History Links & Resources
The World Wars, Local History, and Genealogy
These websites and resources are not intended to be exhaustive, but to provide a good selection of those which have helped in our own research.
As such, they are divided into the following sections:-
- History of the World Wars
- Local History for Ystradgynlais & Ystalyfera
- Genealogy & Family History
- Local History Books
The new Ystradgynlais War Memorial was erected in 2016.
History of the World Wars
1914-1919 and 1939-1945
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
https://www.cwgc.org
Honouring and caring for the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars
First World War
World War One.com including Trenches on the Web
www.worldwar1.com
Comprehensive website for the history of the First World War, including from an American perspective.
World War 1 Cemeteries
www.ww1cemeteries.com
A photographic guide to over 4000 Military Cemeteries and Memorials of the Great War
Second World War
World War 2 Cemeteries
www.ww1cemeteries.com
A photographic guide to over 4000 Military Cemeteries and Memorials of World War 2.
West End At War - The Guards Chapel bombing
www.westendatwar.org.uk
Irish Guards website - The Guards Chapel bombing
www.ww2guards.com
Flying Bombs & Rockets - The Guards Chapel
www.flyingbombsandrockets.com
The Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorates those members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave, their deaths having occurred at sea where no permanent memorial could be provided.
The Runnymede Memorial commemorates by name over 20,000 men and women of the air forces, who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. (Source: CWGC)
Local History for Ystradgynlais & Ystalyfera
Websites and Online Resources
The History of Palleg Manor
www.spookspring.com/Palleg/palleg.html
The history of Palleg Manor 1500 to the present
The Tick Tock - by Mansel Jones
http://history.powys.org.uk/history/ystrad/tockmenu.html
The heritage of Smiths/Ingersoll watches and clocks, Gurnos Works, Ystradgynlais. 1946-1980 - by Mansel Jones
Dulais Higher
www.dulaishigher.com
Some Jones and Morgan families of Banwen, Coelbren & Onllwyn
Powys Archives
https://en.powys.gov.uk/archives
Powys Archives is located in Llandrindod Wells, and serves as the official repository for the records of the county of Powys.
Ystradgynlais Family History Society
www.ystradgynlaisfhs.co.uk
Their website includes CDs for sale of parish records, monumental inscriptions, land taxes and census records
Breconshire Local & Family History Society
www.blfhs.co.uk
Established to enhance, encourage and enable the study of local history and family history in the mid-Wales county of Breconshire.
Neath Antiquarian Society
www.spanglefish.com/neathantiquariansociety/index.asp
The NAS was formed to maintain and restore ancient monuments of Neath and District and to study history, manners, customs, art and literature
West Glamorgan Archive Service
www.swansea.gov.uk/westglamorganarchives
The archives in Swansea's Civic Centre hold documents, maps, photographs and recordings on the history of West Glamorgan, which comprises Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, including Gower and the Afan, Neath and Swansea Valleys.
Genealogy and Family History
General Online Resources
Welsh Newspapers Archive
https://newspapers.library.wales/home
Free online searchable resource of Welsh newspapers 1804 to 1919
Clergy of the Church of England Database
https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/
Free online searchable database which can be searched by surname, or diocese, up to 1835
Dictionary of Welsh Biography
https://biography.wales/
Constantly added-to biographical dictionary of Welsh people across many different fields
Welsh Words and Phrases on Gravestones
www.jlb2011.co.uk/wales/welsh-phrases.htm
From the Welsh Family History Archive a useful resource for translating the words often found on gravestones that are written in Welsh
British Newspaper Archive
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
A wide range of newspapers from the 1700s onwards. Requires subscription, though this can be done monthly.
National Archives Discovery website
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Search the National Archives at Kew, or County Archives indexed by them. Some free downloads available during the pandemic, especially of wills up to 1858.
The National Library of Wales
www.library.wales
The Library holds a wide variety of archives in terms of their size, type of documents and the information contained in them, and in terms of their date.
Pillars of Faith
www.ministers.pillars-of-faith.com
Database of Welsh Non-Conformist ministers of religion up to the the end of the 1930s
Local History Books
Current or Our of Print Books
Visit the main Books Page for full details, covers, ISBNs and blurbs.
Penwyllt by Peter Burgess
The second edition is now out, published 2021, and costs £14 plus £2 postage, and can be ordered by emailing Peter Burgess at wealdenpete@gmail.com
Fresh Flowers For M'Lady by Tony Hibbert
Fresh Flowers for m'lady, a history of Craig-y-Nos Castle by Tony Hibbert may still be on sale at the shop at Craig-y-Nos Country Park. Second hand copies otherwise can be found on Ebay or Amazon.
The Iron Cradle by Len Ley
All remaining stock of the book was bought by Cariad Books. Contact Chris on chris@cariadbooks.co.uk for stock information and prices.
Yan Boogie by Eileen Baker
Eileen Baker wrote two autobiographical memoirs of life growing up in the Swansea Valley, the first of which is titled 'Yan Boogie'. It is out of print but second hand copies can be bought on Amazon or Ebay
Broth Again For Dinner by Florence Coombe
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910718971
Set in the aftermath of the First World War, Broth Again For Dinner introduces us to a young girl, Florence, from Whitland, Carmarthenshire, whose resilience and humour carried her through a life of hardship.
Stepping Out Into Showbusiness by Simone Lloyd-Davies
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910718939
Simone sadly passed away in June 2020, but her autobiography covering her service in the ATS, her work at the Windmill Theatre, her life at a Welsh mansion, and her television career from the earliest days until the 21st century remains in print.
Swansea Pals by Bernard Lewis
www.amazon.co.uk/Swansea-Pals-Bernard-Lewis/dp/1844150569
This, the first full history of the Battalion, covers early recruiting for the battalion in the Swansea area and its subsequent training, prior to departure, some 1,200 strong, in December 1915 for the Western Front.
