PARTING SHOTS

Most of my favourite old Rhyl images are already on Rhyl Life except the following which have been lying around waiting for a context. Before the blog closes to new posts, I present these images for no better reason than
I would hate to see them left out.

In this blog there have been already a couple of references to Professor Miller / Millar who operated Rhyl's first Punch and Judy booth on the prom opposite Queens Hotel. Here is the good professor up a ladder with a ventriloquist's doll:

The Queen's Palace dome dates the image as 1902-1907. A point of interest far left is a sign for 'Queens Mews' – haven't noticed that before.

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From a 2018 Internet auction: a rare and unaffordable postcard of putting greens at Botanical Gardens, undated, certainly before WW2 -

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The family snaps below are from a 1930s album belonging to George Robert Eden of Birmingham. Our 'continental' basket chairs, the pier, deckchairs - and a sandcastle - made very good props.

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Around 1960 at Ocean Beach Fun Fair there were two Big Wheels as shown below. This image is artificially coloured; the shed-like building shown with dark green  roof is the Playland arcade/cafe, and next door with brown roof is Ritz Ballroom:

I think the Big Wheel nearest to camera arrived first and departed first; it was a 'ferris wheel' made by Eli Bridge Company of USA and operated by Billy Williams. The wheel further away looks smaller but was in fact bigger and was owned by Rhyl Amusements Ltd.

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Here is a picture of the promenade paddling pool which had been built in 1920s as the Children's Lake for nippers to splash around in, sail toy boats and get cramp if the weather wasn't warm enough.

Some years ago in newspaper archives I found a reader's letter scorning "that montrosity they are building on the prom". The year was 1908 and he was referring to Rhyl Pavilion as shown above.

[I wouldn't go along with term "monstrosity" but it has to be said that the Pavilion was highly photogenic and looked better in postcard images than in reality.]

The summer show being advertised is 'A Night At The Varieties'. That happened to be the Pavilion's final show and therefore the date is 1972. The building was demolished in 1974.

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MON 9th APR 2018 UPDATE: In his book ‘Rhyl The Town And Its People’ (1970) the author J.W. Jones says of the Pavilion, “It isn’t beautiful – I have heard it described as more the design of an engineer than an architect – but neither is it ugly. Perhaps its best description is one which I have already used, ‘striking’.

“I have seen it against a moonlit sky when it had some aesthetic appeal, but in the cold light of day one has to admit that it looks ‘heavy’, for want of a more descriptive word.”

Mr. Jones goes on to list some of the stars that appeared in concert there, including the following whose visits have not been mentioned previously in this blog:

Madame Melba (Dame Nellie Melba) -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Melba

Paderewski -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignacy_Jan_Paderewski

Jose Collins -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Collins

Dance band leader/clarinettist Harry Roy; Forces' Sweetheart Vera Lynn and Shirley Bassey.

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FLASHBACK #21

No, I haven't forgotten about Rhyl. I am in the process of tagging pictures in this blog to make them easier to find on Google Images etc. There are well over 2,000 to be done so progress is slow.

Meanwhile here are a couple more Botanical Gardens cards. The first is postmarked 1930; the other is undated but feels pre-1950:

Click on a picture to see a bigger version.

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FRI 20th JAN 2017 UPDATE: This undated card fits in well here. Grange Road in the background and cafe on your right:

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SAT 10th MAR 2018: Here is a rounded view of the water lily pond, an artificially coloured card postmarked 1947:

By local artist J.A. Elliott-Jones, a drawing of the Rose Garden. I never promised you one.

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QUIZ ANSWER # 160

Quiz Question # 160 was the last in this second series of the quiz. It comprised the following eight questions:

1. Below is a photo taken not many years ago. The building's name has been obscured by black dots.
The question: What is the missing name?

2. Below is a group of Edwardian gentlemen and a lady outside a Rhyl building.

The question: What is the name of the building?

3. Below is a shot taken in January this year. On nearest side is The Bike Hub, on far side is The Harbour Hub Cafe.

The question: What is the building inbetween used for?

4. Below is a photo of unknown date taken in the London Transport area.
The question: What has it got to do with Rhyl?

Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

5. Above is a part of a photo of unknown date, obviously not recent.

The question: Where in Rhyl was it taken?

6. Above is a shot taken this year with a place name blanked out.
The question: What is the missing name?

7. Above is an image of a Crosville bus loading in High Street.

The question: Would the nearest date be 1930, 1940, 1950 or 1960?

