BLAENLLECHAU PARK ( ORIGINS )

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The building of the park was instigated by the unemployed men of Blaen in 1935, Instead of doing nothing they decided to build a park
for the benefit of the children. A committee , chaired by Will Gardner the father of my brother in law Gerald,they lived at 5.Long Row.
The committee applied to the Commissioner of Special Areas to start the scheme and they were granted £1,295,5s,0.
Around one hundred men volunteered, to take part, forty were selected .The work took two years to be completed, there was no payment,
they were provided with working clothes, hobnail boots and one hot meal a day. The park remains today a shining example of community self help.
The unemployment benefit at that period was £1-6s -0 per week £1-30 ) for Man and Wife, and two shillings ( 10p ) for each child, and single
men 17 shillings ( 85p ). And they had to sign the dole the three times a week.