Uploads from Woolfie Hills, with geodata

The Old Observatory,Penllergaer.

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:09:10 -0700

I mentioned the Llewellyn estate and the observatory where the first pictures of the moon were taken and here it is! It's fenced in these days for safety.Back in the 60's the Army blew up the old mansion house which stood where the local offices of City and County of Swansea stand today.The observatory survived though and back in 1980 I was one of a team employed to rebuild it.

Lliw Valley BC as they were then were having new offices built on the site of the old mansion and the observatory was to be restored as a feature in the grounds.6 of us,myself included were under the supervision of Andy Thomas,a stonemason from Morriston and were responsible for the rebuilding.Work was slow as deliveries of stock trickled in.We spent more time playing cards though Andy did teach us a great deal.

The cream coloured bricks were ceramic and hollow,toblerone section,designed by Sir John Llewellyn to conserve heat.Nothing like that was available so we built ladder mouldings and cast concrete blocks with cementone yellow fronts to match the best we could.The roof was curved and made of the same bricks with reinforcing rods.We did cover that with tar though bear in mind that the building must be over 150 years old so that roof is probably the cause for concern behind the fencing.You can't see it in this pic though the top of the cream building has ornamental curves and a chimney.Again,all brickwork was purpose built and moulded by ourselves with Andy's guidance.

The straight stone wall was another room in the original building.You can just make out the new brickwork below the window.That was how we solved the problem.Had we built the extension out of home made blocks it wouldn't have looked right so we just went for the solution we did.The stone wall that was left of the extension we just tidied up to be used as a bench.The curved wall that you can see then is the original perimeter wall.

The dome arrived after I left though I understand was donated by British Steel.I remember there being big iron runners at the top of the stone tower to enable it to turn to follow the moon.Inside the tower was a stone plinth for the telescope to sit on and I gather that the original was available to go back in.We put wooden floors right through.I guess that there'd have been some means of winding the dome around in there too.All in all an interesting piece of local history.Let's hope that the reasons behind that fence aren't too serious eh!!

Ridgways W337 CDN

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:09:11 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

I caught up with CDN at Penllergaer services earlier on his morning.The driver must have pulled in for breakfast after doing Gower College I guess.Anyway,I went for this side on shot to show off the livery.I like the big fleetnames and the slogan,eyecatching on the road and a good message to send out too I think!!

New at Keepings Coaches,

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:29:44 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

This lovely Volvo Berkhof has recently joned the fleet to replace one of the recently sold Premieres..

Gee-Vee Travel, Barnsley.

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:29:43 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

This smart Bova was at the LC 2,Swansea carpark this morning.

Holmes Foden

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:29:45 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

The fair camps at Gorseinon have been at Railway Terrace for many years,certainly as long as I remember.This beautifully restored Holmes Foden was parked on the grass verge this morning,The black bow on the front is a mark of respect for the fact that a Holmes family member has sadly passed away recently.

Tazz

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:52:11 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

Tazz,ssen here chilling out in his favourite armchair last night watching "The Truth About Cats And Dogs" on tv,hence the smile.........

The end of Thomas and Friends bus?!

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:27:46 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

Locals and those who look at my pages regularly will well remember the Let's Go Javelin with Thomas The Tank Engine and Fireman Sam artwork all over it.They were selling it though no takers obviously!

Earlier on I spotted the back end of that particular coach with the fat controler entertaining a few children while they wait to be lost forever once the panel is used to rebuild another of the same model. RIP eh!!!

New Minivan demonstrator..

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:21:58 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

I spotted this at Trainer BMW this morning,the first one I've seen.Too early toask for details though it does look a nice piece of kit .........

Rear view of Minivan demo.

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:21:59 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

The very distinctive lines will make an excellent advert.I can imagine them doing a 4wd pick up though would an ice cream van be too much to hope for?!!

First Cymru 50003 V803 KAF on Batchy's Hill

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:05:20 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

First Cymru continue to use vehicles from all parts of the Country.This Solo is seen covering tendered service 53, Tircoed-Swansea via Penllergaer earlier on this afternoon and is climbing Llewellyn Rd,Penllergaer ,locally known as Batchy's Hill after the shop which used to be on the left where the new houses are on the return to Tircoed.

Batchy's,as we used to call it was the little shop owned by Tommy and Elaine Batchelor.It was a small place that looked like it might once have been a farm outbuilding.The family used to live about five doors down on the right in the old council houses.Tommy would be over there at about 8AM and Mrs a bit later so that he could go out on his rounds.He had 2 old J4s fitted out as mobile shops though only he used to drive and 2 Humber Sceptres,one in use and one for spares.I remember the shop being very dimly lit inside and Tommy being a bit deaf,you used to have to shout for him to hear what you wanted!An unwritten law saw us call at the papershop in the morning where Norma and Alan would have plenty of the latest Beano or Dandy with whatever the free gift hat had been on telly the night before was.Batchy's then on the way home for a few sweets with what we had left.Not forgetting to stroke the two old dogs they had outside too.

Ha,ha,the dogs were both crosses,one Alsatian and a Labrador and they never barked or anything.
Sad when they died and the shop closed early 80's I think,with the land sold and 5 houses built there.The end of an institution though as I said,the hill is still sometimes referred to as Batchy's Hill by those of us old enough to remember.

