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Dean Street and beyond Members of the Glanadda Pensioners' Club recall life down Dean Street and beyond in years gone by.
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knuckles at school and narrowly missing a wartime bomb Bangor life was hectic for Kitty Baxter "Bangor was a very happy place when I was young. I lived in Dean Street until I was ten and there were lots of shops down there at that time - a butchers, a chippie, a sweet shop (I loved sherbet with liquorice). These big superstores have taken over now, but before you had small, family businesses on the High Street, passed down from father to son. You knew everyone, chatted with everyone and you got personal service.
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There was Lipton's, Maypole, Williams', Turner's, Benefit, Lotus... all little groceries, bakers or clothes shops. I went to St Mary's primary school, down at the bottom of Dean Street - it's flats now. There were 30 children in the class, a complete mix of ages and abilities. Then I went to the Central School, which is now a science building on Deiniol Road. I really enjoyed school. I only remember one teacher, Miss Burns, she used to hit us across our knuckles with a ruler. My mother would say; 'What have you got on your hands?' 'Blood' I'd say. And she'd answer; 'Well, you probably deserved it'. You wouldn't get that now - they'd sue the school!
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On Saturday nights we used to walk up and down the high street looking for boyfriends. We couldn't go in the pubs because we were too young, but we made our own entertainment. The County Theatre was on Dean Street - it's the Octagon now, of course. They used to have concerts and talent shows on and, because the back door was opposite our house, we'd try to sneak in and watch. We'd get chucked out if we were caught because we were too young!. After school I worked at a lot of jobs - never stayed in one job long. They were going to teach me how to make hats at Thomas Henderson's, which was at the top of Dean Street, but I only lasted a year. Then I moved on to Polikoff's, a big shop on the High Street. It's where Peacocks is now. I worked on the baby clothes
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counter and I loved it. Although there wasn't really fashion then - we couldn't afford fashionable clothes and weren't really interested, you just wore what you had. Then when I was 18 I worked behind the bar at the King's Arms - I think it's an Irish pub now. In 1937 we got moved out of the slums of Dean Street and up to Maesgeirchen. Others went up to Maes Tryfan or Glyn Road. It was great - we had an indoor bathroom and hot water for the first time. We didn't have to go to the toilet outside and take a bucket of water with us to flush it. I lived in MaesG for 36 years. I saw a lot of changes - the neighbours just weren't the same after a while. But there is now a great community there - only a few give it a bad name, but I think it's coming back into its own again. I lived there during the war. The night the bombs dropped on MaesG I was babysitting in the Drill Hall for Major Flower and his wife, and he said he'd send one of the soldiers with me to walk me home because it was along way. The soldier took me as far as the Pen Lôn slate works, then said I'd be alright from there, it wasn't far. So I went under the bridge and along the main road home and a bomb dropped on top of the hill. I'd just turned the corner, but I went back, up Pen Bryn and ran all the way home. I just got home as the second one dropped - it was really scary. But apart from that we managed all right during the war. My father used to fish and grow his own veg, so we always had a meal. My mother had one evacuee, a girl called Annie from Liverpool. She was a bit cheeky in the beginning, but she soon got used to us. She was with us for two years, and she would have stayed longer I think but her mother made her go home. We had a lot more freedom than she would have had in the city. We used to take her down to the beach and have a go on the boats my father worked on. He used to row posh people over to their yachts on the Menai Strait - well, they were posh to us!" More Bangor memories...
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more from this section Don Talbot is another former resident of Dean Street.
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"I used to live in Dean Street in the 1930s and I remember getting flooded there twice the river overflowed I think. They've put drains there now.
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They also used to keep cattle at the bottom of Dean Street it's a football field for kids now, but they used to have a slaughterhouse down there at one time. We lived in a big lodging house, a converted tavern. It's a car park now. Lots of people used to come in and out, travellers, fellers looking for work. I used to work in Robert Roberts' café - it's where a clothes shop is now, opposite the Abbey National. It was the biggest café on the High street and I used to deliver things from the big bakery down the street to Roberts'."
