Barry Dock:

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Barry Dock is traditionally known as the residential area between the actual Dock and the town centre. A large area of Barry town historically situated between Dock View and Holton Roads, linked by Thompson Street:

Locally, anyone going to Barry Dock would mean generally the town centre as opposed to the old docks.

THOMPSON STREET:

By Tom Clemett:

In the early 1900's its reputation was on a par with Cardiff's Tiger Bay. A great number of people who did not live in the area and seldom visited it or mixed with its residents had preconceived ideas about it.

The street and its immediate surroundings had much to commend it. It had a community spirit that is sadly lacking nowadays, and although it had a reputation, was one of the safest places for youngsters who lived there to be brought up in. They and their families knew practically every grown-up in the area, neighbours were considered to be extended family members and were usually addressed by the children as Auntie or Uncle.

www.barrywales.co.uk/tomclemett/thompsonstreet.asp

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Barry Sailors’ Rest:

Barry Docks was built as a rival to Cardiff to export coal from the Welsh coalmines. But as the coal industry declined, so did the docks and, as the docks declined, the need for a Rest declined. In the 1950’s, the Sailors’ Rest was still fairly active but the decline had already started.

The Barry Sailors’ Rest celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. Mr C J Crix generally known as Jack, was the Port Missionary/Manager there at the time. He was appointed in August 1945 having spent two or three years as Port Missionary/Manager at Ipswich Sailors’ Rest. My father remained there until 1954, when he took over the King Edward VII Hall in London. In 1956, he became an Appeals Organizer based in N.W. London.

Barry Sailors’ Rest was situated in Thompson Street nearer the town centre than the actual dock, it is now a car park: Before it's demise was the Ex Service-mans Cub.

LINK: www.pwsts.org.uk/Barry1891-1951/index.htm

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BARRY DOCK:

An old enquiry on the net asks: Hello can anyone help....... My grandfather owned a cafe on the Barry docks around 1918. His name was Kastavunis and he was Greek. I am lead to believe he also lived on the docks would anyone have any information on this. Cheers Sharon

This was answered with:

Hi Sharon. just a thought you say he had a cafe on Barry docks that is possible of course but the shopping area of Barry, IE. Holton road, relating the story to you would say he had a shop in Barry dock, meaning the town area.

Good early photo of part of Thompson street and this post's source at:

LINK: www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=490719.0

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CWGC: Historical Information

The cemetery contains war graves of both world wars, the burials of the 1914-1918 War being in various parts of the cemetery. Burials of the 1939-1945 War, 23 of which are in a group in Section R in the north-western corner of the cemetery, and the remainder are to be found elsewhere.

There is a man belonging to the National Fire Service, who was buried in the group of war graves. Among the 14 men of the Merchant Navy are four Danish seamen who, with two other Danes, lost their lives in April 1942 in an explosion in the British Merchant vessel S.S. Soborg of Glasgow, in which they were serving. They are buried in the group of war graves.

The body of the fifth Danish member of the crew was originally buried here but was later repatriated. The sixth body was not recovered. The names of all six are commemorated on a grey granite memorial which was erected on the empty grave of the repatriated Dane by the Danish Government, and unveiled by the Danish Ambassador in April 1948. The four graves are marked by Commission headstones.

LINK: www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2080902/BARRY%20(MERTHYR%20DYFAN)%20BURIAL%20GROUND

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Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery is Barry's main cemetery. It is the location of many sailors' graves and memorials; indeed, the first burial there a month after being opened in September of 1889 was that of a foreign seaman by the name of William Marra, who died when aged only 18.

Seamen who died during wartime were obviously less likely to be buried, hence the cemetery contains memorial stones as well as grave stones for seamen. In peace time however, burials were more likely. There are several sailors worthy of mention.

LINK: www.barrymerchantseamen.org.uk/cemetery/BMScemetery.html

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Most people will associate the YMCA with the 1970s pop group the ‘Village People’ long before they link the organisation to the mud and barbed wire of a Great War battlefield; but the organisation played a valuable role in providing a little comfort to our troops on the front line during both world wars.

If you would like to find out more about the role played by the YMCA during the two world wars, Mandy Caddy of the YMCA will be giving an illustrated talk at Barry Library, on Monday 13th January. The talk begins at 6.45

Barry Library, Barry, South Wales.