Oral History collection: Mr Beynon interviewed by Elizabeth Jones

[00:01:10] Pontardawe: Born and lived in Pontardawe all his life. Worked in the sheet mills, steel works all his life. Candle factory on the Fairfield, Morris family. [00:02:35] Pontardawe: All Saints Church, Circuses, Menageries, washing the elephants and circus animals in the river, Pontardawe inn. [00:04:12] Pontardawe: Lewis Francis building a skating rink, quarry . Mr Davies ironmonger, built the Horeb Wesleyan Chapel, Thomas Beynon quarrying the stones for use to build the Chapel. [00:05:50] Pontardawe: Lewis Francis first man to own a charabanc, garage behind Dynefor. [00:06:30] Pontardawe: Pubs. Public houses, The Lamb in Ynysfedw, shops, The Three Compass Maesiago, Gelli Nudd Arms, Carpenters Arms, The Beehive. [00:08:00] Pontardawe: John Harris, The Coopers Arms, family owned many houses on Orchard Street, names of local business owners, shop owners. [00:10:00] Pontardawe: Public houses, pubs. [00:12:10] Pontardawe: The Cross pub. [00:13:15] Pontardawe: Working at the Tinplate / tin works, Ynysderw aged 14. [00:14:00] Pontardawe: Mills. Pontardawe council building a sewer. [00:15:00] Pontardawe: Local characters and shops, rubber factory. RTB's, reading room, recreation, gymnasium. [00:18:00] Pontardawe: Alloy built new works, mills, list of rollermen's names who worked there. Worked there until Second World War. [00:20:00] Pontardawe: He went to First World War to Saudi Arabia, 1914, a sergeant, Great War, went to the Suez Canal, india. [00:21:30] Pontardawe: Orchard Street, animal mart, steam laundry, council bought the steam laundry for an electrical department. [00:23:08] Pontardawe: Lewis's owned the chemical works, Adeline Patti opening the public hall. [00:25:30] Pontardawe: Tunnel, Laurel Cottage, Pandy field, Cae'r Pandy. [00:27:30] Pontardawe: Mr Davies cloth, 2 siops selling gents and ladies clothes, employed local people . [00:28:50] Pontardawe: The flood, train station, Glanaman, carriages full, The Cross Hands. [00:30:45] Pontardawe: Police man, constable for 22 years. [00:32:15] Pontardawe: School, Llangiwg school, building a bank to stop the alloy, river, railway. [00:35:30] Pontardawe: Gelli Nudd arms, railway. [00:35:50] Pontardawe: Keeping pigs. [00:37:49] Pontardawe: Two Pop Factories, Lewis the grocers, slaughterhouses, Phillips the Butcher. [00:39:40] Pontardawe: Land owners, business proprietors, old man selling stockings / wares on a stock on his shoulders. [00:41:00] Pontardawe: Harris Rhyd-y-Fro used the mill to yarn, make wool, cloth, local characters, fighting. [00:43:00] Pontardawe: Lewis Frances owned the charabanc and bicycle business, a big business man, his father lived in the workhouse. [00:44:30] Pontardawe: The canal. [00:46:18] Pontardawe: Works, Thomas Street, sewer, land behind Co-operative, pony and trap, Chemical Works on fire. [00:50:45] Pontardawe: Post office, chemist shop, pecking office. [00:51:00] Pontardawe: Jubilee, shops, Ann Power keeping hats, cycle shop, rag and bone. [00:00:05] Pontardawe: Mr Beynon, Born 1895, 86 years old when the interview is taking place.