Oral History collection: Will Harry (born 1886, Cilibion, traction engine owner) interviewed by J. Mansel Thomas about Gower life

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 216 T 3/17
  • Dates of Creation
      c. 1976
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      on cassette; also digital copy in MP3 format

Scope and Content

Track 1. [00:01:00] Gower / Education: School in Llanrhidian, schooling. [00:04:10] Gower: Interest in traction engines, working on machinery, mechanic work. [00:07:30] Gower: Looking after engines, farming machinery. [00:08:39] Gower: Traction / tractors engines on road surfaces, speed. [00:11:18] Gower: Burning coal as fuel for traction engines, cost. [00:13:35] Gower: Coal, transporting fuel from Killay to Rhossili. [00:19:00] Gower: Thrashing in Pitton, atmosphere, working conditions, illness. [00:23:00] Gower: Farming machinery, engines, tractors, ploughing, trucks. [00:30:55] Gower: Thrashing timber. [00:32:00] Gower: Taking / selling traction / tractors engines in Carmarthen. [00:35:10] Gower: Social life after thrashing / reaping was done, concerts, dances. [00:36:30] Gower: Harvest supper, customs, feast for the reapers. [00:37:30] Gower: Customs, feast, farmers wives brewing beer. [00:38:10] Gower: Brewing beer. [00:39:00] Gower: The tax on beer brewing. [00:40:20] Gower: Gower dialect. [00:41:35] Gower: Limestone boats, lime stone quarries. [00:43:45] Gower: Enjoyment from traction engines, thrashing. Difference between old and new machines.

Track 2. [00:00:05] Gower: Machinery, mechanics, boilers. [00:07:30] Gower: Land, timber. [00:11:20] Gower: Decoy pool, pond, catching ducks. [00:16:30] Gower: Broad pool. [00:17:oo] Gower: General life in Gower. [00:23:20] Gower: Farming, thrashing. [00:28:35] Gower: Changes in farming, thrashing.