Opticians / Optegwyr

Residents of the Fishguard area have relied on several opticians over the years for eye care. Here is an attempt to chronicle some of the details.

The County Echo for the 21-4-1904, carries an advert for J G Martin, Watchmaker, Jeweller and Optician at London House, Fishguard Square. It may be that the optical services he offered might have been quite general as he also traded as a newsagent and stationer. At this time, a pair of spectacles was considered a suitable and useful gift for a friend. Mr John Thomas of Penrhiw, Puncheston was gifted a Bible commentary and gold spectacles by the members of Smyrna Chapel in 1904, as appreciation of his work with the Sunday School. (County Echo 14-4-1904)

When the lighthouse at Strumble Head was completed in January 1908, it was noted in the press that the lighthouse keepers were required to wear spectacles with blue lenses to protect their eyes from the damaging effects of the light.

In 1908, D Augustus Davies was advertising his services as a chemist and optician at Newport (see details above) However, he also provided spectacles for Fishguard folk….

“Removal.  Mr D Augustus Davies, optician, of Newport (Pem), has removed his Fishguard consulting rooms to the house occupied by Mrs Richardson, immediately opposite to the Temperance Hall. Mr Davies is a thoroughly-qualified member of his profession, and it is sincerely to be trusted that the enterprise which he has displayed in launching a local branch may be attended by a full measure of support.”(The County Echo 28-10-1909)

In 1922, Mr B R Lewis took over the chemist shop on Fishguard Square where Boots is today. He offered optical tests and spectacles at his shop. From the 1930s onwards, the pharmacist Mr Tom Williams operated as an optician from his shop at No 12, Main Street. Mr. Tom Marcangelo was next, opening a practice at Hamilton St and then at no 2, Castle Hill in the 1970s. He had musical sons named Nicholas and Richard and the sound of a tinkling piano was often to be heard while eye examinations took place. 

Then, between 1978 – 1984 Ian Hunter became Fishguard’s resident optometrist at Castle Hill.  He was a member of the lifeboat crew, and a “D Class” vessel called “Team Effort” served at Fishguard between 2007-2015. Over half of its cost (£29,000) was raised by Ian Hunter through the Association of Optometrists. Mr Hunter became General Secretary of the association of Optometrists and was awarded an OBE in 2005 for his services to Optometry.

In 1984, Sally and Michael Charlton came to Fishguard and set up their practice at Castle Hill. In the early 1990s, they moved the business across the road and further down on the Golden Mile to 27 West St.  At the premises where Mr Cliff Evans had previously kept a men’s outfitters – ‘The Man’s Shop’,  Mr & Mrs Charlton relocated. After a period, they bought the premises to the left, (where Mr & Mrs Keating had previously kept a small cafe), and created one large optician’s practice where there had previously been two shops. Sally and Michael Charlton are celebrating forty years in business in Fishguard this year (2024).

Mae trigolion ardal Abergwaun wedi dibynnu ar sawl optegydd dros y blynyddoedd ar gyfer gofal llygaid. Dyma geisio rhoi ychydig o’u hanes.

Roedd y County Echo ar gyfer 21-4-1904 yn cynnwys hysbyseb ar gyfer J G Martin, Gwneuthurwr watsys, Gemydd ac Optegydd yn London House, ar Sgwâr Abergwaun. Mae’n bosib i’r gwasanaethau optegol a gynigiai fod yn eithaf cyffredinol gan ei fod hefyd yn masnachu fel gwerthwr papurau newydd a deunyddiau ysgrifennu. Yn y cyfnod hwn, ystyriwyd pâr o sbectol yn anrheg addas a defnyddiol i ffrind. Derbyniodd Mr John Thomas, Penrhiw, Casmael gyfrol o sylwadau Beiblaidd a phâr o sbectol aur gan aelodau Capel Smyrna yn 1904, fel gwerthfawrogiad o’i waith gyda’r Ysgol Sul. (County Echo 14-4-1904)

Pan orffenwyd adeiladu y goleudy ym Mhencaer yn Ionawr 1908, nodwyd yn y wasg ei bod yn ofynnol i geidwaid y goleudy wisgo sbectol â lensys glas i amddiffyn eu llygaid rhag effeithiau niweidiol y golau.

Yn 1908, roedd D Augustus Davies yn hysbysebu ei wasanaeth fel fferyllydd ac optegydd yn Nhydrath (Gwelir yr hysbyseb uchod) Yn fuan, dechreuodd ddarparu spectol ar gyfer cwsmeriaid yn Abergwaun hefyd.

“Symud = Mae Mr D Augustus Davies,
optegydd, Trefdraeth,    wedi symud ei ystafelloedd
ymgynghori yn Abergwaun i’r  
tŷ lle mae Mrs Richardson, yn union gyferbyn â’r Neuadd Ddirwestol. Y mae Mr Davies yn aelod cymwys o’i broffesiwn, a mawr hyderwn y bydd y fenter a ddangosodd wrth lansio cangen leol, yn cael cefnogaeth llawn.”  ( The County Echo 28-10-1909)

Yn 1922, cymrodd y fferyllydd Mr B R Lewis y siop lle mae Boots heddi. Roedd yn cynnig profion llygad ac yn gwerthu spectol. 0’r 1930au ymlaen, cynigwyd gwasanaeth optegol gan y fferyllydd, Mr Tom Williams. Roedd  yn gweithredu o’i siop yn rhif 12, Stryd y Cwm. Wedyn, daeth Mr T Marcangelo i agor busnes yn Hamilton St ac wedyn Castle Hill yn y 70au. Roedd ganddo feibion cerddorol o’r enw Nicholas a Richard. Daeth Ian Hunter i wasanaethu’r ardal fel optegydd yn Castle Hill rhwng 1978-1984.
Gwelodd 1984 Sally a Michael Charlton yn cyrraedd Abergwaun gan sefydlu busnes yn Castle Hill. Ar ddechrau’r 90au, symudwyd y busnes ar draws y ffordd ac ymhellach i lawr y Wesh. Lle y bu Mr Cliff Evans yn gwerthu dillad dynion yn ‘The Man’s Shop’, agorwyd y practis optegol newydd. Wedi cyfnod, prynodd Mr a Mrs Charlton yr adeilad i’r chwith, lle y bu Mr & Mrs Keating yn cadw caffi fach, a chreu un siop optegydd fawr lle y bu dwy siop fach gynt. Mae Sally a Michael Charlton yn dathlu deugain mlynedd mewn busnesau yn Abergwaun eleni (2024).