A collection of photographs of Colwyn Bay and the surrounding areas showing the changes through the years.
Volume 1 contains over 350 photographs. As could perhaps be expected, volume 1 begins with the opening of the pier in 1900 and the development of the promenade and the entertainment that once was an essential part of a seaside holiday. This volume also contains views of many of the town’s shopping streets: Station Road, Penrhyn Road and Abergele Road. Some of their once famous shops are recorded here. For example, in 1911 Daniel Allen & Sons of Station Road were the sole North Wales agents for Liberty & Co. of London.
The now demolished Colwyn Bay Hotel can also be seen here – it boasted 92 bedrooms, 365 windows and scarlet uniformed porters who collected guests’ luggage from the railway station. A & F Wrigley were photographers in the town who, during the 1940s and 50s, used a converted St. John’s Ambulance to develop and print proofs of wedding photographs.
Volume 2 contains over 325 photographs. Lord Colwyn was the town’s first Charter Mayor and can be seen here undertaking his many duties during the Charter Celebrations of 1934.
Many of the photographs of the Wireless College are from the 1950s and 60s and were loaned by former students now living all over the world. Pat Collins’ much loved amusement park is also remembered with many photographs of the rides, including the Gallopers, the ghost train and the dodgems.
This volume also contains a chapter about the Colwyn Bay Hotel. But this hotel stood on the Penmaenhead headland and was once called the Hotel 70 Degrees. It too has been demolished. The second volume ends with a chapter showing some of the changes the building of the A55 Expressway brought to Colwyn Bay.
This book is available for loan or purchase from Colwyn Bay Library.
Eunice Roberts and Helen Morley: The Spirit of Colwyn Bay: Volumes 1 & 2: Compendium Edition: Guidelines Books: November 2015: £20.00: 9781843065623.
Eunice Roberts and Helen Morley: The Spirit of Colwyn Bay: Volume 1: Landmark Publishing: 2002: 1843060507.
Eunice Roberts and Helen Morley: The Spirit of Colwyn Bay: Volume 2: Landmark Publishing: 2003: 1843060876.
