LAST week we visited Belle Vue Park, Newport, and received the following replies:

This is Newport’s Belle Vue park. In the far distance is the Transporter Bridge. At the bottom of the slope is the children’s play area but I seem to remember that the play area of my day was further to the left and the swings were parallel to the main Cardiff Road.

Then there used to be swings, see-saws, a slide and ‘witches hat’ roundabout. Beyond the swings were iron railings set on a wall that dropped down onto Cardiff Road. Across the road were railway lines and beyond them were the steel works of Whiteheads & Goddins.

Dave Woolven, Newport

This week’s pictures are of Belle Vue Park looking towards the Transporter Bridge (known to locals as “The Tranny”). My late father and I would go to the band concerts every Sunday afternoon when they were held during the summer months.

Jane O’Brien, Newport

The Now and Then picture is of Belle Vue Park. I grew up in Pill and we used to regularly go to the park and play on the slides and swings. There wasn’t a lot of traffic in those days and it was easy for us to jump over the railings. There used to be a tropical plant house, full of beautiful plants, and to us boys it seemed an oasis. I think the picture dates from the mid 1940s.

Clive Andrews, Newport

Memories from previous week – Pye Corner, High Cross:

South Wales Argus: NOW AND THEN: A scene from Newport

My 93-year-old aunt, Elizabeth Handcock (Betty) has sat with me this morning reminiscing over the old photo.

“These are pictures of Pye Corner in Bassaleg, Newport. The big white building is part of a ring of five cottages which were on the car park of the present day restaurant. I was born in the second house on the road in July 1920.

Occupants were the Haines, Williams, Huggins, Sillet and Willis families. We moved out to Duffryn Terrace (now Caerphilly Road) when I was about 6 or 7 and later the cottages were converted into just three houses.

I even wonder if the lady with the cart is Mrs Screen from Llanhennock who delivered garden produce, vegetables and eggs. What looks like a tower is the Bassaleg Junction railway signal box.

In World War II I worked at the junction as a Grade I porter and it was there I met Stanley Handcock, a train driver who would be my husband for almost 65 years.”

Marion Worth on behalf of Elizabeth Handcock, Newport