House, on a nearby site, preceded the works. I do not know where the white rock was but there is an old quarry nearby.
Mon Nov 27 09:35:06 2006
Sylvia Stubbings nee; Hayes (Ascot)
My great grandad slipped in the furness
and got killed at White Rock.
I don't know any more, but I'm looking for relations, I lived in 104 Western Steet.
Mon Nov 13 09:54:27 2006
Anita, Swansea
Reply for Gaynor of Holland
George & Olive Clarke were well-known, well-respected members of our local community. It is not many years since Olive sadly died, a wonderful lady full of character. I do know she made a tape recorded interview of her memoirs for The Wave, local radio station. Presumably, they would still have a copy in their archives. Kind regards, Anita
Thu Nov 9 13:52:16 2006
Dorothy (Clarke) Swansea
The Copperworks were developed in 1814 by the Grenfells(Middle and Upper Bank works) and Freeman & Co. (White Rock works)By 1849 771 ships left Swansea for foreign climes, most of these were trading on behalf of the new Copper Works. The White Rock Ferry transported the copper workers (and others) to and from their place of employment. The Copper Works closed down suddenly in October 1892 about 600 men were made unemployed. Mr.Pascoe St. Ledger Grenfell can be traced back to Richard Grenfell cousin of Sir Walter Raleigh.
Thu Nov 2 08:47:11 2006
Dorothy Edwards (Clarke) Swansea
George Clarke (my father) was the last ferryman at White Rock Ferry. George was "called up" to do Army Service during the second world war and the Ferry Boat was taken over by Swansea Council approximately 1941. A young lad was drowned during this time and as my father knew the tides the authorities contacted him at Army Base, brought him to the river to ascertain the place where the body would be recovered. The Ferry was closed after this event.
Wed Nov 1 08:45:40 2006
Geoff Matthews, Carmarthen
Both my Grandfather and Great grandfather
worked in the Copper industry in Swanesa during the Mid 1800's to the early 1900's.
Great Grandfather lived in California Row, and grandfather lived in Upper Aberdyberthi St. What copper works they worked in?? Are there any Registers which
I can look through which might tell me a lot more of their working life.
Mon Oct 30 09:31:04 2006
Frank Clarke, Swansea
I was born in 1929 and brought up in Hafod, as a child of 5/6/7years would with friends walk through Maliphant St. to reach the west side of the river and watch the ferry crossing. It was not rowed it was sculled with the ferry man standing,also there was a line across the river which was attached to the boat when the tide was ebbing and flowing - without which it would have ended up either in Landore or the West Pier. Has anyone any idea when the ferry finally closed?
Mon Sep 11 10:15:03 2006
Phillip Clarke from Maidstone
Re Vernon's photograph. The man standing in the boat was in fact my father David John Clarke and the other man was my grandfather, also David John Clarke. I have that very photograph hanging in my house! I believe also, it is hanging somewhere in the Swansea museum.
Thu Aug 31 08:51:50 2006
Gaynor - Holland
I am the granddaughter of the last Ferry Boatman. My Grandfather being George Clarke, St Thomas. Clarke's way was named after him. Anyone remember my grandparents George and Olive Clarke? I now live in Holland but have great memories of the stories my Grandparents used to tell me about the Ferry boat.
Tue Apr 18 10:31:12 2006
Brian Perrins Swansea
The White Rock Ferry was the only way that the people could get from one bank of the Tawe to the other with out foing up to Morriston or down to Swansea.It crossed the river from the White Rock Copper Works on the east bank to the Vivians works on the west bank.Some one who did not know much about local history started calling the new stadium White Rock when it's built on the site of the Morfa Copper Works and should have been called the Morfa Stadium like the one it replaced.
Fri Feb 17 22:55:51 2006
Cliff. Mellor from Neath.
Could anyone tell me please is the origin of the previous choice of name for the new stadium "White Rock" from the White Rock Ferry? Thank You. Cliff. Mellor.
Tue Oct 18 22:45:22 2005
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