Category: Family & Social History
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December Headstone - Powell Family
For more than a century and immense social change, the Powell family grocery shops served the people of Clydach. Their story is not merely a family history—it is the story of a community institution woven into village life across generations. This research links with the oral history provided by Jeff Powell and is well worth… Read more
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Celtic Festival 2025
We were delighted to be asked to set up a display of our Living Stones project at St Elli's Church as part of the Celtic Festival. One of our members, John, went to St Elli's on the Wednesday to greet the 'Pilgrims' who were walking from Brynmawr. Together with Stephen and Gill Maxted from the… Read more
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November Headstone - Percy Hilton Barraud
The story of Hilton Percy Barraud spans craftsmanship and change — from his Huguenot ancestors who built London’s famed chronometers to his own life as a Victorian solicitor. His final years in Gilwern, Breconshire, add an enduring mystery to a family history already rich with precision and legacy. Read more
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Visitors from California
On Thursday 9th October – a group of visitors from California - Corinne Lesley, her husband, her sister and her brother in law visited St Elli to see one of their ancestor’s graves. John Weekes (a member of u3a and a Churchyard Chum) and Richard Purkiss (also a Churchyard Chum) were able to show them… Read more
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October Headstone - The Davies Family
The Davies family lived at Gellyfellen, Llanelly Hill during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their lives closely tied to the coal industry that shaped much of south-east Wales. Read more
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September Headstone - William & Phyllis Rees
The Rees family of Llanelly Hill were part of a long tradition of Welsh mining families whose lives were closely tied to the coal industry of the South Wales valleys. This story reflects both the hardships and resilience of a close-knit community and the ever-present dangers of life underground. Read more
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August Headstone - John & Margaret Michael
The story of a local family whose son Harry served and died fighting in the Spanish-American War. Initially buried there, his body was later reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery in April 1899 — a poignant tribute to a Welshman who served and died far from home. Read more
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July Headstone - Richard Lodge
Discover the story of Richard Lodge, a 19th-century grocer from Abergavenny who built a family and business across Monmouthshire and Glamorgan. From personal loss to professional success, and eventual retirement in Yorkshire, this narrative reflects a life of resilience, enterprise, and quiet determination. Read more
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May Headstone - Probert Family
Discover the story of the Probert family of Llanelly —spanning generations from iron miners and property owners to a master printer in Blaenavon. This narrative traces their lives through 19th-century census records, revealing resilience, work, and quiet legacy in the Welsh Valleys. Read more
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April Headstone - The Ellis Family
Robert Ellis was born to Thomas and Mary Ellist and baptised in March 1797 in Shifnal, Shropshire. He would later become a Mill Agent where his life would unfold amidst the industrial landscape of the 19th century. Read more