Post by annedw on Jul 12, 2006 22:16:14 GMT
I came across a few pages of notes about life in Coedpoeth in the library. They were written by J.J. Parry, 6 School Lane, Coedpoeth and dated 30 October 1984.
As they are quite interesting I thought some of you might like to read some extracts and details taken from them.
Adwy Chapel was formed in 1747, the first cemetery in the area was at this Chapel. followed by Rehoboth and Salem cemeteries.
The dates of the Churches when built in Coedpoeth were :- Bethel 1878, Rehoboth 1864, Salem 1857, St Tudfils 1894, Bethesda 1893, Bethlehem Tabernacle 1893, Bathafarn 1900 Saron 1800.
When St Tudfils was built in 1894 the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Westminister. The first two to be christened there were Dr. J Vaughen Griffith and Gordon Tudvil Parry of Church Street, who was partially named after the Church !.
In the St Tudfils church grounds there is a memorial cross with the words " This cross commemerates Nurse Winifred Davies who served as a Missionary in North East Congo from 1946 and died a Martyr May 27th 1967 "
In 1892 the Coedpoeth cemetery was established, the Chairman was Mr.S.J. Jones and the Clerk was Mr Joseph Wilcoxon. The first Cemetery Superintendant was Mr. John Richards. Internment for any person over the age of 14 was four shillings.
Edward Hughes was the first person to be buried, he is on the left hand side as you enter the grounds, there is no headstone.
The first person to have a headstone was Mr. Edward Goodwin who died 21st December 1893.
At the end of the 19th century there were twenty two public houses in the area. They were - Red Lion, Butcher`s Arms, and the Crown all in the Talwrn. Queens Head and Welsh Harp in the Smelt. Cross Foxes, Prince of Wales, Royal Oak, Red Lion ( Heol Maelor), Castle Arms, Grosvenor, Three Mile , Greyhound, Mason`s Arms, Mount Pleasant ( Penygelli) , Jolly Collier,
Mount Pleasant ( Nant), Miners Arms, White Horse, White Lion , New Inn, Golden Lion. By 1984 there were only seven left.
In the early 20th century there were 82 shops in Coedpoeth - four blacksmiths - they were Jackson, Smelt : Jehu, Victoria Rd :
Wright, Nant : and Jones of Smithy Road. There was one coach builder , Robert Ellis of Victoria Road.
The Parish Hall was built in 1896 and the Council had it`s own hand drawn fire engine which was kept in there. The Captain was Mr E.J Jones who later became the Parish Council Clerk.
The Coedpoeth Silver Prize Band was formed in the 19th century and later Mr E Parry took great interest and did a lot of work for their benefit.
There were three schools in the 19th c, Infants, Girls and Boys Schools. About 1900 the Junior Girls and the Boys Board Schoool were made into a mixed one. The Head Mistress in the Infants was Mrs M.E Jones, and two assistants were Miss Vernon of Rhos Berse Road, and Miss Griffiths of Llewelyn Road, she was a sister to Edgar Griffiths who became head master of Minera School. At the Junior School the headmistrss was Miss Emily Jones , Adwy and there was a teacher from Bwlchgwyn called Mrs Roberts who walked to and from home every day summer and winter. The caretaker was Nain Jones, she was a lovable character, one of her duties was to ring the bell at 8.30 and 1.00 to remind us it was time for school.
In 1909 the Headmaster at Tabor Hill School was Mr G.J Jones, he retired in 1911. He was replaced by Mr H E Jones from Festiniog, who was a very stern man, but turned out to be a great school master. He brought new ideas to the school including a scholarship class where pupils were trained for an examination to enter Grove Park School. Pupils attending Grove Park either caught the train from Coedpoeth, but most walked to Southsea and caught it there. In the evening they had to travel to Southsea and walk back to Coedpoeth. One pupil who made this journey was Gwenfron Moss, she later became a missionary, and now lives in Cardiff, she is aged about 88 now.
Other school activities introduced were football, games for the girls, concerts, and the choir was broadcast on the radio. Mr Hughes was the headmaster of Penygelli Modern School for 36 years. When he retired a presentation was made at Salem Chapel
where he was presented with a cheque for £750. Before I close on my school days , I must mention the following, Miss Edith Wilcoxon a lovable character and a great teacher. She died last year aged 99. Mr Percy Rogers was another of my teachers, a great man who served in the 1914-18 war, aso a Mr Davies who went to Cerrig-y-Drudion as a School master.
