The Chapel Carpenters
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"I had been doing the same work as he had."
Transcript
"I now maintain the chapel that my great grandfather used to maintain.
His name was Stanley James. He was born in 1888 and died in 1960, 10 years before I was born. Aged 13 he joined his father and older brother Albert in the family carpentry business, here he learnt his trade making windows, doors, cart wheels, coffins practically anything out of wood that was needed in the tiny village of Amroth.
It was only recently when I found my great grandfathers workbook for 1930 that I discovered I had been doing the same work as he had, without knowing it.
One job in particular in the book leapt out at me. In 1996 I had mended the floor of the chapel, taking out an iron plate and repairing the hole with new floorboards. Nearly 70 years previously my great grandfather had put in that iron plate and also cut out some rotten floorboards.
Out of the shattered remains of propellors he made jewellry boxes, photograph frames and other presents for the family. I also make presents for my family using scrap pieces of wood and like him I make toys. I made one, based on Bluebird, Malcolm Campbells record breaking boat. Then my mum reminded me that my great grandfather had made her a boat when she was a little girl. I stared at the name Bluebird painted on the side.
I now have great respect for my great grandfathers work, as I have repaired and replaced it.
As a tribute to him I recently built my workshop in the traditional way using his tools which hadn't been used for over 30 years. Doing this made me feel I had made a link through the last two generations to my great grandfather. I hope he's proud of my work too!"
An interview with the author
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am 34 years old, a carpenter with a HND in Architecture and Building Conservation. I live in south Pembrokeshire with my wife Ann and two daughters, Ceri and Zoe. I am a local historian and a collector of historical terms associated with the lost industries of the Saundersfoot district.
What's your story about?
My story is about how I have done work that my great grandfather had done in the past without me knowing about it at the time. My family have lived in Amroth for 250 years and had been the village's craftsmen i.e. blacksmiths, carpenters and coal miners. Although I don't live in the village, I still work there as a carpenter when the need arises.
What did you find the most rewarding aspect about the workshop?
I found meeting and listening to the other participants a humbling experience. Everyone had a different story to tell but they were all equally interesting. The team were always very helpful, willing to advise how our story could be put together but without taking over.
How has this workshop affected the way you look upon your family history?
This has not affected how I look on my family history, but it will help me look at how to deal with the facts. I hope to be able to make another digital story in the future.
Your comments
"A very interesting story. I know Eileen his grandmother very well and she has always had very interesting information of Amroth and the people who live there. His great grandmother kept lots of papers and history of Amroth. When we visited her with my sister in law Valerie we found it very interesting to know what happened in Amroth years ago."
Marjorie Roberts nee Bevan; Nottingham."An extremely interesting story,but a shame there were no photo's of the chapel. My grandparents William and Elizabeth James are buried in the church cemetery."
Terry West Warfield.
