Ask a Local puts your questions of local interest to the people who know - locals!
If you've a question about South West Wales that's been puzzling you - puzzle no longer.

The questions can be historical, sporting, geographical, practical, logistical - anything that you want answering.

To ask a question, email us or fill in this pop-up form, and we'll post your query on the site.

Jacky Rees of Swansea "Can anybody tell me anything about the carving of the face in the rocks alongside the old railway line, below Winch Wen/Cwm. I used to play there a lot when I was a kid and has always mystified me, went there recently and it's still there, looking exactly the same. I would love to know how old it is and if possible WHO DID IT

Helena of Redditch answers a question from Phil of Ontario "...black jack ointment is also known as Icthammol - hope this helps!"

Victoria Coyle of Crofty replies to a query about Graig Y Coed in Penclawdd "Reply to Arlene Brooks: it was known as The Camp, West End (1950). There were huts erected as an army camp during the second world war, and were then occupied by familites in the post war years. Now Graig Y Coed. It is known that Frankie Howard was posted there."

Mike Williams of Penclawdd asks: "Can somebody explain to me when the coalmine entrances on Kilvey Hill were used? One above Danygraig cemetery and one at the bottom of Kilvey Road. Any info would b appreciated, thanks".

Anne Simpson of Spain asks, "Can you please give me any information on Simpson's Cross. I pass this many times and feel that I would like to know why it is so called. Hoping you can answer this question.

Joan has emailed Ivor to say 'thank you', but she's now asking a follow up question. She wonders if anybody has any pictures of the butcher's shop mentioned below.

Ivor Lloyd has answered Joan's query: "I once lived in Chapel Street in the 1930's and remember Mr and Mrs Bevan who kept a Pork Butchers shop in Chapel St. Although very young at the time I remember they had a daughter named Millie. If memory serves me right they subsequently moved to live in the Bolahaul area of Carmarthen."

Joan of Carmarthen: "Does anybody know anything about a butcher's shop in Chapel St. ' Bevan the Pork' it was known as - I think my grandparents once owned it and I would like to find out anything I can..."

Richard of Killay, Swansea: "Further to AGJ's comment I work in the Guildhall and can confirm that the plaque is set in the brick wall of the yard of the Crown Court building in St Helens Road. It says the great tide of January 1846 reached one metre below this plaque."

AGJ has answered Andrew's Swansea floods query: "There is no plaque in the Guildhall. If Andrew travels towards the Crown Court Building there is an older building next to it (Swansea side) and at pavement level he will find the plaque that he is looking for. Hope this is what he requires."

Andrew asks about flooding in Swansea:" A friend told me that there is a sign on the wall of Swansea's Guildhall where the water once reached during a record high tide. Is this true, and if so, were all the buildings in Sandfields flooded?"

Phil Parker from Ammanford says:
"Brynamman swimming pool is still open every summer. It is run by local volunteers and has suffered from vandalism over the last few years. I learned to swim there in primary school over thirty years ago."

Bill says:
"Trafalgar Terrace is the row of houses between the Bay View Hotel at the "Slip", Mumbles Rd going east to Christchurch just short of Swansea Jail. But particularly between Bond St on the western side to the Sea Beach Hotel on the eastern side. It is the row of houses facing the sea and separated from the sea by the old Mumbles Railway and the LMS railway line - which has now been replaced by the prom! Opposite these houses is an arch onto the beach known as Trafalgar Arch. In recent times the name Trafalgar Terrace may have been replaced by the name Ostermouth Road."

Peter Wynne Davies answers Sue's question: "The large structure on the river in Burton called the NATO jetty was built during the Cold War. My late father told me that it was designed to embark tanks, although at the time its exact use was a closely guarded secret. It was never used as the MOD discovered that the jetty could not accommodate the size of ship that would be needed.

Sue from Burton asks:
"I visited Burton last year and was interested in the huge deserted structure called the Nato Jetty - can anyone supply any information about this?"

Peter Mandell of Spalding has this information:
" The firm went into receivership in 1971 and was closed down. All the machinery was purchased by a Midlands scrap firm C.C.Cooper and auctioned on their behalf by Henry Butcher. The linishing machine from the electroplating shop going as far afield as Canada."

Beryl of Port Talbot says:
"Rob could contact Port Talbot Council for leaflets or get in touch with Afan Argoed Country Park, where there is a plethora of walk and bicycle tracks."

