Abergele
Abergele maps (2 available)
Map of Clwyd
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
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Abergele memories
Read and share memories of Abergele and Clwyd inspired by Frith photos
Harold
I grew up in Abergele and I remember a man called Harold. He was a sort of 'tramp' I use this word rather in caution because he lived in a small shack by Slaters on what is now the Tesco car park. He helped out at the cattle market which was again sighted where Teso'c is now. As a boy I was a little afraid of him because he tended to be a little erratic which was not surpising considering the boys used to hound him. He cut a rather sad figure and I reckon he must have been around my age now (50 ish). I left Abergele in the 80's and I wonder what became of him. One epsode I ...read more here
Contributed by john england
Clwyd memories
Harold
I grew up in Abergele and I remember a man called Harold. He was a sort of 'tramp' I use this word rather in caution because he lived in a small shack by Slaters on what is now the Tesco car park. He helped out at the cattle market which was again sighted where Teso'c is now. As a boy I was a little afraid of him because he tended to be a little erratic which was not surpising considering the boys used to hound him. He cut a rather sad figure and I reckon he must have been around my age now (50 ish). I left Abergele in the 80's and I wonder what became of him. One epsode I ...read more here
A memory of Abergele contributed by john england
Aunt Jane's house
The date is approximate. I was very young, about 6 at the time. I lived with my family in a village called Sandycroft, about 7 miles from Chester. We visited my great Aunt Jane who lived in one of the middle cottages in this picture. I remember a very small kitchen and her buttering an uncut loaf of bread liberally, then slicing it very finely for our tea. Afterwards we walked up the steep hill next to the row of cottages. I remember looking down on the cottages from the top of the hill. It seemed a mammoth walk for small legs. This is a very strong memory. My grandfather's family came from Llandulas nearby. These are my Welsh roots. I ...read more here
A memory of Rhyd-Y-Foel contributed by Carol Posnett
Not the marble church
Pete B in his message dated 6.3.2008 has headlined the picture of the church in Towyn as 'Marble Church?'. I believe that the Marble Church is actually in Bodelwyddan.
A memory of Towyn contributed by Julia Skinner
Extracts From Abergele & Clwyd books
This pleasant market town lies just inland from the chalets and caravans of the ‘honky-tonk’ north coast between Rhyl and Colwyn Bay. It is close to quiet wooded hills, and to Gwyrch Castle, a battlemented mock castle built in the early 19th century. This street is so free from traffic that a dog can sun himself in the roadway. Note the bolts of fabric outside D G Roberts & Co, ‘Drapers, Silk Mercers, Hatters, established 1842’.
An extract from from"North Wales Photographic Memories".
This unidentified ford is possibly located where the A55 expressway now passes the town. The water level seems very low, luckily for the lady with the long skirts.
An extract from from"North Wales Photographic Memories".
Only 5 years after photograph No 23331, D G Roberts have expanded: their shopfront is longer and fronted by a mini-arcade, and they now have a first-floor showroom with a plate-glass window. The town consists of this single wide street, running about a mile from the shore. Tradesmen’s carts are much in evidence in this view. Although there are several changes to the street, the town hall is still a landmark.
An extract from from"North Wales Photographic Memories".
Barclays Bank, which has by now replaced part of the terrace on the left, dates from 1924: it is a typical example of the pretentious architecture beloved of banks. Regardless of the unsympathetic way it clashes with the rest of the street, the bank goes all out to impress. The timber-framed building on the right was built in 1906 as a temperance club. The spire of the former town hall, built in 1867, is a recognisable landmark. Market day was Saturday in Victorian times.
An extract from from"North Wales Photographic Memories".
This scene has altered little since the picture was captured. Cars can still spill onto the beach, and small cafés still provide small-scale refreshments to visitors, although a sea defence has been added since. The popularity of the north coast beaches and the advent of mass tourism led to the stretch of coastline between Rhyl and Colwyn Bay being almost totally occupied with caravan sites, amusement arcades, bingo halls and similar outlets of a new popular culture.
An extract from from"Wales Living Memories".