Hamer's of Coffins Court

[garystroud]

Hello I am Gary Stroud from Cambridge

My nan Gladys Stroud (was Galdys Hamer) lived in Cambridge but was born/grew up in Coffins Court. Her sister my Aunt Betty (Davis) used to live in Nant Y Gwenith Street Georgetown my Uncle Glyn played the organ at the Bethel 
I spent nearly every summer school holiday in the 1960's visiting my Aunty Betty and Uncle Glyn in George town and have many happy memories of playing football in the grass land in Cyfarthfa Row with the lad who lived opposite Aunty Betty.(I have forgotten his name and his friend who was also Gary who I believe was a grandson of Eddie Thomas?)
I remember my Uncle Idris who was always sat outside the Library in Town (or inside when it was wet)
I know there were more siblings most of the boys were miners.
I have visited the Old Merthyr Website and am interested in finding out more about where Coffins Court was and how many other Hamer siblings there were?

Gary

[mikemerthyr]

Hello Gary As far as I can remember/was told Coffins Court was at the Back of Dynevor Street the backs of the houses backed on to the Tramroadside, my great-grandmother lived there in early 1960's at number 1 houses were knocked down early 1960's or there about?. The front doors faced the backs of the houses on Dynevor Street. The entrance to them was from Dynevor Street by lane/street where now The Court of Requests pub is which was where the riot was, today site where Georgetown Boys Club is situated. According to 1911 Census there were 17 houses in the street and living at number 12 was the Hamer family. The family were mother and father MARY ADA HAMER age 31, DAVID JOHN HAMER age 33 , 5 children DAVID HENRY HAMER age 11, WILLIAM GEORGE HAMER age 10, GLADYS HAMER age 9, IDRIS HAMER age 6, EDWARD HAMER age 4 . Parents had been married 12 years in 1911 had born 8 children 3 had died . According to the 1939 register for Merthyr Tydfil there were 45 people with surname HAMER living in Merthyr Tydfil at that time?. If you look at Georgetown area pictures Page 3 on this website there is an aerial photo of Tramroadside showing old Catholic church building Tramroadside houses on same side as old church building you can see Coffins Court houses roofs running diagonal on photo. and the backs of the houses next to the rail tracks on the Tramroadside photo and photo of back of houses with a dog in door way. Hope this is helpful to you.

Mike

[garystroud]

Thank you so much Mike I can remember as a kid someone talking about Coffins Court being near Dynevor Street. I knew the family were large as well Betty came later. Sadly at least 1 brother died during the war. David was a popular name in our family my father was a David and I know he also had a cousin who was named David.I will look for the pic but I am so grateful for the information you have supplied.

[mikemerthyr]

No problem happy to help if I can . Have a look on Google maps to see how it is today Dynevor street is still there and Tramroadside is still there although now that's called Cadlan Bethel.

Mike

[garystroud]

Thanks Mike I visited a few years back it's totally different from when I was a kid in the 1960's I appreciate your time and help though I hope to visit Merthyr again soon after all it's in my blood