In 1975 the Penygelli Junior School closed and a new school opened in Castle Road. The builders were Mr Glyn Roberts.
An official opening took place on Thursday 25th September 1975 by Counciller Mr J E Bryn Owen, Chairman of the School managers.
The headmaster was Mr H L Lloyd , the present headmaster is Mr J B Garner and long may he reign.
Very little use was made of the old school until the North East Wales Institute took over in 1977. The pointed the walls, painted inside and outside, and now all the rooms are being used to good advantage. It was officially opened on 28th June 1978 by Counciller Mr D P Swartz J.P. O B E.
The Tabor Hill school went on fire on 14th February 1969.
Carnegie Free Library was built in 1904, Carnegie gave a gift of
£1500, it was opened by Mr Samuel Moss who was M.P. for East Denbs. The architect was Mr William Moss and the builder was Mr S. Moss of Coedpoeth. The Clerk of the Council was Mr. Joseph Wilcoxon and the Chairman was Mr. Thomas Roberts .
Mr Ted Davies was the first caretaker , he died at an early age, he was followed By Mr R.J Hughes who retired after 28 years service. At the present time the caretaker is Mr M Astley and his wife Mrs S Astley is in charge of the lending library. A delightful couple, and always ready with a helping hand and a smile.
Street lighting was introduced about 1910, and a man with a long pole would switch the lights on at every standard, and after he had finished switching on it would be time to start putting them out again.
At the beginning of this century travelling to Wrexham was by train or horse drawn brake , the fare was four pence. Buses and small cars came into operation later, the first was a Charabanc owned by Samuel Evans , Adwy and buses were run by Wrexham Transport.
Silent pictures came to Coedpoeth about 1920 and the first to venture was a firm from the Rhos. Then various peope from Coedpoeth and Brymbo took over.
The Memorial Park was opened about 1921/22, a Memorial Statue had been erected for the fallen in 1914-18 and the names of all the soldiers from Coedpoeth who fell serving their country are inscribed on it, also the same for the 1939-45 war.
The park aslo included a childrens playground, tennis court, bowling green and a pavillion. During the last war a tennis court was made into an emergency pool in case of fire and a tragic happening took place when a child drowned there. The first two persons to win a prize at the Park bowling green were Mr. Harry Fairhurst and Mr. Richard Thomas Williams ( Castle Rd) Then a new bowling green was made behind the Library and alongside of the Parish Hall, and at that time the Coedpoeth Bowling Club was formed. The first officials were Mr, Thomas Jones J.P. Chairman, Mr Beckitt Jones Treasurer, Mr. Phillip Jones Secretary, the first Captain was Mr. Harry Fairhurst. The club was one of the first to join the Denbighshire Amatuer Bowling Association.
I was reared by my grandparents. How did we pass the time after school hours - we had to create our own pleasure, playing marbles, bowl and hook, dog and peggy, and of course when the snow was on the ground sliding was the main attraction - Allt Clai ( Clay Hill ) was a favourite spot. On Sunday we attended Chapel three times, and we would walk to the big seat and say a verse from the Bible, there would be a talk by the Minister or Lay Preacher. In the winter months we had social evenings , a debating society and the Band of Hope where we would have lectures on Temperence. In the summer we would have a tea party and then go to the field to pay games. I remember on two occasions we went for a trip by train after our tea, we would march from Rehoboth Chapel to Coedpoeth Station, board the train and away we go - yes , to Berwig Station which was about a mile away. After passing the time at Berwig we returned to Coedpoeth , then back to Rehoboth. The next trip was to Pentre Saeson and it was the same procedure, we all thought it was great fun.
The Free Church Council would invite all the Chapels to arrange concerts to be held in the Parish Hall, and indeed all the Chapels agreed. It was called the Saturday Night Penny Concerts, what a success , it was great entertainment
What about home life ? Without a doubt the hardest working person was out Mother, ninety percent of the males worked at the pits. At night she would bank the fire, and put the working clothes to dry. She was up again at 4 am in the morning, when she would prepare breakfast, make snapping for work, and then prepare a meal for when we came home, boil water for us to have a wash - no baths or electricity in those times.
