Rhyddiaith fer a brasluniau – 'Remembering Cwmtillery'

'Remembering Cwmtillery'

Gan Stephen Davies

My memories of childhood visits to my nans in Cwmtillery

As a young boy growing up back in the 1960s. I can always remember the strolls my father used to take me on. They were on Saturday afternoons. As we always visited my nan's house. (My father's mother) up in West Bank Cwmtillery. While my mam stayed with my nan. My dad and I would go for walks. He would show me around the Lakes. Then we would walk up the lane to Cwmtillery Res. Then up to Church Lane and back down to Cwmtillery. Passing St Paul Church built 1890.

We would then walk up the tips. Above the Lakes. To the old coal level. Now gated up. Where my grandad once worked. He also used to work in Cwmtillery Colliery. Until he passed away in 1959. The year I was born. Our walk always ended up. Walking through the colliery. My dad worked there as a fitter underground. (I also worked there in later years). We would end up in the fitting shop. Where my dad would have a mug of tea. And smoke about 10 woodbines (fags) and chat with the men he knew there. And talk about pit matters.

We would then return to my nan's house in West Bank. And have tea. She made nice apple tart + custard. She also made her own bread pudding. And rice puddings. They were the days people made and cooked their own food. Very different from today.

After tea. I would meet up with a few friends I knew. We would have lots of fun. Sliding down the bank. From Top Rows to West Bank. On bits of cardboard. This banking is now covered in large trees. And my nans old house is gone. Sadly. Both mam and dad. Have now passed away.

Mam died in 1987
Dad died in 2018

I am now 61 years of age. And still I enjoy walking the same places that my dad used to take me. Although a lot has changed. The colliery closed in 1982. The site is now a football pitch. All the old waste tips have been landscaped. And more trees are now growing. I have very fond memories of Cwmtillery.

I loved it as it was then.

And I love it as it is today.

Thank you.

Llun 1 – Pen Pwll Glo Cwmtyleri
Gweld y maint llawn

Llun 2 – Church Lane
Gweld y maint llawn

Llun 3 – Eglwys Sant Paul
Gweld y maint llawn

Llun 4 – Llynnoedd a Chronfa Ddŵr Cwmtyleri
Gweld y maint llawn

Llun 5 – Tai teras
Gweld y maint llawn

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Ynglŷn â'r gwaith hwn

Dyma atgofion Stephen o ymweld â'i fam-gu yng Nghwmtyleri, i'r gogledd o Abertyleri, yn y 1960au. Bryd hynny, roedd Pwll Glo Cwmtyleri yn destun pryder cynyddol; agorwyd y pwll ar ddiwedd y 1840au, a chafodd ei gau'n derfynol yn 1982. Bu tad a thad-cu Stephen yn gweithio yno. Mae ei gofnod yn cyfeirio at nifer o dirnodau lleol yn yr ardal, y mae'r rhan fwyaf ohonynt wedi'u cynrychioli yn y brasluniau sy'n ategu ei eiriau. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys y pwll glo ei hun (llun 1), Church Lane (llun 2), Eglwys Sant Paul (llun 3), a Llynnoedd a Chronfa Ddŵr Cwmtyleri (llun 4). Nid yw llun 5 wedi'i labelu, ond mae'n dangos y math o dŷ teras o'r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg y bu ei fam-gu yn byw ynddo.

Mae geiriau disgrifiadol Stephen yn rhoi darlun byw o'r gorffennol; ei fam-gu yn coginio, ei dad yn siarad siop â'i gydweithwyr a'i ffrindiau, a'i brofiadau ef ei hun gyda phlant eraill ar y bryniau. Ond mae'r pwll glo bellach yn faes chwarae. Mae'r llynnoedd, a roddodd ddŵr i'r pyllau, bellach yn gadwraeth bywyd gwyllt. Mae'r ardal wedi'i thrawsnewid yn llwyr yn sgil y dad-ddiwydiannu yn y 1980au. Mae cofnod Stephen yn pwysleisio'r ymdeimlad hwnnw o newid drwy ei gysylltu â marwolaeth ei fam-gu a'i rieni. Yn arwyddocaol, serch hynny, mae ei frasluniau'n rhoi darlun hardd o'r ardal fel y mae heddiw yn hytrach na ddoe, ac mae ei frawddeg glo yn cyfeirio at dirlunio tomenni gwastraff ac ailbannu coed. Yn sicr, neges y ddwy linell olaf yw y gall amser, er ei fod yn anochel yn golygu colled, arwain at fudd hefyd.

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