David from Melbourne, Australia answers Rob's question:
"The best material on the Railways in the Afan Valley is in the book "South Wales Branch Lines" by Harold Morgan, published by Ian Allan in 1984. I can't help with a book about walks in the valley, but I suggest you get a bus up to Blaengwynfi, like I did 10 years ago, and just walk down it. There's history at every turn."

Brian in Australia - previously of Llansamlet says:
"Pleasant Terrace is approx. 250 yards on the same side as Llansamlet School which is on Heolas Rd. My Grandfather William John Davies, lived in, I think, no. 4 or 5 in about 1915."

Tony is looking for information on car boot sales:
"Can you tell me the location/day of any car boot sales in Swansea ... (other than the Singleton one on Sundays)?"

Andrew from Duncan, B.C. Canada says:
"Regarding the old Ivy Tower looking down over Tonna near Neath - does anyone know something of its history and are there plans for its demolition? As an occasional visitor to Wales it has always impressed me as a local landmark."

Nathan ex of Stackpole asks:
"Does anyone know anything about the 'blockhouses' situated on Castlemartin Range, South Pembs.? I know of two, titled East and West Blockhouse, one of which I used to play in as a child. I believe they were used for RAF purposes in WWII. Was wondering if anyone knew anything regarding these sinister edifices?"

Sian in Cardiff but originally from Narberth says:
"I think the block houses were part of the defence system built along the Milford Haven at the same time as the other forts dotted up the Cleddau towards Pembroke Dock. If I am correct then they were built during the Victorian era around the 1860's. So called Palmerston Forts after the Prime Minister who ordered their construction in fear of attack, some refer to them as Palmerston Follies as they were never used. You should be able to get more info. on all the forts of the haven if you visit Pembroke Dock's martello gun tower on Front Street."

Mike from Newport says:
" The National Museum for Wales published a great little booklet in 1984 (ISBN 0 85485 069 4) called Cockles and Mussels by J. Geraint Jenkins which includes Llansaint women and photos. Putting Llansaint Cockles in a search engine produces a selection as well..."

Graham from Canada says:
"Ray Milland took the name Milland as he was born on that street. He incidentally attended the Gnoll School and would visit on his trips to Neath. I cannot remember his family name. The Millands were so named as they were the Mill Lands..."

Mark from Neath says:
"I would like to answer Ronald Tippins enquiry about the 'Swan' bus company. They were swallowed up by the United Welsh Services Swansea in 1952. Some vehicles were taken into stock and repainted. United Welsh were taken over in 1971 by South Wales Transport Co Ltd. They are now First Bus."

Emma from Swansea says:
"With regards to the Swan Bus Company. It apparently has now been turned into First Cymru Bus Company that currently runs."

Paul from Swansea says:
"RedHanded free mag is published by Conroy Media Ltd, PO box 607, Cardiff CF24 1ZR or redhanded@conroymedia.co.uk."

Grant from Neath says:
"During World War I, the British took Turkish prisoners in the Middle East campaigns. Some of these prisoners were put to work loading and unloading ships in Llanelli docks. After the war most returned home but some stayed in the Llanelli area and settled down."

Shaun from Llangwm answers this question:

"The USNAVFAC facility at Brawdy is now a small business park, with the larger buildings offices being used as lock-up storage. The main halls are empty, with all the AC and ancilliary equipment removed. If Eric checks with a search engine, there is a site full of recent photos."

Eric says:
"Thanks for the info. Shaun from Llangwm!"

Phil from Swansea is looking for information on:
"The White Rock Ferry that went from White Rock to the Hafod which my father, David John Clarke, and his father John worked for many years in the 1920's and 1930's."

Telsa of Swansea says:
"Does Phil already know about the factsheets in Swansea Museum? The first in the Lower Swansea Valley series is 'The White Rock Ferry', and there is quite a bit about the Clark family connection with the ferry in it."

Paul from Swansea is looking for:
"Old photos of the Greenhill area of Swansea. My family lived in Tontine Street and Matthew Street from the 1850's - 1920's. Would anybody still have photos of Tontine Street?"

Jayne from Skewen replies to Nike's email:
"The school is still open and hasn't changed much over the last 30 years. I pass it most days and look back on the school with fond memories."

Nike has this to say:
"I'd like to thank Jayne for her comment about Skewen Lower ... that is the best news I have heard on my 'mission' to reunite with people in Skewen! Do you by any chance know the following people: Pam Gwynn, Gloria (nee Jones), Lynn Davies (she was my classmate at Skewen Lower)? We were best friends! Does Longford Estate still exist?"

