Category Archives: History

What did the Sea Captains from Dinas do with their money?

Posted on August 22, 2014 by bookvolunteer

The first thing many of them did was to build a house and change the shape of the village. Dinas had originally been sited in the bay of Cwm yr Eglwys, where all the land was owned by large land … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Crafts, History, Religion, Sea, Welsh language | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Dressing up for Dinas Carnival c1930

Posted on August 15, 2014 by bookvolunteer

This photo survives from the early 1930s (pity about the nasty mark) and was probably taken at the time of Dinas’ Carnival at the beginning of August. I’d say that the person with the camera was a friend or relation of the … Continue reading →

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Marie Elsie and the Man with the Golden Gun

Posted on August 11, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Capt. Joe Francis (of Eryl, Dinas) was captain of SS Marie Elsie in 1915 – a dangerous time to be a sailor. Fortunately, by the time the Marie Elsie was torpedoed and sunk on its way to Arkhangelsk in June 1917 … Continue reading →

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John Brett’s holiday rental

Posted on August 8, 2014 by bookvolunteer

When the artist, John Brett, decided to paint on the coast of West Wales in the 1880s he became a regular summer visitor to the Dinas area, renting Newport Castle to accommodate his large family. This was handy for visits to the bays … Continue reading →

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A bill from Mr Thomas, the blacksmith

Posted on August 5, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Here is Mr Selwyn Harries, at a local ploughing match, showing us how farming used to be done. Before the age of tractors, the horses on my great-grandfather’s farm at Hescwm worked hard and the proof is in the number … Continue reading →

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Dinas fashions c1912 (or More than you ever thought you’d want to know about gentlemen’s hats)

Posted on July 29, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Before I learnt the names of these men, who served as Deacons at Tabor Chapel (Dinas) in about 1912, I became fascinated by their hats. Did their choice of headgear tell us anything about the individuals beneath? John Stephenson of Lock … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Religion, Sea | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The bus shelter at Yet y Bontbren (or Teenage passion c1955)

Posted on July 25, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Have a good look at this bus shelter because it will soon disappear and be replaced with something much more modern and probably flimsier. Before it’s demolished, however, we should celebrate its beginnings and give thanks for the community spirit that … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Welsh language | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Dinas boy made good

Posted on July 22, 2014 by bookvolunteer

William Harries, whose family came from Dinas, was Mayor of Swansea for a few months in 1943/1944 before being killed in a road accident on the Mumbles Road. Here he is as a young man with his parents, brother and … Continue reading →

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“Don’t cry William bach”

Posted on July 18, 2014 by bookvolunteer

In the least visited part of St Brynach’s churchyard, Dinas, a gravestone tells of tragedy. On Thursday 18th September 1895  two young men, William James and Andrew Raymond, set out to shoot rabbits on Dinas Island. On the rough ground at Carreg y Fran, … Continue reading →

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The old hay barn

Posted on July 15, 2014 by bookvolunteer

When Mr Rowlands constructed his hay barn, about seventy-five years ago, his wife and daughter were not impressed; it was rather a dangerous contraption, in their view. Over recent years the farmers in the Dinas area have taken to new ways of storing … Continue reading →

Posted in Farming, History | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Questions it’s too late to ask

Posted on July 11, 2014 by bookvolunteer

Of course I was excited to find a photo of my Uncle Davy George with his class at Dinas County Primary school. Here he is in about 1928, standing with his arms crossed in the back row – fourth from … Continue reading →

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Beehive pigsty – a pig’s eye view

Posted on July 8, 2014 by bookvolunteer

As you can see, the pigsty (on the left) is in much better condition that the house of its owner (on the right). The cottage has fallen into disrepair and fencing prevents the unwary walker from straying into an area … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Farming, Food, History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments