Crumlin Viaduct Guestbook

Jill Johnstone

During the war I stayed with my mother's sister and her husband (Phyllis and Sid Bamfield) in Crumlin. I believe I walked under the viaduct to school at the Swyffryd, climbing a steep hill to the road at the top. I have tried to find a friend I had at the time named Barbara Cook, her father was a Miner and lived at Jubilee Buildings in Crumlin. I returned to Crumlin about 3 years ago and was shocked to find the houses had gone along with a lot of Crumlin. I went on the train across the viaduct, scaring my Aunt by leaning out of the window and waving.

At school I was known as the little Cockney girl and my name was Jill Warren then. What a great shame the viaduct no longer exists.

JOE GIBSON

Really interesting website,I have a great interest in victorian engineering and the viaduct is a great example of this.I live in North wales but my work has currently based me in Crumlin so I am very intrested to find out about this type of local subject matter. I now know what the stone buttress was for up on the hillside as I get to the bottom of Kenvig hill.thanks again for sharing this facininating subject.

John

Susan,
If Priscilla Jones lived on the west side of the river Ebbw in Crumlin (which is most likely) then she was in the parish of Mynyddislwyn.

Susan Bearder nee Jones

I have been trying for years to find my grandfather's family (Jones) There is a photo of him on the Cwmtillery site. Slowly it is coming together and I now realise that Crumlin was the heart of it all through Priscilla Jones who died in 1885 aged 35! Hence I was looking for info on Crumlin and lo and behold I found this wonderful site. Sitting here in Spain it is now more than a name. Thanks so much. and I will be passing on the site address. If Peiscilla and Edward Jones are meaningful or if it known which parish church they used I would be grateful for some contact. Susie

David Lacey

What a magnificent viaduct. And what a tragedy that it wasn't retained. So much official, destructive vandalism in the 1960's and 70's. I guess the maintenance costs would have been horrendous though.

sylvia

so many memories

john

Realy good site, enjoyed looking at the pictures and can now relate to the stories that my dad has told about his boyhood playing with his brothers Keith Glyn and John Thomas in Crumlin. born 1928 left Crumlin in 1942.

Michael Coller

Hi there, sorry if i have it wrong but is it me that you mean to want my phone number or email, if it is my email then this msn one is my main one, sorry for being a bit thick but not sure if it is me are sending message to, Thanks. Mike.

keith

John need to speak with you, can you email me or give me your phone number

michael coller

Thank you for an excillent web page, i am currently walking a lot of the now closed railway lines taking pictures, it's nice to see how some of the lines used to be in day's gone by.

cosplay costumes

Very nice site!I like it!

tiffany

This is good site to spent time on .I really enjoy reading your well-written blog posts. I will be your frequent visitor.

Micky

I LOVE your site.Thanks so very much for taking your time to create this very useful and informative site.

anthony buckingham

What a great site.My dad's side of the family all lived in crumlin.The Bushnells lived in stogumber house ,off gladstone road.I spent many school holidays in crumlin and loved it. Linda Bushnell, my dad's aunt moved to warwick in 1980.Myself, brother, and dad had a trip to crumlin in 2000 just to see whether it had changed much.It had ,but it looked smart.Went and said hello to Ralph the butcher who remembered us all.(I guess he's retired now?).Must visit again someday.Until then will keep checking on this site. THANKS.

Jim

Grerat site remember it well evacuated in 1940 to Llanhilleth never went home moved to Swyffryd in 1947 Keir Hardie Terrace then joined RAF Travelled the world but Wales still home to me. who remembers the cinema in Crumlin Dix's I think, many a happy time Keep up the good work pity they pulled the viaduct down.

miku

Your website is awesome! I like it so^0^much.Thanks for sharing.

Ankex

Just want to say what a great blog you got here!
I’ve been around for quite a lot of time, but finally decided to show my appreciation of your work!
Wonderful journey and experience!

Greg

I remember travelling over the viaduct to Pontypool from my home in Aberdare, the journey took around 40 minutes. Today a train journey to Pontypool would probably take the best part of half a day, progress!!!!!

John

Ben, thanks for the link, which I have now added to image No. 101.

Ben

See the crumlin viaduct in Arabesque here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuCqhZ7Apvw

DAVID HALL

What wonderful pictures and the memories it provoked of when i was born in tileys houses in crumlin in october 1952. Like another contributer i too went to crumlin high level school infants and junior(1957-19630 then i went to grenfield school in newbridge leaving in 1968. As kids me and my mates alan hale, paul morgan used to walk on the bridge to go to alans grandads in the swyffryd using the catwalk on the bridge and it use to vibrate badly when a train crossed it. As a young boy my ad used to take me to the black path on the treowen side an we use to watch the trains going over and i can remember the first time i went on a train as a passenger over the bridge it was something i will never forget or when i went over on the last train to cross it from crumlin high level getting a bus back from pontypool. I can remember the filming on the brige and the local shop by high level station run by tom evans selling everything in the shop as a souvenier of the occasion. If any of my old friends are online it woul be great if they got in touch to relive chilhood memories. Thanks again John for bringing it all back on his great website an i hope more people join in the site

christina brace

Love this site after finding out my Grear Great Grandfather was a train driver of a train that that travelled the Viaduct it was awesome to see it William Thomas was his name am in process of finding out more info any help would be appreciated.

paul

fantastic, seen it on arabesque and it was awesome, but to correct the 2009 persons entry bouch designed the belah viaduct (look that up) almost the same to look at and 196' lasted till 1966, and he did it before tay,mmmm

Richard Parry

Travelled over the viaduct on the last day. Went from Pontypool Clarence Rd to Aberdare High Level, then back to Hengoed High Level, travelled most of the way on the footplate, but not unfortunately over Crumlin. Photos brought back quite a few memories.

Sue Legge

Love this site, its fabulous. I lived in Swffryd and remember the viaduct so well, shame its not still standing. I was lucky enough to have walked across it (even though I wasn't supposed to) and to remember trains travelling from one side of the valley to the valley to the other, happy days.