We would rear pigs at home. Our parents went to Wrexham Livestock market and buy two piglets about ten weeks old, they cost about ten shillings each, then they would be fed and fattened until they were ready to be killed for bacon - one for the home and the other for the shopkeeper, a custom of the time was to give a piece of pork to our neighbours ( Assen Goch )
The shopkeeper would allow our parents credit for meal during the fattening time, when he was supplied with one pig that would pay for the meal used for fattening the pig.
Another custom was planting potatoes, just before the harvest we would have a bill from the farmer for the planting, he would charge so much a yard . On a day chosen by the farmer our parents would go and pay the bill, that day was called ` supper for the payment of planting potatoes`. Then the lifting of the potatoes would arrive, then the farmer would deliver them and for good measure we would have a turnip or two.
When I was a child, the bakers of the village had a public baking day once a week. Our Mother would prepare the dough and put it in a pillow case, then we children would take it to the bakehouse, then call in on our way home from school for the baked loaves. The bakers would charge one penny for each loaf - for the baking.
In the summer the council employed a man to water the streets, there was no tarmac in those days. The water cart was filled from a pump just outside where the Midland Bank is today, the man in charge was David Humphreys.
In 1901 there was a riot. A fun fair was held in a field at the bottom of Victoria Road, where the Community Centre and the old age flats and bungalows are now. The show consisted of a coconut shy, shooting range, swings, a prize of a pig was going to be given by the showmen if a man would climb a a greasy pole . The pole was climbed but the showmen would not give the pig - then the bother started - the showmen took their guns, fired at the crowd , my brother was injured among many others. The pig was stolen , but found again the next day. While the riot was taking place one of the showmens wives gave birth to a son, he was in Coedpoeth a few weeks ago.
One important day for the children was " Calennig Day" It was on the first day of the year, and we would go round the shops for gifts, if wewere lucky the shopman would throw us some sweets or an apple or orange, we had to go around before 12 o `clock and I remember about 1907 the chidren all gather by Rigdon the Chemist and Photographer. He got us all together and took a photo of the group, I have a photo of that occasion.
In 1915 I went to work in Plaspower Colliery, underground and stayed there until 1925. I then went to work at Llay main until I retired in 1964.
On Monday 20th march 1944 a memorable event was held in the Parish Hall, it was a Welsh Half hour to be broadcast on the radio for those serving their country in 1939-45. The programme consisted of the following :- Coedpoeth Choral Society, East Denbs Orchestra, Tom Williams ( Bass). The compare was Mr Aun Oldfield Davies, greeting to the forces was made by Mr R M Hughes, Chairman to the Council, the task of reading the News Letter to the Forces from Coedpoeth fell to the happy lot of Mrs Edward Hughes, Smith Road, who has a son serving in Italy.
Before I close I must mention a few personalities of the past. We had a village crier in the person of Mr Hugh Thomas, known as Hugh the Bellman. He would go round the village announcing various functions that were to take place. There was Mr Mark Evans, I believe he was the first monumental mason in Coedpoeth,his workshop was in Cemetery Road and he lived in a small house on the premises. Another mason lived in the Smelt, he was Mr Cadwelyn Cadwaladr, his mother Mary Cadwaladr was a well known figure, she was an authority on making plaster and ointment. Her grand-daughter is Mrs R E Evans better known as Mrs Beckett Evans, Smithy Road.
Two Wrexham Mayors had their roots in Coedpoeth. Mr John Davies who attended the Penygelli School and Mrs Megan Jones, whose father lived in Coedpoeth for many years. I must not forget the present Deputy Mayor and Mayoress Counciller Robert Squires and his wife Phyllis, Mr Squires will be Mayor next year , he has resided in Coedpoeth for 41 years.
J.J. PARRY
23.11.84
Well that`it, I have taken the liberty of editing this a little bit and rearranging some of it, but it is all there . I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did. For me it was extra special as Edith Wilcoxon was my Great Aunt, I was named after her and am wearing the signet ring she gave me when I was about 14. It has both mine and her initials on it , although they are very worn now. ( A bit like ME)
The full version of these notes are in Coedpoeth Library and can be found in the Local History Section in a small folder.
