Oral History collection: Bowen Richards and Rhona Richards (born 1922 and 1912, Rhossili and Swansea, farmer and farmer's wife, former land girl) interviewed by J. Mansel Thomas about Gower life

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 216 T 3/22
  • Dates of Creation
      c. 1976
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      on cassette; also digital copy in MP3 format

Scope and Content

Track 1. [00:02:30] Gower / Farming: Taking over the farm aged 16 in 1928 when the father died. [00:03:20] Gower / Farming: Land on The Vile and the cliff near the look out. [00:05:20] Gower / Farming: Owners of land plots. [00:06:55] Gower / Second World War: Moving to Rhossili from Swansea to become a land girl with The Wrens in June 1942 for 3 years. [00:09:40] Gower / Second World War: Description of being a land girl early on, milking cows, dairy work, carrying milk cans. [00:12:55] Gower / Second World War: Meeting her husband, becoming a farmers wife in January 1945. Having 2 farms. [00:16:27] Gower / Second World War: Evacuees from London. [00:00:17] Gower / Farming: Childhood memories on a farm, growing vegetables, cattle, livestock. Living hand to mouth. [00:21:55] Gower / Farming: Farming on The Vile. [00:25:55] Gower / Farming: Chat about Flemish / Somerset influence on Gower life. [00:29:15] Gower: Ash tree in garden. [00:29:27] Gower / Second World War: Land girls.

Track 2. [00:02:25] Gower / Sea: The Gloria ship wreck, shipping. [00:06:10] Gower: Guests, holiday makers, lodgers. [00:08:01] Gower: Types of visitors, after the war more cars down Gower. Less families, out of season tourists. [00:10:15] Gower: Making an income from tourism. Teas, shop. [00:13:39 Gower: Tourists / visitors influence on work pattern, source of income. [00:15:50] Gower: Youngsters camping, groups, individuals enjoying, caravans, caravanning. [00:18:00] Gower: Caravanning. [00:19:50] Gower: Tents, hang gliding. [00:20:00] Gower / Sea: Joined on the boats at 16 years old. Ship wrecks. [00:22:40] Gower: Local interest. Cliffs. Tractors. Turf. [00:26:50] Gower: Quarry stone to build walls, keep sheep in the fields. [00:29:27] Gower: Washing and dipping sheep.