8. The above is part of a photograph taken this year.
The question: Where in Rhyl would you see this construction?

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HERE ARE THE ANSWERS:

1.  The Abbey Vaults (in Abbey Street). Photo supplied by Dave Williams. Thanks Dave!

2.  The original Rhyl Pavilion. Photo was taken in 1908 on opening day. Here is the full picture; the gent in the light-coloured trilby hat would be Lord Mostyn, L.N.V. Lloyd-Mostyn the 3rd Baron Mostyn (1856-1929):

   
3.  Harbour Master. Behind the black dots are signs saying Harbwr Feistr/Harbour Master. Photo taken in January 2016 by Fred Burns.

4.  The white coach belonged to Brookes Bros of Rhyl. It is a Leyland Lioness with registration number DM6228.

5.  Grange Court (near Rhyl High School).

6.  The Conservatory, Botanical Gardens. Here is the picture complete with its caption:

7.  1950. The image of a bus loading in High Street is an amateur shot dated 1950.
   
8.  Westbourne Avenue. Here's a wider view of the construction:

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Scoring 1 win for each correct answer plus 2 wins for getting all 8 right:
Jane Shuttle 10, The Great Gareth 10, Dilys Bagnall 5, Richard & Ceri Swinney 10, Sue Handley 4.

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PHOTOSHOOT AT THE BRICKIE

The large pond and nature reserve on the former Brickworks site in Rhyl South West is a popular destination for walks and a pleasant place to while away a summer afternoon.

According to Denbighshire Countryside Services who look after the site, the name is Pwll y Brickfield or Brickfield Pond (the singular form) although people tend to say Brickfields (plural).

To fuel the confusion, both the singular form and plural are used on signs at the site. Oh, what’s in a name? Let’s settle for The Brickie.

Last month my pal Fred Burns the photographer popped over to there on my behalf and took a set of pictures which I have edited for my YouTube channel RhylTime.

To see shots from The Brickie in a slideshow please click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmE5IQdm-Fg

YouTube is a bit of a jumble. Only the videos marked RhylTime are mine.

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SEAFRONT EAST

The eastern side of the seafront, far from noisy attractions in the west, has a relaxing atmosphere preferred perhaps by older residents and visitors.

Below: Sandhills that used to be at the east end of the beach. Eventually these were removed by Flintshire council. Some observers felt sad to see this natural part of the landscape disappear.

The following snapshot of an unknown family is dated 1929 and has East Parade in the background. Love the cloche hats - I do wish they would come back into fashion!

Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

Spaces on eastern prom for exercise on bowling greens and tennis courts shown below, and there was swimming at The Baths (see under the label SWIMMING on your left near top of this page).

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This rare pre-WW2 item shows the Sportsland amusement arcade in East Parade, near to High Street. The picture came from Peter Trehearn; the arcade was run by his maternal grandfather (his mum's dad) Bernard Bestwick who also had an arcade in Barmouth.

Mr. Bestwick's other business in Rhyl included the Joyland amusement arcade in Queen Street, and silver plating factories in Bedford Street and off Vale Road. Here is a photo of him from Peter's collection:

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The postcard below shows the prom east of the pier just as I remember it as a kid in early 1950s. On your left are chalets that were for hire if you preferred a little more privacy by the seaside - and could afford it.

Below from Rhyl History Club is an image showing the Floral Hall being built at the end of the 1950s, and from my own collection a later image of the gardens outside what was - by then - the Royal Floral Hall.

These postcards of the Rock Gardens and hotels in East Parade including the Westminster have a 1960s/70s period charm:

You know I would end with a donkeys picture, didn't you?

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These references are added here for indexing purposes: Marine Drive, super speedway.

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Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

Don't forget my YouTube channel featuring Rhyl videos and slideshows. The channel is named RhylTime. Click here to see RhylTime's Top Ten:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BKgZiQNRSaVpnyTl8PgEpPusmd3dl_z

Only YouTube items labelled RhylTime are mine.

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GERDDI HEULWEN

Occasionally I receive enquiries about the progress of environmental improvements in the Aquarium Street area. The new green space that replaces some of the former jungle of bedsitters and flatlets is named Gerddi Heulwen which translates as Sunshine Gardens!

These shots was taken yesterday (Sunday) by Yours Truly. Shown above is the John Street end of the park, and below is the Abbey Street end.

Even though the work is unfinished, Westenders use Gerddi Heulwen already as a shortcut to and from town, or a place to sit and contemplate the meaning of life, or an arena for substance addicts to shriek obscene insults at each other.

Meanwhile, efforts continue to drag Abbey Street into the 21st century:

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Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

See my Rhyl videos on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RhylTime

Only the videos marked RhylTime are mine!

