Message to Mothball

[mothball]

Back in South Wales.

It's been a learning curve doing my family tree and was initially horrified to be honest.......... the amount of English blood in my veins, but I choose to live in England so am coming to terms with it.

Humpty, did you know that Swansea was once a major manufacturer of copper?   Might explain why a blacksmith would go and work there.    Also there were historic direct boat links between South/West Wales across the channel to England.

I know one route was Cardiff to Western Super Mare.

Another was Swansea to Ilfracombe.

Also Tenby to Ilfracombe.

Am sure there were other links too, but it does show that  in the nineteenth century people used these links for work.    Also the link between Tenby and Ilfracombe  and Cardiff to Western Super Mare carries on to this day (I think) as a tourist link.   I know miners from South Wales took holidays in Western Super Mare.

Steven

[humptydumpty]

Yes, Mothball, I was born and bred in Swansea and my Mother lived in Swansea town itself. She often told me of the copper works and the smell that was in the air as she walked to school. There is now a residential housing complex called The Copper Quarter - a far cry from the old days!!
I remember being taken as a small child on the ferry crossing Swansea to Ilfracombe. We didn't have much money in those days as my father was ill and didn't work (he died when I was 10 years old) so it can't have cost much for the tickets! Swansea was a thriving town with all its industries - sadly lacking in everything now.

[Hystericalwriter]

I think that you will find that there are plans to start a ferry service across from Swansea to Ilfracombe again. That's how my grandfather came across I think

Anne

[humptydumpty]

Yes, Hystericalwriter (I love your name)!!!but I think it's only for foot passengers. Pity really, as if it was a car ferry it would save a lot of congestion on the road down to the West of England. I know I have sat for many hours in jams going to and fro on holidays but there must be a reason. Probably money again!!! or something to do with weight and tides.

[Hystericalwriter]

I missed your reply in November, must have been worrying about Christmas......... Hystericalwriter comes from a Welsh man I knew, I write (sort of ) Historical fiction, and he corrupted the term!

I would love to catch that ferry to Ifracombe, haven't heard much about it lately, but I do wonder how many people came across on boats to work in the coal fields.........I have seen so many friends go to Devon and Somerset Archives in search of West country ancestors, and yet they are fiercely 'Welsh'!

Anne 

[trellisick]

just to confuse matters & not wishing to start a war, but on old maps you find that the west country was SOUTH WALES,  im of now then, tara, kali.