HISTORY THE OLD PORTHCAWL POLICE STATION Part 3
From the late 1940’s onwards life in Porthcawl Police Station became mainly concerned with local crimes. The police station itself suffered damage in 1948, when within six months two drunken men had smashed 12 panes of glass between them in the cells. Car chases were a feature over the Sand dunes, whilst PC Brinley Thomas was assaulted outside the Newton Hotel whilst apprehending a musician for “begging and gathering alms.” John Street also was a focus of attention, as the thoroughfare had not been built to cope with two-way traffic. Cars were directed to park on only one side of the street on alternate days. Yet in 1953 a green van parked 4 ft from the kerb caused an hour-long traffic jam, which included six buses including the Cardiff bus, which was already 45 minutes late! By the 1960’s the station was proving to be too small, to cater for the increasing population and holidaymakers. In 1973, it was sold to the Ogwr Borough Council. A new police station was built at the top of John Street and Porthcawl Museum began life in three rooms on the ground floor of the Old Porthcawl Police Station. Ceri Joseph
PORTHCAWL MUSEUM RE-OPENS
Following all the hard work carried out by the museums volunteers, Porthcawl Museum re opened its doors on April 2nd. Formally opened by Porthcawl town council Mayor Cllr Tracy Hill. After the opening Tracy and other guests viewed the new 14 | seaside news
exhibitions with the museum chairman Paul Joseph before enjoying tea, coffee and home made cakes. The new exhibition’s include some of the never before seen collection of Victorian costume and a new exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war. The museum was pleased to be presented by the London Mint Historian Justin Robinson, a replica set of medals awarded following the Falklands conflict. They comprise the Victoria Cross, the George Cross and the Falklands South Atlantic War Medal with rosette. These were produced and donated by The London Mint with a collection of Falkland Island coins from 1982, also a framed sheet of stamps issued by Argentina during the conflict in 1982. These were over-stamped with the words “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” and brought to the post office in Port Stanley. However the inhabitants of the islands refused to use them. The fact that the stamps haven’t been used is a testament to the courage and resolve of the islanders to resist their occupation. The museum will now be open Wednesday, Friday & Saturday from 11am to 3pm.
MEET MY ANCESTORS Samuel Axe, my 5 x great grandfather, the son of William Axe and Ann, was baptised on 14 April 1771 at St Alfege Church, Greenwich. Samuel married Grace Austin (1786–1823) on 22 September 1803 at St Luke Old Street, Finsbury, London and the couple lived in Hoxton, Middlesex where they produced eight children, including my direct ancestor, Jane Esther Axe, an educated woman and the executrix of Samuel’s will. Various documents describe Samuel as a ‘bricklayer’. In the first half of the nineteenth century a bricklayer was a property developer, someone who designed and constructed houses. These houses could range from humble dwellings to huge city projects. Samuel’s projects placed him amongst the ‘elite’, someone eligible to vote. Although a successful property developer, it would appear that all was not well with Samuel’s marriage because on 21 June 1816 Maria Hammont, single woman, petitioned the parish with the claim that ‘Samuel Axe, bricklayer of Hoxton Town, gained carnal knowledge of her body.’ Maria had given birth to a bastard female on 12 May 1815 at her mother’s house in Hoxton Fields. The outcome of her petition was not recorded. However, Samuel was a wealthy man so hopefully he supported his child. Hannah Howe, international bestselling author https://hannah-howe.com