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interact Violet Bell remembers Bangor's cinema in its heyday. "Bangor was a lovely place years ago. I used to live in Well Street, which is near Dean Street. We stayed there when other people were moved out to Maesgeirchen. I worked in the Plaza cinema for 24 years. It's gone terrible now, even though they've done it up into two cinemas, it's not like it used to be. I was an usherette, cashier, everything - back in the days when we sold ice cream in the intermission. I've seen all the films, although not a whole film at once because we were so busy! I've seen them all, but Tom Cruise is my favourite.
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I worked there until I was 70. I started when I was young and then left to have the children but then went back. I loved it there."
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Margaret Flinn Hi Ken. Can you tell me how Bill Davies was related to you as it is the same person, that was my uncle, who was a tailor in Dean Street, Bangor. Mon Apr 20 09:23:29 2009 Margaret Flinn Hi David Davies, Just thought I'd let you know that Bill Davies was my uncle he married my father's (George Flinn) sister Freda and I think the shop you are thinking of was Ashley's. Mon Apr 20 09:22:57 2009 Margaret Flinn Hi Ken Hughes. Bill Davies was my uncle and he ran a tailor shop in Dean Street next to Eunice's sweep shop. Tue Apr 14 09:42:34 2009 Josie Tilyard born in Bangor now living in London The comments on this page have brought back some very happy memories to me - my mother was Welsh and we lived in Blodwyn Villa, Beach Road, Bangor. My mother's maiden name was Owen and she had a brother named George who lived in Seriol Road. For some time now I have been trying to trace my cousins, whom I would play with as a child. I also remember playing at the tennis courts in Hirael Road. My mother worked in Polikoff's before marrying my father and her best friend was Louisa Moses. I can remember walking from Blodwyn Villa over the Menai Bridge and spending the day in Beaumaris then we would catch the ferry back to Bangor. Would love to hear whether Blodwyn Villa is still standing - it was a most beautiful house and the views were magnificient. Fri Nov 7 09:21:27 2008 Sue Hughes-Jones, Y Felinheli Has anyone information regarding my grandmother's laundry at Glanadda? Her maiden name was Charlotte Fanny Smith and she also ran a laundry in Deanfield, but I don't know where that was. I have photographs of all the laundry maids of the model laundry. Sadly only three are named, a Katie Munro, Auntie Jane who lived in a cottage in Penrhos near Ysbyty Gwynedd, and the supervisor Angie Williams. My grandmother said she first came to work in The Vaynol Laundry with Mr. & Mrs Arthur Atherton. Wed Oct 1 09:22:08 2008 Marian Owen, Maesgeirchen Found this website with my daughter - how wonderful! Reading about places and people I remember so well. I lived in Maesgeirchen, had a brother John, lived in Greenwood Avenue next door to the post office owned by Mr and Mrs Robbyns. We used to play for hours in the woods making dens and swings. Highlight of our lives was going to the youth club, every night until 10pm, great times. Did anyone remember the Hop where I met my husband of fifty years John Owen from Llandegai. Mon Aug 18 09:59:48 2008 Ken Hughes _ Derby
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Hi David Davies, nice to see you still on line and still interested in the old place, good to hear you and Diane are keeping ok. It's a few years now since we used to go up the coast to Rhyl on a Sunday night, remember Brian Pumfreys old Dodge, Arfon bach on the old guitar, you were quite a good swimmer at scool always winning the diving for plates challenge at old Siliwen baths, a few of the lads are still around, Kenny Edwards, Ello (beans) Owen Stan O'mara Im sure you remember them. I used to enjoy Friday nights with your dad at the Union Hotel Buff Lodge in Garth he was a great bloke. If I remember Will Davies the taylor used to run the A.C.F in Glynne Road - he gave me my first stripe. The shop at the top of Dean St is now a Radio and TV shop owned by Ioris Griffiths ex Bangor footballer Thu Mar 27 10:03:11 2008 Ron Williams Worcs David Davies, Christchurch: The shop you mention was Pentir Williams. I too used to look longingly at the Dinkies, especially the larger ones which we never could afford to buy. By the way, is Cotter's, the electrical firm, still in business