Recently through the good offices of my pal Diane Heirene I visited Val Adams of Epworth Road to look through albums of pictures collected by her late husband Peter.
Peter Adams was a Londoner and a big fan of Rhyl and the town’s history. Here are just a few examples of what I found among his pix:
Above: George Hotel on corner of Queen Street and Sussex Street. I would date this image as circa 1905 and it may well commemorate a renovation; The George existed further back in time.
[The publican's name if given as F.P. Arthur. I wonder if that could be the Frank Arthur whose newsagents shop carried the name for many decades and eventually became High Street News.]
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The George can be seen in the background of the following shot of a cart belonging to Williams & Co. bakers and grocers of No.2 Queen Street. Funny how horses always look elegant even when standing at ease.
Click on any picture to see a bigger version.
On your right in the horse-and-cart picture is the furniture store Rhydwen Jones & Davies whose main branch was in Llandudno; also the company had a store in Colwyn Bay.
On your right in the horse-and-cart picture is the furniture store Rhydwen Jones & Davies whose main branch was in Llandudno; also the company had a store in Colwyn Bay.
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A later period piece is this shot of a delivery van belonging to Roberts Queen Street bakery - same premises as above? The van looks decked out for a May Day parade:
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Now for for a Royal discovery. Cinema Royal, opened in 1920, was Rhyl's first purpose-built cinema (as distinct from existing buildings converted to cinema use). Pictures of Cinema Royal are not plentiful - I have never seen this one before:
Now for for a Royal discovery. Cinema Royal, opened in 1920, was Rhyl's first purpose-built cinema (as distinct from existing buildings converted to cinema use). Pictures of Cinema Royal are not plentiful - I have never seen this one before:
Here is a detail from the above:
At that time Cinema Royal was owned by Rhyl Entertainments Ltd; hence the posters for two of their other businesses: Queens Theatre and Plaza Cinema. Interesting to see traces of an old sign for a previous incarnation of F.W. Woolworth & Co.
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The late Peter Adams who collected these photos was a volunteer on Rhyl Lifeboat. Paul Frost MBE, who is the present Deputy 2nd Coxswain and Lifeboat Press Officer says, "Peter was my mentor when I started with the lifeboat in 1968, and I owe all my skills to Peter with regard to the RNLI. We went shrimping together for many years."
Peter lives on through his albums. It was a very interesting afternoon's visit. My thanks to his widow Val for her hospitality. After I left she found a couple of albums I had not seen, so I would hope to make a return visit in due course.
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These references are added here for indexing purposes: Nectar tea, Queen Street cycle shop, Golden Crust bread, bread for energy, Ashalls fashion corner.
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Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk
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