The
Small Shop -
Number 6 Baladeulyn Terrace, Nantlle
This was
a shop that belonged to Catrin Williams and her son
Robert Williams - who was totally blind
after an accident in the quarry when a steam engine
boiler exploded in his face. (Catrin bought this house on 6th October 1921
from Henry Hughes). When
his mother died, Robert carried on the business for years, by employing young
women to work in the house and shop, and later in his life he remarried his
housekeeper, and after his death - his son, John Williams, brought his family
to live at No 6, but only for a few months, then it closed due to his retirement. The
shop was open 8am till 10pm, except Sundays, and
it was very popular with both adults and children,
and especially quarrymen, who bought cigarrettes,
tobacco and matches and also lemonade or sasparilla
in the hot summer months. Robert Williams also stocked
all manner of remedies for colds and joint aches,
etc. The villagers need not call a doctor if thge
medicines were available at "Siop Bach" -
the little shop. He also sold all sorts of sweets
- 8 caramels for 1 penny and also "Red Seal
Toffees" for children before they went to Chapel
services, which were held on a lorage stage in the
'vestry'.
Walking
the 1/4 mile from his home in all weathers to Fferm
y Bryn, Rhesdai Victoria (Victoria Terrace) to collect
his pint of milk, his stick was his main help and
he knew by heart every gap (entrance or gateway)
along the way by the sound his stick made. If you
were out day or night you could hear his stick tapping
gently finding his way.
He
was a very educated man, and in his day he was a
Sunday school teacher. I remember seeing a photo
of him when he was a young man with his Sunday school
class before his accident, and when I called at his
shop he recognised my voice at once and always addressed
me by this line of poetry:
"The
happiest of the happy is Alun Bach".
The
blind man was of fine character and will always be
remembered for his good deeds with the village children.
A rough tranlsation of R.O.Hughes' poem of longing for Nantlle:
"The
Quarry has abated, the smithy has slowed right
down,
And the boys who loved the area have left.
The area of work for hundreds of heads of families (i.e. the men)
The area, has been left to the owls."
Translated
by Emma Roberts from the original 'Y Siop Bach' by
Thomas
Alun Williams |