in High Street, Christchurch? I used to work for them for a while in about 1970. Thu Mar 6 09:48:34 2008 David Davies christchurch newzealand When we were kids going to the County theaterin dean st,on saturdays.I would always go up to the shop at the top of the st andlook in awe at the new Dinky toys in the window. can anybody name the shop Ihad an uncle [Will Davies] how had a tailors shop in dean st. Then there was Mrs Hopes, shop where we would buy half a Turf cigarette for the moves. Wendy davies[Owen]nice to know you and familly are ok, love to Carol and john from my self and Diane we are ok here. I loved your mam and dad. Alway when ever i could,i would go fishing with Norman Fri Feb 29 11:17:12 2008 Carol Morgan-Lane, Maine, USA I've recently discovered I am related to the Jones's that lived at 17 Dean Street for a good part of the 19th century. I'm so curious about it now. Are those dwellings still standing? Where might I find more information about that part of Bangor and what life was like then? Thu Feb 7 10:46:38 2008 barbara smith ,re jones.reading berks just to say hi to anyone who new jim and jo {skerries.}jones.both saddley passed on .jim was born in dean st to fenna jones. i have many tales he used to tell me .i just wounder if there are any of the old locals that used the skerries when jim was there. also he ran the soical club for some years, what a place. everyone new everone. percy roberts, steven lock, big jim. i lived in the skerries until i got married in 1974 and always came back 2or3times year until my mum diedin 1995. i always found it funny when we came on the road from bathessda. the sign WELCOME TO BANGOR
and the fist thing you see is the cemetary.it still makes me chuckle. bangor has great memorys for me. Thu Dec 20 09:49:58 2007 Enid Law Llangollen Lovely Bangor memories. I was Enid Thomas I lived in Maesgeirchen. I went to St.Mary's School in the 1940s the teachers were Misses Harris (lived on Garth Rd Miss Williams Headmistress in the Infants. Miss Jones Mrs. Walford Miss Parry Miss Roberts and Mr. Parry the Head was Ald.Ithel Williams another Mayor. My father worked in Crosville and was known as Will Tom. My mother was a teacher and ran the Sunday School in the old Y.W.C.A. in Maes G we called it the Cwt.Iremember the Sunday School trips to Rhyl 8 or 9 busloads of us Thu Sep 20 16:22:07 2007 Glynne Williams, London I was born in 1936 in a part of Bangor known as Abysinia aka Ffriddoedd. After the war, my dad worked in the railway sheds. I went to see him there a couple of times and remember it as awful, but now as a retiree and amateur artist I am desperatly trying to get photographs of the sheds. Can anyone help? Thu Aug 30 12:34:34 2007 Sylvia Humphreys My sister in law from Coed Mawr and my husband from Maesgeirchen are trying to find out information about the old workhouse on Caernarfon road which later became Snowdon building and cheese factory. They would be very grateful if any info is available. Tue Aug 28 09:43:31 2007 Roger Jones of Bangor Does anyone still remember Elfed from Water Street? He lived alone and was a bit of a hermit. He used old sacks for curtains. Banned from all the Bangor pubs so we were told! He was a real character.Also there was Noel Evans who lived opposite the (now) Fire Station. He wore an army greatcoat year in year out. He would ask you to get him some fresh fish when the mongers were around and he would throw the money to you - you stayed on the pavement - and it was usually half a crown. He'd tell you to keep some change for going.There was also a chap we called Evan Stump and he slept in run-down outbuildings near Kyffin Square. To my mind harmless old Bangor characters. Wed May 2 09:25:57 2007 Maldwyn Hughes, Minffordd, Bangor I have just found this site and so glad that I did. I was born and brought up in Bethesda but have lived here since 1954. I was an apprentice with Bethesda Council and started my technical education at the Central School under Mr.Graber, Mondays, 6 to 9pm. Sixpence return on the train from Bethesda. There were two quarrymen travelling with me, learning English under Mr. Walford [I think].Afterwards we used to go for a beer to the City at 6d a pint. I remember going to the County with my father about 1928 and sitting on the top balcony. I could not see the screen until my
