Archifdy Ceredigion Archives
ADX/570: Photograph Album

Acc.1451

Ref: ADX/570

Reference: [GB 0212] ADX/570
Title: Photograph Album of Devil's Bridge, Aberystwyth and area
Date(s): 1913-1916
Level: Fonds
Extent: 1 volume

Scope and Content: Photograph album, kept by child of family, white-ink titles and dates, and typed label slips, given in inverted commas. Many pictures are over-exposed or fading.

The family appears to have been a professional one sprung from Devil's Bridge, home to grandparents ('Mamgu a Dadgu'), where many of the photographs were taken, notably at Maes-Mynach, next to the Post Office, other locations being Ponterwyd and Aberystwyth. They were taken between 1913 and 1916, possibly during long school holidays, a popular subject being hay-making (but not harvest).
The Vale of Rheidol Railway had opened for passenger traffic in 1902 and had recently (July 1913) been taken over by Cambrian Railways, which operated the line to Aberystwyth from Machynlleth.

The ambience is an urban one of cameras, excursions, safety bicycles and typewriters.

P.1 DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'Devil's Bridge Village', 1915

Devil's Bridge Village

2. 'V.R.R. going through quarry', 1914 (Vale of Rheidol Railway)

V.R.R. going through quarry

P.2-3. DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'Family group outside Maes-Mynach', 1916

Family group outside Maes-Mynach

2. 'Family group on woods outside Maes-Mynach', 1916

Family group on woods outside Maes-Mynach

3. 'David Jones, Dad, Dadgu, Harold, Betty, Mum, Olwen and Cliff', 1916 - Cliff holds a box camera

David Jones, Dad, Dadgu, Harold, Betty, Mum, Olwen and Cliff

4. 'Uncle Davy, Mum and Olwen', 1916

Uncle Davy, Mum and Olwen

P.4-5. DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'Llew, Aunty Gertrude & two visitors', 1914

Llew, Aunty Gertrude & two visitors

2. 'Dadgu by Mile Post', 1914

Dadgu by Mile Post

3. 'Tea party with the village in the background', 1914

Tea party with the village in the background

4. 'Before a drive from Ponterwyd', 1914

Before a drive from Ponterwyd

P.6-7. DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'Philip's cousins from Barry', 1914 - four children, barn in background

Philip's cousins from Barry

2. 1914 - four children by barn, with David Jones?

(no caption)

3. 'Picnic on (Bryn) Tynllwyn', 1914 - six children

Picnic on (Bryn) Tynllwyn

4. 1914 - four children by farm gate

(no caption)

P.8-9. DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'Mamgu a Dadgu', 1914

Mamgu a Dadgu

2. 'Uncle Jack Llew & Margarette', 1913

Uncle Jack Llew & Margarette

3. 'Harold & Llew looking for stars', 1913

Harold & Llew looking for stars

4. 'Llew & Gwyneth, Ponterwyd', 1914

Llew & Gwyneth, Ponterwyd

P.10-11. DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'Top of Plymlimon', 1914

Top of Plymlimon

2. 'Motor driver', 1914 - omnibus driver stands with hand on crank, engine hood has plate, 'Cambrian Railways Company No. 3'

Motor driver

3. 'Hayfield workers', 1914

Hayfield workers

4. 'Tea in the hayfield', 1914

Tea in the hayfield

P.12-13. DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'Working at the hay', 1915

Working at the hay

2. 'Hen wr Rheidol House', 1914

Hen wr Rheidol House

3. 'Three country postmen before the round', 1914

Three country postmen before the round

4. 'Happy and comfortable in a hammock', 1915

Happy and comfortable in a hammock

P.14-15. DEVIL'S BRIDGE
1. 'David, Lay & Flash', 1914 - two men and a dog

David, Lay & Flash

2. 'Carrying the hay', 1914

Carrying the hay

3. 'Llew', 1913 - lad, boy and horse between shafts

Llew

4. 'Gwyn complete with Fat Face', 1913 - cart by Maes-Mynach

Gwyn complete with Fat Face

P.16. Devil's Bridge
1. 'In the hay-field', 1914

In the hay-field

2. 'Hen wr Rheidol House a Mamgu', 1914

Hen wr Rheidol House a Mamgu

P.17
1. 'Gwyneth and Eirlys, Ponterwyd', 1914 - two young children

Gwyneth and Eirlys, Ponterwyd

2. 'Arthur Gwar Rhos, Devil's Bridge', 1914 - man on horseback

Arthur Gwar Rhos, Devil's Bridge

P.18
1. 'Mrs Edwards, Ponterwyd', 1915 - two women with child in perambulator

Mrs Edwards, Ponterwyd

2. 'Puncture', 1914 - woman attends prone bicycle for schoolboys at roadside

Puncture

P.19
1. 'Harold & Llew on the Castle', 1913

Harold & Llew on the Castle

2. 'On Aberystwyth Front, Margaret, Hanah & Howard', 1915 - group on bench

On Aberystwyth Front, Margaret, Hanah & Howard

P.20-21 ABERYSTWYTH
1. 'Aberystwith from Constitution Hill', 1915

Aberystwyth from Constitution Hill

2. 'Aberystwith from Bryn-y-Mor', 1915

Aberystwyth from Bryn-y-Mor

3. 'Gwladys, Gwyn & Ethel', 1915 - two young women and schoolboy wearing boater, Llanbadarn Road tennis courts

Gwladys, Gwyn & Ethel

4. 'Mrs & Miss Jones', 1915 - standing at door of 'Primrose' (just up from the White Horse in Portland Street)

Mrs & Miss Jones

P.22-23 ABERYSTWYTH
1. 'Taking a rest at Clarach, Mum, Nellie, Mr & Mrs Lloyd & Harold', 1914 - on Clarach beach

Taking a rest at Clarach, Mum, Nellie, Mr & Mrs Lloyd & Harold

2. 'Clarach Bay from Constitution Hill, Mum, Nellie & Mrs Lloyd', 1914

Clarach Bay from Constitution Hill, Mum, Nellie & Mrs Lloyd

3. 'Stones on Aberystwith Castle, Phillip & Harold', 1914 - the Gorsedd Circle

Stones on Aberystwyth Castle, Phillip & Harold

4. 'Aberystwith College', 1916

Aberystwyth College

P.24. ABERYSTWYTH
1. 'Aberystwyth Front from the Pier', 1913
2. 'Aberystwyth College from a boat', 1915