PS , does anyone know what Dog and Peggy was, and can you just imagine if we walked into Tesco with a bag full of dough and asked for it to be baked !!!!. Somehow I can`t see it happening.
As they are quite interesting I thought some of you might like to read some extracts and details taken from them.
Adwy Chapel was formed in 1747, the first cemetery in the area was at this Chapel. followed by Rehoboth and Salem cemeteries.
The dates of the Churches when built in Coedpoeth were :- Bethel 1878, Rehoboth 1864, Salem 1857, St Tudfils 1894, Bethesda 1893, Bethlehem Tabernacle 1893, Bathafarn 1900 Saron 1800.
When St Tudfils was built in 1894 the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Westminister. The first two to be christened there were Dr. J Vaughen Griffith and Gordon Tudvil Parry of Church Street, who was partially named after the Church !.
In the St Tudfils church grounds there is a memorial cross with the words " This cross commemerates Nurse Winifred Davies who served as a Missionary in North East Congo from 1946 and died a Martyr May 27th 1967 "
In 1892 the Coedpoeth cemetery was established, the Chairman was Mr.S.J. Jones and the Clerk was Mr Joseph Wilcoxon. The first Cemetery Superintendant was Mr. John Richards. Internment for any person over the age of 14 was four shillings.
Edward Hughes was the first person to be buried, he is on the left hand side as you enter the grounds, there is no headstone.
The first person to have a headstone was Mr. Edward Goodwin who died 21st December 1893.
At the end of the 19th century there were twenty two public houses in the area. They were - Red Lion, Butcher`s Arms, and the Crown all in the Talwrn. Queens Head and Welsh Harp in the Smelt. Cross Foxes, Prince of Wales, Royal Oak, Red Lion ( Heol Maelor), Castle Arms, Grosvenor, Three Mile , Greyhound, Mason`s Arms, Mount Pleasant ( Penygelli) , Jolly Collier,
Mount Pleasant ( Nant), Miners Arms, White Horse, White Lion , New Inn, Golden Lion. By 1984 there were only seven left.
In the early 20th century there were 82 shops in Coedpoeth - four blacksmiths - they were Jackson, Smelt : Jehu, Victoria Rd :
Wright, Nant : and Jones of Smithy Road. There was one coach builder , Robert Ellis of Victoria Road.
The Parish Hall was built in 1896 and the Council had it`s own hand drawn fire engine which was kept in there. The Captain was Mr E.J Jones who later became the Parish Council Clerk.
The Coedpoeth Silver Prize Band was formed in the 19th century and later Mr E Parry took great interest and did a lot of work for their benefit.
There were three schools in the 19th c, Infants, Girls and Boys Schools. About 1900 the Junior Girls and the Boys Board Schoool were made into a mixed one. The Head Mistress in the Infants was Mrs M.E Jones, and two assistants were Miss Vernon of Rhos Berse Road, and Miss Griffiths of Llewelyn Road, she was a sister to Edgar Griffiths who became head master of Minera School. At the Junior School the headmistrss was Miss Emily Jones , Adwy and there was a teacher from Bwlchgwyn called Mrs Roberts who walked to and from home every day summer and winter. The caretaker was Nain Jones, she was a lovable character, one of her duties was to ring the bell at 8.30 and 1.00 to remind us it was time for school.
In 1909 the Headmaster at Tabor Hill School was Mr G.J Jones, he retired in 1911. He was replaced by Mr H E Jones from Festiniog, who was a very stern man, but turned out to be a great school master. He brought new ideas to the school including a scholarship class where pupils were trained for an examination to enter Grove Park School. Pupils attending Grove Park either caught the train from Coedpoeth, but most walked to Southsea and caught it there. In the evening they had to travel to Southsea and walk back to Coedpoeth. One pupil who made this journey was Gwenfron Moss, she later became a missionary, and now lives in Cardiff, she is aged about 88 now.
Other school activities introduced were football, games for the girls, concerts, and the choir was broadcast on the radio. Mr Hughes was the headmaster of Penygelli Modern School for 36 years. When he retired a presentation was made at Salem Chapel
where he was presented with a cheque for £750. Before I close on my school days , I must mention the following, Miss Edith Wilcoxon a lovable character and a great teacher. She died last year aged 99. Mr Percy Rogers was another of my teachers, a great man who served in the 1914-18 war, aso a Mr Davies who went to Cerrig-y-Drudion as a School master.
