Barry Docks a former Gateway to the World.
“As one would expect in a seafaring town, Barry's children have spread far and wide in the world. Our online community aims to enable them to support and participate in creating a Heritage Centre in their hometown".
Yesterday is history and fast becomes a mystery and is soon also forgot, without your concerns for a past your memories of now will not last. Can you imagine how in years to come, present day Barry will be remembered as much as Old Barry may be currently? Can you imagine how those that came before us probably never thought too much about being remembered? Like us they more than likely “thought of today” modern’ish writings on memorials include the like of “May those that come after us, remember us” and “We Shall Remember Them” but do we truly?
Names from the past are carved in stone, scribed on “Rolls of Honour” but how little do we really know of them? Each and every name represents a life, a loved one, a person. These are the fortunate in a way, unless caring discontinues and the stones do not erode further. “We shall remember them”. To some extent this means we should at least remember, if we are reminded of those that came before us and either died to save us all, were eminent to our town or did some good deed that will ensure such worthy remembrance.
And what of yourself?. Possibly a “Blue Plaque”, on the family home if you are deemed worthy, or meet the criteria? Or I lived and am at rest in Barry as others did before me, that will not ever be a claim to fame and once you are gone, you are gone. Can you really just let all go. I knew Gavin and Stacey really will not suffice.
It is more than ever, important today to record the History of Barry: From her humble beginnings to present day and the towns’ future. You are part of it all, history is not just the past, but begins the moment today ends. Your today is tomorrows past and your life is part of the present and future of the town. Whether you like it or not you are the present and the modern history.
By know if you have continued to read what may seem to be my ramblings, I implore you to not only make a difference, but also be seen to do the same. Barry as with other towns should record all of her sons and daughters and all of her residents, encourage visitors to the town and encompass all.
A Museum or Heritage Centre alone will never be enough to pay a full tribute to this town, but is a start – A new medium to remember a past, present and future. The concept should be a demand rather than a request by all.
So much of it is lost forever and will never be recovered, the artefacts are gone, with new a new remembrance hub, a people’s centre may still record hopefully memories of bygone Barry and the entire County’s past. Citizens now have the best possible chance to ensure a Vale Memory Centre and to be both part of the start of it and to be included in its birth.
Would the new “Barrians” be aware as would the original inhabitants of much of the past, So much on our doorsteps and in every attic that should be displayed and deserves a home. As said much is lost and gone forever. Apart from a stretch of Water, little remains of in its time a World Famous Dock, described in its time as the Gateway to the World!
How many would know that with the demise of shipping at Barry Docks, the Seaman’s’ Mission and Chapel finally closed. The Chapel Bell and Communion Wine Table (that was commissioned by the ships docked in Barry at the time of the Titanic disaster, as a memorial to the seamen that had been lost), were removed to St. Mary’s Church, Holton Road, Barry, when the doors of the church of the Missions church were finally closed.
That the former Steamship Duchess of Bedford later renamed Empress of France, On the 19th December 1960 left Liverpool for her final voyage to the breaker's John Cashmore of Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales. Her Empress bar was taken from the yard and was fitted at the Barry Hotel, Barry, Glamorgan in what for a time was known as the as the. Empress Room.
Barry has so much lost history that without a hoped for centre to recall all, much will eventually be lost forever, from the Paddle Steamer both built for and named after the town to Master Mariners such as Captain Cecil Foster of “SS. Trevessa fame, a local resident who’s actions then continues to save lives at sea today.
The life blood of Barry today exists as it did in past times, but is responsible now for recording all and faced with a better opportunity now than ever before to do more than just attend a remembrance paid for and built by those that cared then. In true Barry style we need to do similar ourselves now.
The Vale Heritage Centre Coalition is not a pipe dream, it needs all support to be achieved and is built upon a calling from the very history of our town, past, present and with a view to the future. It needs all support – It needs you.
K.
www.glamorganheritage.org/ 
