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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: phipps1 on Monday 21 February 11 11:16 GMT (UK)
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In a letter my Grandfather, T.H.Milward wrote to my late father T.S.H.Milward in 1945, he talked about my Gt.Grandfather Thomas Milward ( Millward),of Swansea, owning the following properties in Swansea at least up to 1915.
" Myrtle Villa,Mumbles" / a "Public House in College and Castle Streets- (could it be The Wyndham,possibly c 1895 ?)" / " Garden Park.aka Norton Field,( 2.432 acres), in Swansea" / " The Old Theatre", " Singleton Manor",which he said Thomas Milward ( Millward) let to a cousin,"The Glyn,West Cross,Swansea and garden", "Premises at St.Mary Street,occupied by W. Laughams,Morgan & Co;" - I have no more information than that.
The point of this post is I am trying to identify these properties.
Does any member have any knowledge of the above properties ?
I am very grateful for any assistance given me !
Thank you !
phipps
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Hi phipps,
My knowledge is limited but I know Swansea town centre was badly bombed during the War as it is not far from the Docks.
Much of the centre had to be rebuilt, there is a Castle Gardens and College Street in the middle of town near St Marys Church. I worked not far away and all the buildings were new back in the 60's. The only Theatre I know of is the Grand and it was a very old building again in the middle of town.
There is a area called Singleton and Mumbles not far away from town.
Sorry I can't help more.
Ambers
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Ambers,actually,you have been a great help.It is giving me a focus and I appreciate your time very much !
Thank you so much !
Kind regards,
phipps
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Mumbles would be a good place to start as it full of old Guest Houses and the house might still be there. The Grand Theatre is another, as to my knowledge it was the only Theatre there back in those day.
The town was very small then, High Street ran the length of the town down to Wind Street all of them were old buildings. Castle Street ran off that, the rest of the town centre had been rebuilt.
Happy memories, :) as I had a great time working in the Hotels there, both were brand new and in the middle of the town.
Ambers
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amber,that is very useful information and advice,thank you so much.
I will work along those lines.
Kind regards,
phipps
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I can see this is Myrtle Terrace, but unsure if it is the villa?
http://www.gowercottages.com/cottage-details/129B
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halfasheep,I think that is a good lead from which I can progress so I thank you very much for your time.
Cheers,
phipps
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Re. 'old theatre', there is a possibility of three theatres in Swansea. There was the Palace Theatre at the top of High Street (still standing but derelict), the Grand Theatre which was renovated and extended and is still in use to this day, but the popular theatre at that time might have been The Empire (which was demolished many years ago).
Re. Singleton Manor - there is still in existence Singleton Abbey, which is currently being used as an administrative centre for Swansea University. It is situated between Singleton Park and the grounds of the University.
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Hi Welsh Girl
There was the Palace Theatre at the top of High Street
I forgot about the time frame, of course there would have been more Theatre's around back then.
I remember a Bingo Hall at the top of High Street, near the Grand Hotel, was that the old Palace Theatre?
Ambers
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Re. 'old theatre', there is a possibility of three theatres in Swansea. There was the Palace Theatre at the top of High Street (still standing but derelict), the Grand Theatre which was renovated and extended and is still in use to this day, but the popular theatre at that time might have been The Empire (which was demolished many years ago).
Re. Singleton Manor - there is still in existence Singleton Abbey, which is currently being used as an administrative centre for Swansea University. It is situated between Singleton Park and the grounds of the University.
Welshgirl,thank you for your thoughts.I really don't know which one he was writing to my father about.Should I try to access Trade/business directories for the period ?Perhaps I would find Thomas Milward's ( Millward's) name listed as owner or proprietor in it/them.
Do you think it would be a good idea for me to contact the University ?
I appreciate your time and help very much !
Kind regards,
phipps
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Hi Welsh Girl
There was the Palace Theatre at the top of High Street
I forgot about the time frame, of course there would have been more Theatre's around back then.
I remember a Bingo Hall at the top of High Street, near the Grand Hotel, was that the old Palace Theatre?
Ambers
Ambers,thank you for your recollections.You think the old Palace Theatre was converted into a bingo hall ?
Do you know how I can access trade/business directories of the time period ,say 1900-1915 for Swansea ? Would they,you think ,have theatres listed in them and who the proprieter was ?Would they be on the internet ?
Thank you for your time and advice,I appreciate it !
Kind regards,
phipps
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Link to photograph and history/time frame of the Empire Theatre...might come in handy.
http://www.swanseaheritage.net/swanseathroughtheyears/gat.asp?A_ID=309
I have crossed with another post, will come back to you.
Ambers
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Hi Phipps,
Swansea isn't my area of re-search but there must be something somewhere.
Have you looked at what Resources are available for Glamorgan? It's next to Look-Up Requests on this Forum ,at the top.
Have you listed all your surnames in Surname Interests first place a lot of us go to see who else is re-searching our family.
I understand you have difficulty regarding search engines from where you are, so I am having a look around in the hope of spotting something....
Your J C Milward causes a few problems as there is another person, James Charles born about the same year/place and both Engineers....but it is your John charles on the ship in 1901 as the other one is at home that night.
Ambers
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Link to all Trade Dirctories held at Swansea Library
http://home.clara.net/tirbach/HelpPageSwanseaTrade.html#Trade
Ambers
MODIFIED.
LInk to Photographs of the Palace Theatre, Swansea
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Link to photograph and history/time frame of the Empire Theatre...might come in handy.
http://www.swanseaheritage.net/swanseathroughtheyears/gat.asp?A_ID=309
I have crossed with another post, will come back to you.
Ambers
Ambers,thank you- I haven't come across that website before. I certainly will give it a go.That is very helpful.