father pointed it out to me far below. About 1933 I went to the Arcadia Cinema where the Plaza was afterwards. It was a long wooden hut and it was moved to the bottom of Glanafon Hill where it became the British Restaurant serving cheap dinners during the war. Afterwards it became The Caernarfonshire Technical College where I continued my technical education in Electrical Engineering after it was interrupted by the war, before going to Wrexham and Birkenhead Tech. Today there are so many opportunities to gain qualifications but many young people don't take advantage of them. I have been retired since 1983, having worked with Manweb and the CEGB. I knew George Joynson, he was a radio Ham and I have spent many enjoyable hours on the air talking with him and Eric Lynn, Coed Mawr, also Albert Gaskell in Penrhos and his brother Walter in Caernarfon Rd. There was also Albert Hewitt, Foxlands. I used to speak with them on short wave from upstate New York. They have all gone now. I knew Albert Hewitt since 1951. He worked at the old Electrical Lab in Dean St. Both of us built TVs using ex-Government Radar parts with a green picture on a 6inch tube. We couldn't afford a proper tv. Happy times. My Best Wishes to all the Old Uns and all from Bethesda and Bangor. Hwyl Fawr Maldwyn. Mon Jan 29 12:37:18 2007 Jean Forsyth (nee Foulkes) from Bangor I was born in Ffordd y Castell Maes G. and my father was Len Foulkes the window cleaner. He cleaned Woolworths windows every morning for years, along with other shop windows in the town. Just stumbled upon this site and found it fascinating as I recognise so many of the people mentioned. Don Talbot: do you remember Richie 'Robert Roberts'? Emrys Edwards (the owner of Robert Roberts Cafe) was Mayor of Bangor in 1962. I can still remember the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and Richie boning a side of bacon before putting it in the bacon machine. As a child I also used to enjoy watching the change drop down the shute in the cashier's booth at the bottom of the stairs. Brian Roberts: I was in County School with your mum. I'll always remember the little song she used to sing: "I love to play my little banjo and rest it on my knee, but when the strings are broken down it's no more use to me." You mention Gail Slee, well she lives next door to me. Antoinette Jones: You mentione Miss Broadbridge. I saw her last Saturday at a Xmas tea - still very smart and distinctively dressed - a real lady! There is a new web site for Bangor Civic Society which you will find interesting as there are several features that will bring back nostalgia to to you all. Web team: You'll find it in our Bangor web guide. Fri Dec 15 09:57:53 2006 Mark Goddard, Bangor Mark Slee, You must be Gail's brother. I was born in Dean St in 1960. It was my Dad's antique shop at the time, next door t the COunty Theatre, at the bottom of the street up to the fire Station. I was brought home without any clothes many times by Wlater Williams, one of the firemaen there. Fri Oct 13 09:39:45 2006 Roz Ainsworth Aberdeen
I am really pleased to have found this site. My father was born in William Street, Bangor, No 15 to be exact, son of Phoebe (nee Davies) and Emerson Roberts. My Nain used to work in Wartskis Bangor. the last time I was in Bangor it was Debenhams. My Taid was a gardener at Lime Grove which is now an old peoples home I think. Oh the hiraeth I have to be back there. I have an Aunt who lives in Port Penrhyn she used to work in the Doctors surgery when it was Glanfa. The family lived in Llandegai and my nain was organist there for a while as was my father Meirion Roberts but Barry Wynne was the recognised organist. he was far superior to my Dad at the organ. he could read music. my Father played from Tonic sol-fa! I worked in various places in Bangor - The Nelson hotel on Beach road, the British hotel, I was manageress of Freezrite on Caernarvon Road and also manageress of Contessa on Bangor High street. that was 21 years ago and for the last 20 years I have lived in Scotland the last 6 years on my own way out in the wilds of Scotland, very beautiful, but there's no place like home. Tue Aug 29 12:13:38 2006 Mark Slee Brought up in Dean St. just behind 'auntie' Eunie's sweet shop. My Mum told me there used to be stables at the back of the chemist shop on the High St. and I do vaguely remember nearly getting kicked to death by a horse! Maybe 15 years in Maes.G. - at the time a great place for a kid to grow up. At one time you could get all the way over Bangor mountain from the High St. to Maes.G. without touching the ground using walls, trees etc, an impossibe feat now I wager. Any body remember Mr. & .Mrs. Walford 10, Well St.