“Colwyn Bay is a new town in that it was created only about 165 years ago after the railway was built and the local landowner, Sir David Erskine, died. These two events opened the land to wealthy families from across the border in England who arrived with their families and servants and built spacious houses. The area was seen as beneficial to people’s health, while the exceptional beauty of the surrounding countryside attracted holiday makers in their hundreds.
Like many other seaside towns, for a while, Colwyn Bay lost its way after the Second World War when people’s aspirations, wealth and circumstances changed. Today however it still retains its Victorian buildings and has been enhanced with a modern shopping centre, the erection of good quality homes, an exciting zoo and a spirit of optimism.”
This quotation is from the back cover of the book.
What this doesn’t tell you is that when you open this book you enter a wonderful collection of “before and after” photographs of Colwyn Bay. Inside this book you can see where long since demolished buildings once stood and where important events in the town’s history took place.
This book also shows you that much of Colwyn Bay’s history is still there. If you look up at many of the town’s buildings they remain unchanged. For example, Ivy House was Colwyn Bay’s first house, built in 1865. Have a look at the two photographs on page 61, the upper parts of the building itself have changed very little.
This is an enjoyable, valuable collection of photographs of Colwyn Bay showing the often rapid development of the town.
This book is available for loan or purchase from Colwyn Bay Library.
Graham Roberts: Colwyn Bay Through Time: Amberley Publishing: 2009: 1848686773.
