The man to blame for Rhyl is Emperor Napoleon 1, of France. His wars against other continental countries made Europe an unsafe destination for British tourists.
The demand for more resorts in Britain grew accordingly. That was the main thrust behind the development of Rhyl and Llandudno - two new resorts that grew up more or less at same time.
Napoleon's wars were over by 1815, but by then the township of Rhyl was getting on its feet and our first hotels appeared in the 1820s.
No Napoleon would have meant no Napoleonic wars, no demand for more resorts in Britain, no rise of Rhyl, no fall of Rhyl and therefore no aftermath of social problems in the town.
Now you know who to blame.
--
