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Old Colwyn
Old Colwyn maps
Historic maps of Old Colwyn and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Old Colwyn maps
Old Colwyn area books
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Memories of Old Colwyn
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memories of Old Colwyn.
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Whose Bus Is This ???
This early motor wagonette was probably operated by J. Fred Francis from Colwyn Bay to Old Colwyn for a three-penny fare until the coming of the Trams in March 1915. It succeeded a two horse omnibus which ran between the two locations eight times daily until about 1907. The horse bus was painted green and is likely to have been purchased and constructed in the Manchester area circa 1895-8
Francis was one of the road transport pioneers of motor driven vehicles in the North Wales area. Within ten years of this date he was operating silver painted 'torpedo' charabancs to locations throughout the area, to Bettws y coed and Caernarfon etc. His early bus services were [almost literally !] overtaken by buses of the London & North Western Railway which ran between Colwyn Bay and Old Colwyn from 1912 -14 at a reduced fare of only tuppence !
What a shame the man on his bicycle is obscuring the registration number of the bus !!! My grandmother,... Read more
The Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Tramway in Old Colwyn
What an interesting photograph of a grey painted tram heading for the 'Queens Hotel' terminus which was just over half of a mile away.
It would take just over five minutes and three tramstops to reach the terminus where, the brakes would be wound on full to counteract the falling gradient there. The conductor would hold on to the trolley pole rope, pull it down and tie it down to the front bumper. He would then untie the other trolley pole rope at the Penmaenhead end and carefully allow the trolley head to rise upward into contact with the overhead wire.
He'd then have to check for any lost property left in the car from the last journey before entering on his waybill the numbers of tickets that he'd sold since his journey had commenced.
Maybe he had time for a quick, illicit cigarette with the driver. No chance if they thought an Inspector was around !
Photos of the trams when they ran in Old... Read more
The Donkey Path
Re The Donkey path. I think Joanne is wrong - I know the embankment you speak of, there used to be a miniature railway which ran along the bottom of the embankment from the Prom entrance of Erias Park along to the Pier. The Donkey Path went/goes from opposite the Marine Hotel in Old Colwyn down to the beach, it branched off towards Glan Y Don and the Civic Centre to the rear of the Police HQ. It was so called as a Donkey was raffled to raise money for the making the path.
The Donkey Path to The Beach
Does anyone remember the `Donkey Path`? The fairy glen looks vaguely familiar but I was very young and can`t remember details. My aunt and family lived in one of the beautiful houses overlooking the beach in Old Colwyn. The houses were knocked down when the bypass was introduced to the town. My aunt emigrated to Australia after that.
I just remember an exciting time going for walks along the donkey path to the beach. Thinking of it now I can almost smell the seaside.
Penmaenrhos Quarry
Penmaenrhos Quarry closedi n 1963.
Does anyone have any pictures of it or the quarry boats?
I am producing a book and would be pleased to hear from anyone.
Clwyd memories
Pwll-Y-Crochan Woods
My late father was born in Colwyn Bay and his father and some of his relatives resided in Grove Park. Every year my parents and my siblings had to visit the relatives, especially one we called Aunty Polly who I think was really called Mary but because she was always polishing and cleaning, my mother referred to her as 'Polly Panshine' and the nickname stuck. She had a huge bowl of false waxed fruit in her hallway and used to love offering us an apple, pear or orange, knowing we always forgot it wasn't real! We loved going for walks in the beautiful, and magical (as we children thought) Pwll-y-Crochan woods. We used to be very quiet whilst walking because then we saw rabbits running here and there, and could hear the birds twittering in the trees. We used to frighten ourselves to death believing there may be ghosties around in the darker parts of the woods, but of course, it was all a figment of our own imaginations! I... Read more
Little Green Buses Along The Prom.
For many years, Colwyn Bay U.D.C. ran a bus service along the promenade from Old Colwyn to just beyond the former pier at Rhos on Sea. Commencing in 1926, a small fleet of 5 'Guy' BB type vehicles with covered top 'toastrack' bodies ran in service during the late spring to early autumn tourist season. While the normal requirement was for two vehicles to maintain a half-hourly service, when the weather drew tourists to the beautiful beach in their many thousands, all of the vehicles were pressed into service.
Five conventionally sided small buses, (of 'Guy' Wolf type) were taken into stock in the period 1934/7 with another in 1949. By 1954 all of the pre-war vehicles were in a 'tired' condition and they were replaced by three Bedford OLAZ type with bodywork of a spartan nature by Spurlings. By 1960 the last of the old 'Guy' vehicles was on its last legs (wheels ??) and the opportunity was taken to purchase two further lightweight Bedfords of similar specification... Read more