In 1975 the Penygelli Junior School closed and a new school opened in Castle Road. The builders were Mr Glyn Roberts.
An official opening took place on Thursday 25th September 1975 by Counciller Mr J E Bryn Owen, Chairman of the School managers.
The headmaster was Mr H L Lloyd , the present headmaster is Mr J B Garner and long may he reign.
Very little use was made of the old school until the North East Wales Institute took over in 1977. The pointed the walls, painted inside and outside, and now all the rooms are being used to good advantage. It was officially opened on 28th June 1978 by Counciller Mr D P Swartz J.P. O B E.
The Tabor Hill school went on fire on 14th February 1969.
Carnegie Free Library was built in 1904, Carnegie gave a gift of
£1500, it was opened by Mr Samuel Moss who was M.P. for East Denbs. The architect was Mr William Moss and the builder was Mr S. Moss of Coedpoeth. The Clerk of the Council was Mr. Joseph Wilcoxon and the Chairman was Mr. Thomas Roberts .
Mr Ted Davies was the first caretaker , he died at an early age, he was followed By Mr R.J Hughes who retired after 28 years service. At the present time the caretaker is Mr M Astley and his wife Mrs S Astley is in charge of the lending library. A delightful couple, and always ready with a helping hand and a smile.
Street lighting was introduced about 1910, and a man with a long pole would switch the lights on at every standard, and after he had finished switching on it would be time to start putting them out again.
At the beginning of this century travelling to Wrexham was by train or horse drawn brake , the fare was four pence. Buses and small cars came into operation later, the first was a Charabanc owned by Samuel Evans , Adwy and buses were run by Wrexham Transport.
Silent pictures came to Coedpoeth about 1920 and the first to venture was a firm from the Rhos. Then various peope from Coedpoeth and Brymbo took over.
The Memorial Park was opened about 1921/22, a Memorial Statue had been erected for the fallen in 1914-18 and the names of all the soldiers from Coedpoeth who fell serving their country are inscribed on it, also the same for the 1939-45 war.
The park aslo included a childrens playground, tennis court, bowling green and a pavillion. During the last war a tennis court was made into an emergency pool in case of fire and a tragic happening took place when a child drowned there. The first two persons to win a prize at the Park bowling green were Mr. Harry Fairhurst and Mr. Richard Thomas Williams ( Castle Rd) Then a new bowling green was made behind the Library and alongside of the Parish Hall, and at that time the Coedpoeth Bowling Club was formed. The first officials were Mr, Thomas Jones J.P. Chairman, Mr Beckitt Jones Treasurer, Mr. Phillip Jones Secretary, the first Captain was Mr. Harry Fairhurst. The club was one of the first to join the Denbighshire Amatuer Bowling Association.
I was reared by my grandparents. How did we pass the time after school hours - we had to create our own pleasure, playing marbles, bowl and hook, dog and peggy, and of course when the snow was on the ground sliding was the main attraction - Allt Clai ( Clay Hill ) was a favourite spot. On Sunday we attended Chapel three times, and we would walk to the big seat and say a verse from the Bible, there would be a talk by the Minister or Lay Preacher. In the winter months we had social evenings , a debating society and the Band of Hope where we would have lectures on Temperence. In the summer we would have a tea party and then go to the field to pay games. I remember on two occasions we went for a trip by train after our tea, we would march from Rehoboth Chapel to Coedpoeth Station, board the train and away we go - yes , to Berwig Station which was about a mile away. After passing the time at Berwig we returned to Coedpoeth , then back to Rehoboth. The next trip was to Pentre Saeson and it was the same procedure, we all thought it was great fun.
The Free Church Council would invite all the Chapels to arrange concerts to be held in the Parish Hall, and indeed all the Chapels agreed. It was called the Saturday Night Penny Concerts, what a success , it was great entertainment
What about home life ? Without a doubt the hardest working person was out Mother, ninety percent of the males worked at the pits. At night she would bank the fire, and put the working clothes to dry. She was up again at 4 am in the morning, when she would prepare breakfast, make snapping for work, and then prepare a meal for when we came home, boil water for us to have a wash - no baths or electricity in those times.