Jayne replies to Nike's email:
" ... Sorry I do not recognise any of the names as Skewen has grown into rather a large village and I left school 32 years ago. The Longford Estate still exists."

"I would like to learn more about Swansea. Would it be possible to correspond with someone from your city? I am teacher of English and American literature and writing at a small college in Kansas and am really quite sane, except, it seems, when I'm dreaming of geography, which rarely if ever happens."

If you'd like to get in contact with Keith then send us an email.

Siarls from Abertawe says:
"I believe it's now called 'Pum Heol' (Welsh for 'Five Roads') and is in Carmarthenshire. It is where my dog Hugo was born! Maybe knowing it's new name will help in your quest."

Mari from Swansea has this suggestion:
"Information would probably be available from the Glamorgan Gwent Archeological Trust, Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea."

Bee of Port Talbot has this to ask:
"Please can anyone cast any light on the large artifical mound at the base of Bryn Hill. It certainly seems to have been a fortress of some sort because the terraces around it are akin to many othe Iron Age forts. If one climbs to the top, the whole of the Afan Valley can be viewed and also Swansea through a gap in the mountains. Has it ever been excavated? Is there anything akin to a preservation order on it? Are Cadw involved? Is anyone interested in finding out more about it? I think it could be a hugely important historical site to Port Talbot and our heritage here."

Edwards says:
"It is a castle motte. I cannot recall if it was an outpost for Aberafan Castle (if you look across the valley there is another on the other side by Baglan) or part of Tir Iarll -a Welsh lordship. "

Mick is trying to track down some laverbread:
"I am a Welsh expat living in South Africa, how can I get my hands on some laverbread? Urgent!"

John from Loughor wants to know:
"Where does Gower start? If you could draw a line from the south coast to the north where would you put it?"

Anthony from Derby says:
"Where does Gower begin? Slightly to the west of Oystermouth Castle - I was born in Queen's Road, Mumbles and am a Gower boy!"

Hywel of Aberystwyth says:
"Having lived in Burry Green in Gower I reckon anything west of Gowerton is in Gower, anything east is not i.e. Waunarlwydd certainly is not. Further south, the dividing line is the cattle grid on the main road out of Swansea as it joins Fairwood common. On the South coast I'd think Caswell definitely is in Gower, but Mumbles is a bit of a grey area! Anyone else from Gower here?"

Siarls from Abertawe says:
"According to the Evening Post some years ago, the Domino Inn in Waunarlwydd was the offical gateway to Gower and I believe it ran down the Graig to Dunvant and down the cycle track. Nothing north of the river Lliw is Gower. My friends from Gower disagreed that Waunarlwydd was part of the Gower ...

"Some government or authoritive map, I'm not sure what, but I remember it clearly, outlined Gower as starting from around Llanrhidian area and running down across Cefn Bryn and then encompassing the Mumbles. It excluded Gowerton, Penclawdd, Dunvant and Three Crosses and only just covered Cefn Bryn."

Phill living in Ontario Canada is trying to track down something from his Pembrokeshire childhood:
"When I was growing up in Tenby during the early 60's a local chemist in Tudor Square used to sell a preparation called 'Blackjack Ointment'. Which was dispensed in little round waxed cardboard boxes along with a few kind words. Cuts, scrapes, stings were all made good by this wonderful ointment that looked like black grease. The old chemist has long since vanished and I have been trying to find out what was 'Blackjack Ointment'.

Ruth of Llanteg replies:
"I've found some information in B G Charles' book on place names in Pembrokeshire. It is in Amroth Parish and he states that the name has been around since at least 1598 and is associated with the Andrew Wiseman who held land in the area in 1524. I am secretary of the Llanteg History Society which is the adjoining parish to Amroth. They do not have a history society in Amroth but I'm sure you could find out more by either contacting the Record Office at Haverfordwest, Pembs or else getting in touch with the Saundersfoot Historical Society - this is a little village further along the coast and the two villages were closely connected during the coal mining years."

Ruth from Llanteg Pembrokeshire has sent in a fascinating story relating to Charles the 1st and she needs help in solving the mystery - take a look at the local history section.

" The bungalows had no running water (some posher properties did) and sanitation was 'bucket and chuck it', indeed we had to get water from a tap at the bottom of the field and carry it to our bungalow for domestic use! A picture of myself in my possesion as a child shows me at the tap! Has anyone got any information on this site? Although these bungalows were 'seasonal' there was a family who lived there called the O'Neills who lived there all year round, Albie O'Neill comes to mind and his sister Anne who used to catch lobsters and crabs around the area.

