Wednesday 13 April 2016

FLASHBACK #18


A few days ago a reader supplied this item. It is a photo of the northern end of High Street, Rhyl.

Left of centre is the Royal Hotel on corner of Sussex Street; the story is that the Royal sold most of its ground to provide space for building the Plaza Cinema. The Piazza restaurant stands on that corner now.

[Incidentally I see The Piazza listed in some places as 24 High Street and others as 10 Sussex Street. Good luck, historians of the future.]

In the photo, outside the hotel there is a kiosk that looks like a booking office of some kind. Even more interesting perhaps is the half-hidden poster attached to the railings, which seems to say: Adeler … / Pie … / Olympi … / Opp … / Dail …

Piecing out its imperfections, this becomes Adeler & Sutton’s Pierrots / Olympian Gardens / Opposite the pier / Daily at ...

The poster indicates that the scene must be before 1909 when Edwin Adeler gave up; twist my arm and I’ll say circa 1906. You can read more about Adeler & Sutton’s Pierrots in Bill Ellis’ book Entertainment in Rhyl And North Wales pages 17-19.

Across the road from the hotel, in the same position as it is today is W.H. Smith. This company was the first chain store in the world - not many people know that.

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FRI 5th MAY 2017 UPDATE: Recently arrived here at Jones Towers is this image of that kiosk outside the Royal Hotel. It is a coaching office, a booking office for trips on F. & J. Heathcote's horse drawn coaches.

F. & J. Heathcote's horse drawn coach trips


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KEN TREHEARN


Rhyl Life notes with much regret that Ken Trehearn formerly of Vern’s Amusements in West Parade (pictured above) passed away on Saturday 30th March 2016. Here is a link to Ken’s obituary in Daily Post:

Picture from Rhyl History Club.

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