Oral History collection: David John Nathaniel (born 14 July 1894) interviewed by Colin Williams about His experiences as a bargeman on the Swansea canal; life in Plasmarl in the early 20th Century.

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 216 TH 23
  • Dates of Creation
      30 Oct. 1975 and 23 Dec. 1975.
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      1 audio recording

Scope and Content

Track 1. [00:00:20] Swansea Canal: Work on the canal barges. [00:07:53] Industry: Morriston Pottery. [00:10:57] Swansea Canal: Froze over. [00:11:43] Swansea Canal: Barges and horses. [00:14:14] Swansea Canal: Loading coal drums on to barges. [00:16:30] Swansea Canal: Changes in depth of the canal. [00:19:39] Swansea Canal: Materials transported on the canal. [00:21:06] Swansea Canal: People employed on the canal and their jobs. [00:23:55] Swansea Canal: Accidents on the canal. [00:25:55] Swansea Canal: Fathers experience of working on the canal. [00:26:59] Swansea Canal: Passengers and Sunday School trips on the canal. [00:30:50] Swansea Canal: Levels of pollution in the canal.

Track 2. [00:00:30] Family: Grandparents lives in Morriston. [00:01:55] Plasmarl: Early memories of Plasmarl. [00:04:31] Family: Father's stories and work in the Mynydd Newydd Colliery and Swansea Canal. [00:10:58] Family: Mother's stories and work in the Landore Tin Works. [00:13:30] Poverty: Parish relief and the Workhouse. [00:22:47] Plasmarl: Early memories of Plasmarl. [00:24:04] Plasmarl: Pubs in Plasmarl. [00:26:10] Community: Social life, sport, games, theatre. [00:28:20] Community: Description of community in Plasmarl early 20th century.