(sorry: Ffordd-y-Ffynnon), my grandparents? Great site. Thanks. Wed Jul 12 10:41:07 2006 Ronnie Morris from Windsor, Ontario, Canada I was born in Glanadda (1941)but moved to Llandudno Junction when I was only 5. I doubt that anyone would remember me, but you might know my family. My Dad Alec Morris grew up on Lombobdu and worked as a fishmonger on the High Street, and during the war he worked for Daimlers. After the war he got a job at Hotpoint and that's when we moved to the Junction. My mother, Lily Lucas, was born in Glanadda just across the road from where Asda's is now. The house was demolished in the 1950's to widen caernarfon Road. We lost my Dad in 1993 and Mam just passed away last ! February at the age of 93. We have lived in Canada now for 50 years, but I still love to visit North Wales, especially Bangor and Llandudno Junction. I'm planning another trip for this September. Kitty, my grandfather also worked at Polikoff's but it would have been before your time. In the 1920's I think. Just discovered this page and I enjoyed reading it Fri Jun 30 09:44:49 2006 Carol Burns (nee Thomas) Blackpool Hi Kitty I can't remember what I put in about my family but here is a bit more (If I repeat anything I apologize) My Taid was Hughie Gordon Thomas and he was known as Hugh Guard on the railways. He loved to play snooker and
dominoes at the pub. My Nain was Mary Elma Thomas nee Williams. They lived in Coed Mawr in the 60's and 70's and then moved to Dean Street (45) after that. They lived there till my Taid died in 1990 and Nain in 1995. My Auntie lived next door. I remember the chippy half way up Dean Street (on a corner) and loved the chips from there. My Dad is Ken Thomas though we moved to York in the middle of the 60s with his work. Mon May 8 13:11:08 2006 Bryan Jones - Old Colwyn I was born at Caerdeon, Glanadda, Bangor. I remember shows by the BBC during the war years. My father was transport officer for the old Caernarfonshire Fire Brigade with the workshop in the old Chapel behind the County Theatre. George Joynson, if he wanted to borrow any tools to undertake jobs in the Theatre, would always ask my father if he could borrow. He would always return them. I did rather well due to this liaison. I remember I would be given complimentary tickets for the pictures or the wrestling matches that were held at the County Theatre. George Joynson and his wife lived in Ainon Road. Wed Apr 19 09:16:28 2006 Mervyn, Miron Jones, Hirael Bangor My fondest memories of the 60s was being able to play almost anywhere in safety. Everybody knew who you were or who your parents were. Our children have missed out on some magical places - Parc Bach, along the beach,and of course the High St. Many a cup final in the streets, no stupid signs in them days! The other highlight of the year was the Bangor rag. Great days great memories. Bangor will always be in my heart. Mon Nov 21 19:21:52 2005 Lynne Can anyone recall Silliams the bakers somewhere in the High St? Am trying to locate where it stood, have only recently found out I had an uncle Hywel Williams, son of Henry Williams the baker. Mon Nov 21 01:11:56 2005 Antoinette Jones (nee Roberts) Yes I remember County Theatre as a child in the 1950s and a lovely lady called Mrs. Williams who my brothers and I used to call "Aunty". She used to babysit me and my brothers occasionally but worked at the County for many years. My father still runs Roberts Newsagents in the High street opposite Valla Chip shop with the help of two of my brothers, he has been there since 1953!. As kids we used to live above the shop and knew all the business people in the High Street. I remember well the fire station which is now a car park, Elias Garage which is now a restaurant, and Eirwyn Owen's the Chemist(who was the Mayor of Bangor at one time) he used to have a big basket weighing scale where new mums used to come along to weigh their babies. As children we spent many happy hours down in Hirael playing tennis on the courts behind the Crosville Bus Depot
