Tish Farrell has produced a fascinating post entitled Gazing into Hell’s Mouth at Plas yn Rhiw which got me thinking – I was reminded of an old family photograph. My comment on Tish’s post says I have a family photograph taken on a road above Hell’s Mouth – there is my mother, my sister, and me, leaning against the car in a pretentious fashion (makes a change from gurning I suppose). I would be 9 or 10 which makes it 1960 or thereabouts, possibly earlier. The car was the family Ford Consul, reg – RMA 803 – now I must find the picture.
This is wrong on two counts – firstly I am now fairly certain it is 1958 and we have taken a ride out from a holiday let at Morfa Nefyn. Secondly I am gurning after all – perhaps in a satirical reference to the location, I am stretching my mouth sideways with my fingers. A much more likely explanation is that I am pulling faces at my too-grown-up sister. I perfected the art of the irritating younger brother at a very early age:
The black Mk 1 Ford Consul is the first car I remember, a very solid piece of engineering prone to not starting in the winter. Dad would eventually resort to dangling a light bulb in the engine compartment overnight to keep the temperature up. It seemed to work. This is the insurance documentation – all very straightforward – the same document was just updated whenever the car was changed; two more Consuls followed by two Ford Corsairs. All but the last had column gear changes, something my parents insisted on long after they were a standard fitting. Creatures of habit in more ways than one were my Ma and Pa.
northumbrian : light 
So glad you found the photo, Robin. Isn’t it fantastic – so atmospheric. And weird – we stayed in Morfa Nefyn around this time – at Peveril (sp?) cottage which was just up the hill from the beach.
You set me off on another investigation Tish – I have a picture of the house we stayed in and I eventually found it on Google Earth – this is it now: http://tinyurl.com/q3p8tl2 – next door to the Fairway Country Hotel – LL53 6AD.
That was quite a sentimental journey.
I also tried to find the spot where the Hell’s Mouth picture was taken but it looks like this was from the old road and not accessible on Street View.
Yes, that is a very Morfa Nefyn house. We passed through there last year after our trip to Plas yn Rhiw due to getting lost which is a frequent occurrence on Farrell safaris. As to the old road at Hell’s Mouth, there was a bit of to do with this a few years ago, if this is the right one. It runs near Sarn Rhiw where R S Thomas lived, and the council wanted to compulsorily purchase the house to build a new road as the old one had collapsed. It went to a public enquiry but I haven’t discovered the outcome. Thomas’s son still had the lease to the house at the time, and there was quite a battle I gather.
That is exactly the right place – I am fairly convinced that the photograph was taken directly beneath Sarn y Plas. I assume the road above the house is the new road and the planners eventually agreed a re-route to avoid compulsory purchase. What an interesting diversion this has been 🙂
Forgot to say: thanks for the plug. Much appreciated.
My pleasure – a very interesting post.
Oh, brilliant!
Morfa Nefyn…is Vortigern’s Valley near there? It’s on the Lleyn. We went in the early 70s, and I remember an abandoned mining village.
Too long ago for me to remember unfortunately but Tish would know I am sure. It is a lovely area which we are considering for a golf tour later in the year 🙂
Hell’s Mouth…I thought you were referring to your facial antics at first. 😉
I think I lost my way – I should have been a performance artist. I could give Marina Abramovic a run for her money 🙂
http://www.serpentinegalleries.org/exhibitions-events/marina-abramovic-512-hours
Great that you still have the insurance certificate. £15 annual premium, eh !? 😉
Amazing isn’t it – I think this is the certificate from when the car was new so £700 was the purchase price from Ford. There is one for sale on Car & Classic for £7995 – Dad should have kept it 🙂
All these memories…
And you were so cute, Robin. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Thanks Malin ❤
My sister thought I was anything but so 😛 to her 😀
(I love her really – well I do now 🙂 )
❤