We would rear pigs at home. Our parents went to Wrexham Livestock market and buy two piglets about ten weeks old, they cost about ten shillings each, then they would be fed and fattened until they were ready to be killed for bacon - one for the home and the other for the shopkeeper, a custom of the time was to give a piece of pork to our neighbours ( Assen Goch )
The shopkeeper would allow our parents credit for meal during the fattening time, when he was supplied with one pig that would pay for the meal used for fattening the pig.
Another custom was planting potatoes, just before the harvest we would have a bill from the farmer for the planting, he would charge so much a yard . On a day chosen by the farmer our parents would go and pay the bill, that day was called ` supper for the payment of planting potatoes`. Then the lifting of the potatoes would arrive, then the farmer would deliver them and for good measure we would have a turnip or two.
When I was a child, the bakers of the village had a public baking day once a week. Our Mother would prepare the dough and put it in a pillow case, then we children would take it to the bakehouse, then call in on our way home from school for the baked loaves. The bakers would charge one penny for each loaf - for the baking.
In the summer the council employed a man to water the streets, there was no tarmac in those days. The water cart was filled from a pump just outside where the Midland Bank is today, the man in charge was David Humphreys.
In 1901 there was a riot. A fun fair was held in a field at the bottom of Victoria Road, where the Community Centre and the old age flats and bungalows are now. The show consisted of a coconut shy, shooting range, swings, a prize of a pig was going to be given by the showmen if a man would climb a a greasy pole . The pole was climbed but the showmen would not give the pig - then the bother started - the showmen took their guns, fired at the crowd , my brother was injured among many others. The pig was stolen , but found again the next day. While the riot was taking place one of the showmens wives gave birth to a son, he was in Coedpoeth a few weeks ago.
One important day for the children was " Calennig Day" It was on the first day of the year, and we would go round the shops for gifts, if wewere lucky the shopman would throw us some sweets or an apple or orange, we had to go around before 12 o `clock and I remember about 1907 the chidren all gather by Rigdon the Chemist and Photographer. He got us all together and took a photo of the group, I have a photo of that occasion.
In 1915 I went to work in Plaspower Colliery, underground and stayed there until 1925. I then went to work at Llay main until I retired in 1964.
On Monday 20th march 1944 a memorable event was held in the Parish Hall, it was a Welsh Half hour to be broadcast on the radio for those serving their country in 1939-45. The programme consisted of the following :- Coedpoeth Choral Society, East Denbs Orchestra, Tom Williams ( Bass). The compare was Mr Aun Oldfield Davies, greeting to the forces was made by Mr R M Hughes, Chairman to the Council, the task of reading the News Letter to the Forces from Coedpoeth fell to the happy lot of Mrs Edward Hughes, Smith Road, who has a son serving in Italy.
Before I close I must mention a few personalities of the past. We had a village crier in the person of Mr Hugh Thomas, known as Hugh the Bellman. He would go round the village announcing various functions that were to take place. There was Mr Mark Evans, I believe he was the first monumental mason in Coedpoeth,his workshop was in Cemetery Road and he lived in a small house on the premises. Another mason lived in the Smelt, he was Mr Cadwelyn Cadwaladr, his mother Mary Cadwaladr was a well known figure, she was an authority on making plaster and ointment. Her grand-daughter is Mrs R E Evans better known as Mrs Beckett Evans, Smithy Road.
Two Wrexham Mayors had their roots in Coedpoeth. Mr John Davies who attended the Penygelli School and Mrs Megan Jones, whose father lived in Coedpoeth for many years. I must not forget the present Deputy Mayor and Mayoress Counciller Robert Squires and his wife Phyllis, Mr Squires will be Mayor next year , he has resided in Coedpoeth for 41 years.
J.J. PARRY
23.11.84
Well that`it, I have taken the liberty of editing this a little bit and rearranging some of it, but it is all there . I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did. For me it was extra special as Edith Wilcoxon was my Great Aunt, I was named after her and am wearing the signet ring she gave me when I was about 14. It has both mine and her initials on it , although they are very worn now. ( A bit like ME)
The full version of these notes are in Coedpoeth Library and can be found in the Local History Section in a small folder.
PS , does anyone know what Dog and Peggy was, and can you just imagine if we walked into Tesco with a bag full of dough and asked for it to be baked !!!!. Somehow I can`t see it happening.