and hanging around the beach behind Dickies Yard. Bangor was a wonderful place to be a child and even though I have lived away for over 30 years, as soon as I go "home" its like I've never been away. Anyone out there remember Garth School and its teachers in the late 50s, Mr Haydn Jones, Miss Nora Jones, Miss Broadbridge and Miss Ellis and of course Mr Jones (Music). What a lovely school, we were all made to feel very special by those great teachers. I have very fond memories of going there after coming from Hirael School where the lovely Mrs Carrigal taught the infants and Miss Roberts toughened us up before we went up to Garth School. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows me or grew up in Bangor at that time. Thu Nov 17 14:25:08 2005 Roger Jones of Glanadda, Bangor Regarding the County Theatre, I seem to remember a manager in the 50s who was called Tom Gaffney - does anybody else remember him? George Joynson was the manager in the 60s and was a great bloke - full of laughs. He would drive from the County Theatre to do the banking near the town clock and when he came out, could not remember where he had parked his car! Me and a friend once found a dead cat and, knowing George's route home after work, we propped the poor cat up in the middle of the road and good old George seemed to run it over - it went flying through the air! His wife Myra once told me that the staff found a man dead in the upper balcony after a matinee and that the theatre was haunted by him. Good old days. Sat Oct 22 20:33:29 2005
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More from Dean Street Last updated: 28 December 2007
John Arthur Owen formerly of Bangor shares his memories of the characters and goings on down Dean Street. "I love reading the tales about Bangor,we lived at No.27, North West Wales Tabernacle ST.on the corner of James St, then we moved to No. 9 Drum St. My auntie Jinnie Hughes kept a lodging house Things to do near the chapel, which was next door to the County Theatre, People & Places she used to put up a lot of the actors and entertainers I Nature & Outdoors think. I can remember one actor dressed as Charlie Chaplin History complete with cane doing the walk down Dean St. BBC Local
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During the war Sandy McPherson played his organ from there, we would see him walking up Deiniol Road going for his London train. Another aunt, Mrs, Baker kept the chip shop, on the corner next to the theater. I see it has just been pulled down recently. Mrs Hope kept a shop across the road and Mr Rowlands kept a book shop I think, a little bit further down on the corner of Drum St. Then there was Mr Hansons shop where you went for your potted meat paste! We used to be thrilled at the sound of the gas works working when they pushed the coke out with the ram and the smell of sulpher and steam when the fire was quenched! I was often sent there for a bag of coke. Our neighbour in Drum St was a Mrs Rouse Williams, and when we were all moved to Ffriddoedd, we were fortunate to have her living next door again. She had a son called Alun, who worked for the Post Office, he moved to work in Wrexham I believe. I started my apprenticeship in A.M.Dickies in 1944, the day I was 15yrs old. I remember a lot of the old boatbuilders such as Georgie Reid, Norman McInroy, Andy Bell - who also played football for Bangor City - David Davies, Wil "Spei",Mr. Murray was the yard foreman, all the apprentices feared him!My cousin Dick Hughes worked in the office with Joe Pratt, Noah bach worked in the stores, his two daughters worked as cleaners on the MTBs we built then. A couple of nights a week we would go to the "hop", Miss Beattie would take the money on the door, there would be loads of American service men there and we would jive to the records of the bands of the day. I particularly remember "In the Mood" by Glen Miller! One character I remember used to come from Bethesda, he would drink quite a lot before coming and because he suffered from something like epilepsy I think, he would ivariably pass out and we would carry him to the old C&A hospital to have him sobered up, and then home!. The old gentleman who worked the records was a
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MR,Hay, a true gentleman I always thought. I can remember the mines dropping on Maes Geirchen. My two brothers and I all slept in the same bed and we were almost thrown out of bed as it seemed then. The next morning I went to see the damage caused, there was parts of a car in a tree, the driver who was a BBC engineer we were told was killed instantly, the first house had the side wall blown in, and I was intrigued to see an electric bulb undamaged on the landing light fitting. There was also a huge crater in the road.
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There are so many other stories about the cadets, school, etc, but that's for another time."
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