Embedded Files
During a recent interview, Mrs Rees was able to tell us about her upbringing in Baglan during World War Two. Her father, Mr Arthur Evans was the Special Constable and Air Raid Warden for Baglan during the War. Her mother, Mrs Irene Evans was a cook for the Llewellyn family at Baglan Hall. Below is a photograph of Mrs Rees as a child with her parents and a breakdown of what she told us.
Baglan Hall information & memories
My mother, Irene Evans was a cook at Baglan Hall for Kernel and Lady Llewellyn when she was between the ages of 17-41. She was originally from Bargoed. At 15, she went to service at London for 2 years. She then went to work for the Llewellyn family.
Memories
"I remember being taken to the Hall at Christmas and given a present from the Christmas tree. I had a china tea set one year which has broken over the years but I still have a small part of the set now. Another year I was given pictures for my bedroom with the hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful. There is a copy of this same picture in the church, these two copies came as a set."
"My mother was given an ornament of two oxen pulling a cart which was made from green china. This was given as an engagement gift and was from India. Miss Elizabeth Fabian, the house keeper, gave my mother an ivory prayer and communion book when she was confirmed."
"I can remember playing as a young child in the grounds of Baglan Hall."
"The horse at the Hall, Dobbin, would follow my mother to the Laundry and would wait by the Laundry staircase because she always fed him apples."
World War Two information & memories
Mrs Rees lived in Maes Gwyn House on Old Road, Baglan during the war as a baby with her parents. Her father, Mr Arthur Evans was a Special Constable and the Air Raid Warden in Baglan during World War Two.
Further Information & Memories
My father was originally from Wolverhampton. He cheated his age during WW1; he said he was 18 but he was just 16. He never spoke about WW1. He fought in France but never returned to his home in Bilston, Wolverhampton. He came to live in Mansel Street, Briton Ferry with his sister instead.
Before World War Two, he worked as a shunter for GWR on the railway down the Swansea docks. He cycled to work every day. Before the War he would cycle to Briton Ferry and would then catch a ferry to Swansea. During the War, they stopped the ferry service and as there were no bridges so he then had to cycle to and from Swansea every day.
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