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CORONATION & BOTANICAL GARDENS

Last month, just before school hols, my pal Fred Burns the photographer and I took a walk from Vale Road across Coronation Gardens (playing field) and through Botanical Gardens to Grange Road, with Fred taking photos on the way.

The Botanical Gardens have their roots in Victorian times. More recently they figured prominently in composite postcards with Rhyl Pavilion and other attractions; there were frequent buses from the town centre.

Since then the site has had its ups and downs. A recent innovation there
is a community horticultural project run by a voluntary group named Botanical Gardens Enterprises:

In general it is clear that current budget cuts have taken a toll on the gardens but they are worth a visit. They are run by volunteers from Rhyl South West Central Residents’ Association who do a jolly good job with only minimum resources.

To see a slideshow of Fred’s photos on my YouTube channel please click on the following link. YouTube can be a bit of a jumble – only the videos labelled RhylTime are mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SaIa6sHFik

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SUN 15th NOV 2015 UPDATE: David Thomas has written to say that the community horticultural project is now on Facebook as Botanical Gardens Enterprises Ltd. Dave also says the project has a website:
www.botanicalgardensenterprises.org.uk

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QUIZ ANSWER # 104

Last Sunday I posted the above showing four people who were in Rhyl during the 1940s.

The question: With what association/club/company/group/organisation were they associated?

The answer: Manchester Repertory Company.
The Manchester Rep were in residence at Rhyl Pavilion during World War 2 and afterwards. They were also known as Pavilion Theatre Repertory Club; their Secretary was Joe Holroyd who went on to establish Rhyl's Little Theatre Club.
The four prominent members illustrated above are W. Armitage Owen a World War 1 veteran and playwright from Oldham (top left), Edna Morris (top right), Dorothy Edwards (bottom left), Reginald Barlow (bottom right).

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Also I posted this picture of a man who was a significant figure around here for a quarter of a century.
The question: Who is he?

The answer: Nigel Birch.
He was our Member of Parliament from 1945 until 1970 after which he was created a life peer as Lord Rhyl (also known as Baron Rhyl). The picture is a BBC photo from 1968.

June Turner writes, "Nigel Birch was a Conservative MP. My husband Roy and I met him often at Westminster Hotel, Rhyl, where there were monthly party meetings and guest speakers. Nigel's wife Esmé was always with him and she was from aristocracy but she had no airs and graces. They were both well-educated and most interesting to talk to. They lived in Holywell. He drove a yellow Austin car."

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Also I posted the following photo taken in Rhyl this year. The question: In what street/road/avenue would you find this scene?

The answer: Vale Road.

Left of the entrance to Coronation Gardens you would find these disused toilets. Well, I like this blog to encompass every aspect of life in Rhyl.

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Scoring a win with a correct answer to at least two of the three questions: Geoff Hughes, The Great Gareth, and Richard & Ceri Swinney.

Geoff is a late starter and has won three weeks out of three. Gareth leads with 34 wins, and Richard & Ceri are in clear second place with 31.

For more info about playwright W. Armitage Owen please click here:

http://www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk/ArchiveWebPages/WarWeb/OwenWA.html

More about politician Nigel Birch can be found on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Birch,_Baron_Rhyl

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PAIRING UP

This post pulls together pairs of pictures that have not appeared here before. Firstly, the statue that now stands with its back to the sea in the Garden of Remembrance, is shown below in its two previous positions.

The colour card shows the statue where it was first erected, near the old Pavilion and facing the sea. This is postmarked 1918.

The other card shows the statue in its second home, just west of the pier and Amphitheatre, close to the top of High Street and again facing the sea. It is postmarked 1932.

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

Above: Botanical Gardens, Grange Road, Rhyl. The sepia card showing the 'entrance' is undated. The colour card is postmarked 1966.

Below: Gardens outside the Royal Floral Hall on eastern promenade. The black-and-white card is postmarked 1962. The colour card is undated:

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The following shots were taken in 2013 by Yours Truly.

Firstly, P.A. (Percy) Thomas & Sons, 18 Wellington Road, not far from High Street. This shop is for sale but still open for business:

Marks & Spencer at 63 High Street, Rhyl, closed down in March 2013.
The premises are now occupied by Poundland.

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SAT 18th JUL 2015 UPDATE: While we are thinking in pairs, how about these two images from Rhyl History Club showing men at work?

The first is a 1966 shot of demolition in High Street between Boots chemist and Marks & Spencer. Second is a 1955 shot of the Woolworth building being erected on corner of High Street and East Parade (now B&M): 

We think of the Woolworth/B&M building as being in High Street but its address is actually 1-7 East Parade.

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