| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Leader: |
Linda Swanson
Tel: 07393 296375
|
| When: | Monthly on Monday mornings 11:00 am-12:30 pm Last Monday of the month at 11am |
| Venue: | Gilwern Library |
What started as a small gathering of family history enthusiasts has now blossomed into a network of researchers dedicated to preserving the rich history of Gilwern and its surrounding areas.
Whether you're a seasoned family historian or a complete beginner, we welcome you. Our experienced members are always willing to lend their expertise, share resources, and help you navigate the exciting world of family and social history.
From tracing family trees to uncovering fascinating local stories, we believe that every family has a unique narrative waiting to be discovered. Join us, and let's bring the past to life—one story, one connection at a time.
No prior experience needed. Just bring your curiosity and passion for local history!
Take a look at our two current projects below: ORAL HISTORIES and LIVING STONES.
Our completed projects are WW1 Llanelly Parish Remembers and Gilwern in Bygone Days
Forthcoming Meetings and Events
Our Current Research Projects
Oral Histories
Calling All Local Storytellers!
Do you remember Gilwern and the surrounding area before smartphones, supermarkets, and modern conveniences? Are you a keeper of local stories that might otherwise be lost forever? Gilwern u3a is on a mission to capture the living history of our community.
We're seeking the wisdom and memories of those who know our parish best - the long-term residents who have watched Llanelly Parish transform through decades of change. From childhood tales of Gilwern, Clydach, Maesygwartha, and Llanelly Hill to stories of local life that you've witnessed firsthand, we want to preserve your unique perspective.
This isn't just an interview - it's a chance to ensure that our community's past continues to pulse for future generations. We'll come to you, at a time and place that suits you best. Bring a friend if you wish, bring a memory, bring a story that only you can tell.
Your memories are more than just personal recollections - they're a precious historical treasure.
Would you like to be part of preserving our local heritage?
If so, please don't hesitate to contact Hilary Lipscombe on 07855 871055. Take a look at the oral history already recorded, click the link below.
Living Stones
Uncovering Local History at St Elli Churchyard
This project involves exploring the hidden stories etched in the weathered stones of St Elli Churchyard. We're not just documenting graves - we're respectfully remembering forgotten lives, reconnecting with our local heritage, and bringing untold stories back to light. There are many aspects to this project - photography, research, documenting and typing up family profiles - there must something that will interest and suit you? If you think so, please get in touch.
Click on Living Stones at the top of this section and take a look at some of our ongoing research. If you are researching someone who lived in Llanelly Parish try our searchable index but please remember this is a work in progress and it is being added to all the time so check back regularly.
If you'd like a chat about the project or are researching someone buried at St Elli Church, please contact Linda on 07393 296375 or email Linda Swanson
Latest News and Notices from the Group
- January Headstone - the Andrew ChildrenThis headstone records the children of William and Mary Andrew of Gilwern. Their story provides a poignant insight into family life and child mortality in 19th-century Breconshire.
- December Headstone - Powell FamilyFor 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: December Headstone - Powell Family
- Celtic Festival 2025We 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: Celtic Festival 2025
- November Headstone - Percy Hilton BarraudThe 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.
- Visitors from CaliforniaOn 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: Visitors from California
Completed Projects
To commemorate the centenary of the end of WW1 and to express the debt of gratitude we owe the servicemen from this area, Gilwern u3a Family & Social History group spearheaded the preparation of the biographies of all those servicemen who fought in WW1.
A collection of photographs of Gilwern from the past