"Indeed my aged aunt still has a bungalow built on this field, now called Limeslade Drive!"

Carol Powell from The Mumbles Book Website has been in contact with us:
"Did Howell know that there is a piece on this topic on the Mumbles Website, it can be found at www.themumblesbook.com. This piece entitled 'Holidays At Rams Tor' gives one person's account of holidays in another Woolcotts field, with several photographs. I'd be really interested in getting in touch with Hywel."

Peter Wynne Davies has replied:"Fishguard Bay and its harbour were used by Special Operations Executive during the war. My late father told me that very few locals knew what was going on. There may be photographs published in the recent histories of SOE. The headquarters was the Fishguard Bay Hotel, which survives."

Tom from North Argyll is looking for people who have memories of Goodwick during the Second World War:
"Does anyone in Goodwick have any recollections of the years 1944/45 in the harbour? I understand from research that Goodwick was a trials base for the Special Operations Executive miniature submarine programme in 1944/45. Anyone who has memories, or can provide pictures of these years is asked to get in touch."

Ronald from Llanelli is looking historical information:
"Any information, photographs, reminisces of Bryn Fire Station, Llanelli?"

"It's been a long time since the ban was enforced (may I add the ban was caused by a land yacht not a para-karter, for sailing outside the zone). The park has given permission for use nearly 20 years ago ... Pembry is the UK's premier location for para-karting. It has held several national meetings every year and brought in a great deal of revenue for the local community. I would like to know if there is anyone else who will support our fight back to the beach!"

This is the reply we had off Carmarthenshire County Council:

"The Park/Council is negotiating with the Local Sandyacht Club to lift the current ban on landsailing on Cefn Sidan. We have a few final hurdles to overcome before the ban can be lifted. The local club should then have operating rights for all landsailing activity on Cefn Sidan working with Carmarthenshire County Council to agree safe systems of work."

Elizabeth of Rhydyfro has this information:
"Glanrhyd plantation was once part of Glanrhyd House, built by Arthur Gilbertson in 1878, he also built All Saints Church. He then lived there until it was used as a hospital in WW1 and later became flats. It was demolished in 1968. Mr Charles Gilbertson gave the land and the Cwmdu Cwm below for the use of the people of Pontardawe."

Carol Powell the author of this book has been in touch with us and has this to say:
"Sadly the book is now out of print. Copies though may be available through your library service on loan."

Siarls from Abertawe says:
"I was convinced it was because of the River Taff in Cardiff. Feel free to laugh at my naivity!"

Roger from Ammanford has this information:
"'Oggy, Oggy, Oggy' originates from old Naval slang for the sea (The Oggin) and was reputed to have been chanted in unison by old 'salts' on leaving port in the 'good ol' days'."

Dickon Moon - Coach of the London Cornish RFC says:
" In response to Ceri, your ex pat from Australia and Roger from Ammanford, the origins of the 'Oggy Oggy Oggy' chant lie in the Cornish tin mining industry. An 'oggy' is Cornish slang for a pasty and this was the phrase shouted down the mines by the miners wives when wanting to let the miners know that their pasties had arrived - 'Oi oi oi' was the phrase used to ackowledge the shout.

To this day London Cornish RFC use the shout to clap the opposition down the tunnel at the end of matches. The origins of the chant have been passed down from generation to generation within my family in the county, and many in Cornwall refer to a pasty as an 'oggy' to this day.

The phrase has become 'bastardised' by Australia for their 'Aussie Aussie Aussie' chant, and was used by Max Boyce in a song in the 70's, which is why so many people incorrectly believe it to be Welsh. "

Matt has contacted us from Bristol:
"Try talking to West Wales Diving Centre in Hasguard Cross, nr Haverfordwest ... also if you want to dive there's the Marine Reserve around Skomer Island which is meant to be impressive. Not sure what permissions you'll need though."

Helen from Bournemouth has this suggestion:
"Try getting in touch with the Romany Centre in Holton Heath, Poole as they may have an idea. If not, get in touch with a local community group in Poole, or a Community Warden, as there are many settled Romany in the area & I am sure someone could help! Good luck."

Janie from Llanelli answers Royston's question:
"Terry was born and grew up in Llanelli town and has lived in Llanelli and Pembrey ever since. He currently lives in Furnace Llanelli, and of course runs his snooker club The Terry Griffiths Matchroom on a day to day basis."

A user of the site has got back to us:
"Augustus John's grand daughter is Rebecca John - she has put together a book on her grand father's work."