Dinnertime on the 141.

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:05:19 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

GT03 HHH has brought the relieving driver and is seen here parked up outside Llewellyn Hall,Penllergaer.Llewellyn Hall,named after the former Squire of Penllergaer,Sir John Llewellyn has replaced the old church hall and has been built entirely from funds raised by the church.St Davids Church is just forward of where the coach is parked and apparently celebrates its' 150th birthday this year.

Sir John Llewellyn is buried in the church and his mansion was where the council buildings in Penllergaer woods now stand.It was blown up by the army as unsafe many years ago.He was a pioneer photographer and the first pictures of the moon were taken from his observatory.That still stands in the council office grounds and was restored by a team of YOP workers back in 1980,of which I was one.In the days before coaches Sir John would send one or two horse and carts down to the village and the Sunday School trip ould be a picnic up at the Llewellyn estate.No Oakwood Park in them days !!

I'm reliably told that Sir John had a tunnel built between his home and the Old Inn,opposite where the coach is.I don't know the truth of that though a former innkeeper there had a connection with the old SWT and the inside of the church hall was AEC Regent red!! I know that to be true as I worked n a gang repainting it once.That was on the YOP scheme too though I did hear of a party on community service painting Townhill Catholic Club.Apparently they'd raided the crisps and Marsbars though got rumbled when the supervisor noticed the wrappers in the pain tins.

The church hall caretakers house is behind the coach though the house lower down once belonged to Mr Wynford John,son of,J.R.John the founder of the filling station.There's a modern filling station there now and has been for about 30 years.The original owners had an MOT centre and servicing garage which is still there,these days run by Messrs Hughes and Williams.He also had limousines and was a PSV operator at one time with a small Transit,JNY 881K(bought new and later sold to a Tony Jones in Llanelli).Mr John senior ran the workshop and I can remember being in the Primary School when his funeral took place.Yes,it was Harvest Festival and I remember we had to get out of the church promptly to make way for the service!

Anyway,thinking about this local history,let's go to buses.The little Transit I mentioned above was white with blue lettering and stripes.Other memories are distant though I remember seeing the first Leyland Nationals and was fascinated by the different coloured Rees and Williams and West Wales buses which passed the school on their way to Llandeilo.Why were they allowed to have nicer colours for their vehicles!! The single deck Regents used to take us to school occaisionally too,looking antique by then even though they were only about ten years old at the time.The Optare on my other pic today is probably older than I remember them being!! One final thought though.The fare to school in those days was 2p with the old SWT.These days it's 80p with the new SWT though todays' costs have spiralled enormously since those days.However else things change in time costs can only go up!!!

Brodyr Williams,Upper Tumble.

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:02:01 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

Ammanford Bus Station this morning and Volvo/Plaxton 7 WTJ is seen picking up on school duties.

Don's Coaches XIL 6561

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:02:02 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

I found myself in Ammanford earlier on today.XIL was the first coach I saw,seen here parked near the burger van on Capel Hendre Industrial Estate looking nice and clean and with lettering added to the top windscreen.

Amman Valley Comprehensive School

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:01:59 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

I went by that way this morning to see how the land lied for a few pics.It didn't!! Traffic was very busy and I can see that I'd have to be there before school was out in the afternoon and I'd have about 15 min to play with.

Here Autosan BX55 NZP of Gareth Evans follows Gwyn Williams Tiger E333 NBX are seen just after they've left the school and are returning to base.

Davies Coaches DC57 WAL

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Tue, 07 May 2013 06:12:08 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

Looking very smart as usual,Davies Coaches' Mercedes DC 57 WAL was in Gorseinon earlier on.The new brick buildings behind are on the site of premises once owned by early bus operators,Bassett's of Gorseinon.Unfortunately a design error means that the upstairs flats can't be used as there are no fire exits or escapes!Shame as it's quite a smart development and the flats would probably be sought after.....

DSS Welcome!!

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:25:15 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

This beautiful Camper van was at the LC2 car park this morning.Notices on the doors read Derrick Morgan DSS Welcome,so I'd guess he's a landlord.The owner returned as I was there and gave me permission for the pic.He told me that it had come via a dealer in Telford though was in a hurry so any further detail would be welcome.

In the background is a Setra on the weekly Sindbad Poland service.

Barbara Ann

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Mon, 06 May 2013 04:45:41 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

The Greyhound service 100 now works to Bristol Airport.YN06 CGV,named Barbara Ann after the well known Beach Boys song awaits its turn......

Penny's from Cilfrew

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:13:13 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

I've just come back from a spin to Neath Valley.Here I saw Leighton Penny's MAN parked outside Cilfrew Primary,not 2 min walk from where he lives.

Nelson's Glynneath

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:13:11 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

Nobody was on duty today though I still got this fair shot of the 2 Premieres through the locked gates.

Ken Hopkins Head Office.

nobody@flickr.com (Woolfie Hills) — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:09:45 -0700

Woolfie Hills posted a photo:

Some people get very lucky with these old council houses as they sometimes have bags of room with them.Plenty of hardstanding there for Mercedes KH10 KMH and one of its' sisters at the house on Heol-y-Glo which now acts as the company head office.