Llandudno

Read and share memories of Llandudno and Gwynedd inspired by Frith photos

Christ Church, Arvon Avenue

Does anyone have any memories or photgraphs of the church and or the church house next door? I know the Sheperd family lived in the house and that the Reverend Sheperd preached at the church, that's all I have (except that I know the church closed its doors as a place of worship a few years ago and nothing has happened to it since). Ken Edwards.
Contributed by ken edwards

Passing Place on the Upper Section, Great Orme Tramway

This is a photograph of two tramcars, Nos 6 & 7, at the passing loop above the Great Orme Mines. They are painted in the Dark Ochre livery which was only used for a few years after the upper line's opening in 1903. The haulage cables are clearly visible, these being of seven eigths of an inch diameter. They roll above ground on 12 inch sheaves and are guided by 'top hat' profiled pulleys. Every pulley requires greased lubrication on a daily basis, this being a backbreakingly unpleasant job. Without this, the cables would wear out quickly and would literally scream in protest! One can also see the two trolley poles mounted on each roof, these being used singly for signalling ...read more here
Contributed by John Owen

''Tram Crash on Tabor Hill''

On Tuesday, August 23rd 1932 there occurred at almost exactly the same spot from which this photo was taken, the most serious runaway and crash that ever ocurred on the line.

Car no. 4 broke away from the haulage cable at the spot that the tram is shown above. Rapidly gathering speed and toppling onto the wall to the left of the image, it uprooted a tramway standard (pole) flinging it up the lane by where the children are standing. The roof of the wildly canted tram crashed along the wall, this dislodged coping stones from the wall which fell into the tram causing passenger injuries. The driver, Edward Harris was thrown sideways from the front platform, into the wall ...read more here
Contributed by John Owen

Great Orme Railway, Ty Gwyn Road Passing Loop

The Great Orme Tramway is split into an upper and lower section at Halfway station. This photo is taken on the lower section at the middle passing place, situated on Ty Gwyn Road just above Black Gate. At this point, car 4 takes the outer rails to pass car 5 which passes on the hillward side. The roadway here is 'pinched' [ie it suddenly narrows] and has on occasion been the scene of minor crashes with cars heading downhill whose drivers have not taken into account the outward swing of the front of the tram. Despite safety road markings, the tram driver sounding his warning horn etc., the writer was conducting number 4 on the occasion of a brand new car ...read more here
Contributed by John Owen