This is an edited version of an article about Anglesey in general, and Aberffraw in particular, which appeared in ‘Illustrated’ magazine in September 1949.  Aberffraw is featured as the poorest village on the Isle of Anglesey. It is written in a style that would not be acceptable today. It is somewhat condescending but it reflects the prevailing attitudes of the time - well meaning and patronising, but also looking forward to a better future.

Illustrated, September 10th 1949  

The Island of Yesterday - Anglesey

Anglesey's once prosperous towns and villages are decaying through neglect. Now the Planners have stepped in with ambitious blueprints to give birth to ‘The Island of Tomorrow’. 

Water is scarce in many villages. In Aberffraw, women must make long journeys to the few available pumps.

Before meeting the leading characters in this little drama, let us set the stage and rough out a few programme notes. In the days when princes and druids built their castles and chapels in Anglesey, there to brood and dream wild Celtic dreams of regaining their independence, this island, cut from the mainland by the narrow Menai Straits, was indeed Mon, Mam Cymru - Anglesey, Mother of Wales. Here, as the world grew older, the farmers prospered, and every labourer and craftsman worth his hire found honest employment.

Sand dunes, now playgrounds for children, are to be reclaimed for forestry, giving work to Aberffraw men.

But some fifty years ago, at the turn of the century, the island went into decline. The ports, with the exception of Holyhead crumbled gently into the sea. Nearly half the insured population became unemployed. Throughout the island the tale of ruin and deterioration, of the gnawing fear and bitter reality of unemployment, repeats itself.

A dark passage between two tumbledown cottages in Aberffraw frames two neighbours. Without water, light or proper sanitation they live in crowded houses at low rents. They fear that new rents will be too high.

Enter the planners. Until the Town and Country Act became operative in 1947 planning and building was a free-for-all affair. Factories could be built on beauty spots and homes could collapse or sprawl in jerry-built disorder, according to an owner’s whim. In July 1947 the planning staff of the counties and county boroughs were given almost unlimited freedom in designing and changing the face of the country.

In Aberffraw, an old outdoor shed has been converted into a 'kitchen' . The lady in the photograph says that she would welcome a better house but could not afford it.

This is how things are working out in Anglesey. The Act required that an outline plan was put together with preliminary surveys leading up to the final County Plan. In the preparation of the Plan the planning staff had to take into consideration the life of the island, which is made up basically of agriculture, holiday trade, and - a long way behind - industry. They hope to attract industry into the island, and by other methods, such as afforestation, create fuller means for employment. “But we must bear in mind that we will be bringing change to many people who never turned on a tap or switched on a light in their lives. Many of these people resent the threat to uproot their homes; strong sentimental ties bind them to damp, insanitary cottages.” said Mr L.J. Slatter, the County Planning Officer.

Food has to be carried across the street from her makeshift kitchen. This lady would welcome a better house but could not afford it. Her rent is 3 shillings per week.(3s = 15p and 3s in 1949 is worth £3.66 in 2007 value terms.)

So the planners decided to meet the people. They went to the blackest spot of all on the Island of Anglesey, the village of Aberffraw, where three-quarters of the 127 houses are in such a state that the health of the people is imperilled. A new village is planned, and to show the villagers of Aberfrraw their future houses the planners take along their model to give a practical demonstration of the scheme, but many villagers have a sentimental attachment for their tumbledown homes.

County Planning Officer, Mr. L. J. Slatter, displaying his model of Aberffraw, and points out future amenities.