Kind regards,
phipps
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Hi Phipps,
Swansea isn't my area of re-search but there must be something somewhere.
Have you looked at what Resources are available for Glamorgan? It's next to Look-Up Requests on this Forum ,at the top.
Have you listed all your surnames in Surname Interests first place a lot of us go to see who else is re-searching our family.
I understand you have difficulty regarding search engines from where you are, so I am having a look around in the hope of spotting something....
Your J C Milward causes a few problems as there is another person, James Charles born about the same year/place and both Engineers....but it is your John charles on the ship in 1901 as the other one is at home that night.
Ambers
I see,that is useful,thank you Ambers.I must check my surname interests again. I thought I had put in all the names in surname interests.
Yes,Thomas Milward ( Millward) never went to sea again after moving to Swansea and setting up business in engineering so in 1901,he and his brother John Charles were not living in the same place./(town)
Sadly, when one tries to google here,a local search engine " Baidu" sticks its nose in and the results are frustrating to say the least.This will be solved later in the year when I return to Australia but now is when I have the time-later,I could find myself distracted.
Yes,that was a revelation,you naming a ship J.C. Milward was on in 1901.I am finding that very useful.I am really looking for the period,ship(s) the two brothers served ( an apprenticeship?) on and what qualifications they woould expect to have gained/did gain.
I appreciate your help and time very much !
Kind regards,
phipps
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Link to photograph and history/time frame of the Empire Theatre...might come in handy.
http://www.swanseaheritage.net/swanseathroughtheyears/gat.asp?A_ID=309
I have crossed with another post, will come back to you.
Ambers
Ambers,I am grateful for that link. I tried entering that URL site but the proxy server here is not responding.Sometimes if I keep trying over a period of time,I get in so that is what I intend to do..
I am really chewing up your time with this and I apologise for that.
You are very kind to me. !
Cheers,
phipps
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Link to all Trade Dirctories held at Swansea Library
http://home.clara.net/tirbach/HelpPageSwanseaTrade.html#Trade
Ambers
MODIFIED.
LInk to Photographs of the Palace Theatre, Swansea
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0bzw/
Aaaaah ! You are giving me so much help and I am not being allowed to act on it.Never mind,I will preserve these URLs and try,try,try again !
Thank you for your kindness Ambers.
Cheers,
phipps
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I remember a Bingo Hall at the top of High Street, near the Grand Hotel, was that the old Palace Theatre?
Think the place near the Grand Hotel was the Elysium Cinema which I think is still standing but in bad shape. It also had a stage for variety acts, and I think opened just before WW1. The Palace Theatre is further up the same street on the way out of the city, and again is in bad condition.
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morgan,thank you so much.That gives me another lead.
I am very grateful to you !
Kind regards,
phipps
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You're welcome :D
There were other theatres too, including the Theatre Royal which was very old!
http://www.swanseasgrand.co.uk/Theatre%20Royal,%20Swansea.html
Also the Star Theatre which became the Rialto (was on Wind Street)
I have an "TV actor" friend who started with Swansea amateur theatre. :P There is a Facebook page called Save our Swansea Theatres.....
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Your welcome Phipps :), it's a shame that your search engine won't allow you to search ::)
When you can, use search words:Swansea Trade Dirctories and lots of Links will come up
This has been like a trip down memory lane for me, so I have enjoyed it.
I actually worked in the Mackworth Hotel opposite the Elysium, and remember where the Palace Theatre was now..both were used a Bingo Halls in the late 60's.
Morgans help is jogging my memory, I have loved looking at the Links to photographs.
Sorry I can't help with the qualifications, I also have Marine Engineers in my family from Cardiff that I would love to know more about.
Ambers
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You're welcome :D
There were other theatres too, including the Theatre Royal which was very old!
http://www.swanseasgrand.co.uk/Theatre%20Royal,%20Swansea.html
Also the Star Theatre which became the Rialto (was on Wind Street)
I have an "TV actor" friend who started with Swansea amateur theatre. :P There is a Facebook page called Save our Swansea Theatres.....
That has been a constant thought of mine morgan- did my grandfather mean a picture theatre or a stage live theatre > There is no easy answer to that for me sadly !
Facebook is banned-you absolutely cannot connect,nor to U-Tube,nor sometimes Wikipedia ,depending on whether someone has written up something that displeases the authorities,same BBC-same CNN , and the list goes on and on and on and on but I won't bore you with all that and now please,don't cry,ok ? 8)
I am referencing the URLs in my filing system so I can come back to the post later or punch them in my self from time to time until something happens.
The Roots community has been so kind to me morgan,really understanding of my situation and I love this community very much.I have even been able to contribute a couple of times-makes me feel good !
Thank you also for your guidance and assistance !
Respectfully,
phipps
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Your welcome Phipps :), it's a shame that your search engine won't allow you to search ::)
When you can, use search words:Swansea Trade Dirctories and lots of Links will come up
Sorry I can't help with the qualifications, I also have Marine Engineers in my family from Cardiff that I would love to know more about.
Ambers
Ambers,never mind,I am not one to give up-I will find a way through and with yours,morgans, halfasheep,and welshgirls great help,I now have a lot of resource sites that I will be able to use usefully in the future.
As to marine engineers and how they qualified , especially in the 1870s in Cardiff ,I will pick away at it and if I find any resource leads,I will certainly remember my good friend Ambers and pass them on to her/you.
I appreciate your time very much !
Kind regards,
phipps
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There should be some information at the following excellent site for historical directories -
www.historicaldirectories.org
Good luck! :)
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WexDor,
Thank you very much for that lead. I will certainly give it a try !
Thank you for your time !
Kind regards,
phipps