Thursday, 5 February 2009

THE CROSS

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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The point where Wellington Road and Russell Road meet High Street used to be known as ‘The Cross’. The two photographs above were taken from there.

AT THE TOP: an Edwardian-looking scene with boys wearing knickerbockers, baggy knee trousers popular in the early 20th century. We are looking from High Street down Wellington Road. There are trees outside the town hall! The picture was supplied to me by Councillor Michael Espley of Foryd ward (thanks, Mike) and in 2008 it was touched up and restored by photographer Geoff Abbott.

BELOW: at the Cross a quarter of a century later I would guess, looking up High Street towards the sea. In the foreground left, above the ‘Wellington Road’ sign is an advert on the side of Evans’ Clwydian Restaurant which was in business a long time. I can remember climbing the stairs to Evans’ Cafe (as we called it) decades later and the lovely smell of bread and cakes baked on the premises.

Opposite is a Maypole grocer's shop, and passing by is what looks to be a White Rose open-topped charabanc. The White Rose Garage was in East Parade, just round the corner from High Street; the present day White Rose Centre carries its name. Facing the top of the street in a position where today we would expect to see the clock tower, is a drinking-water fountain on the promenade.
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