Back to the River Machno and Selar Bridge. As we walk down Rhiwbach Street and Machno Street, we encounter the bridge seen here. Let us go across the bridge which takes us to Blaen y Cwm, with the narrow path ending at the entrance to Ddôl Street.

Selar Bridge

A view of 'Selar' Bridge from the river. Many have crossed this bridge to Blaen y Cwm Farm. The farm sold milk and it had to be collected every evening in a pitcher.

Selar Bridge

Swch Bridge

The river now approaches Swch Bridge. The Cobbler kept a shop in Ddôl, and he used to soak the leather used to repair shoes in the river overnight, using stones to keep the leather in its place. This was also a dangerous place because we would frequently come down the hill on our bikes and land in the river - there were no fences to stop us!

Swch as it is today. A busy place in days gone by, as you will see in the following photograph.

Swch

Swch Quarry

You can imagine how busy this place was in the past. The first Co-op in Cwm Penmachno was opened here, in the office of the old quarry. The local band used to practise here as well. After the quarry closed, the children used to come here at night to play football and cricket.

The Union of the Rivers

Swch Tip

Another picture of Swch's Tips, where Penrhiw River joins the River Machno.

'Ddôl Street' (Stryd Ddôl), in the middle of Cwm Penmachno. This street belongs neither to the top nor the bottom of Cwm, and this was often a moot point when it came to divide Cwm into two parts for Eisteddfodau and Sports - which part did Ddôl belong to?

In Ddôl Swch there was a room between the Co-op shop and the stable which became a meeting place for the young people of Cwm. Darts became popular, and so did competitions between different teams from Cwm Penmachno and Penmachno - it was a great feat to reach the final of these competitions. Darts became so popular that a competition was even introduced into the Quarry Eisteddfod. Whist Drives were also held in this room although it was quite small; later the band took it over and practised there for many years. Mr. Thomas, father of well known singer Richie Thomas, devoted hours of his time teaching the Band how to play.

'Ddôl Cwm' Street

Cwm Penmachno School

This School was built in 1922. Before this, the children received their education in the Church. When the Church became too small to hold the children (over 100 of them), the children went on strike for 9 months to trigger the building of the school you see on the left. The school shut in 1964, Morfydd Jones being the last headmistress there.

We have now reached 'Pont Isa' (Lower Bridge) which is near the Church. The Church housed Cwm's first School. You can also see 'Siop Isa' (Lower Shop) in the picture, and here also was a butcher's shop.

'Pont Isa'

The Children of Cwm Penmachno Church School, taken around 1904

'Pont Isa'

You now see a view of 'Pont Isa' (Lower Bridge) taken from the grounds of the Church, where the river flowing from Hafod Fraith Gorge unites with the River Machno.