CARDIFFREMEMBERED Smuggling to tourism, new book uncovers secrets of Island life

THOUSANDS of Cardiffians like myself will have happy memories of their parents taking them on the train to Barry Island.

Just mention the name Barry Island and memories of The Ghost Train, the Laughing Policeman, the Scenic Railway, donkey rides and the What The Butler Saw machines all come flashing back.

And those of you wanting to know more about this unforgettable seaside resort should avail themselves of Secret Barry Island by twins Mark and Jonathan Lambert, lifelong residents of Barry Island.

As it says in the blurb of this wellillustrated 96-page book, it offers a unique insight into this fascinating seaside resort in the Vale of Glamorgan, delving into the lesser-known past.

Without giving too much away, did you know that during a heavy storm in 1987 an interesting discovery of 12 merida-type pottery vessels was made in the tidal sands of Jackson Bay?

Did you know that smuggling was endemic along the entire coastline of Britain and that Barry Island became a notorious place where custom officials feared to tread?

Did you know that, although the name Friars Point has been in existence from at least the late 18th Century, there is no evidence for a friary having existed on Barry Island?

And did you know that in the summer of 1876, JD Treharne utilised his pier to transport 12,000 day-trippers to Barry Island via boat?

This well-researched book by Amberley Press, (published priced