The Colwyn Bay Timeline is on ongoing project and we’ll be adding to it in the future. Let us know if you notice any important omissions and we’ll add them.
The entire timeline is very long and may load slowly on some connections. If that is the case you may find it helpful to filter the posts by the categories below – it’s also a quick way to select a particular period of time. Just select the time period you want to view and press the Filter Timeline button.
Roman occupation
43 AD Romans invade Britain in South
61 AD Romans invade North Wales
In 60 or 61 AD the Romans invaded North Wales under the command of the governor, Suetonius Paullinus, with 12,000 men to attack Anglesey – the stronghold of the druids and centre of resistance to the Romans Read more
61 AD Roman legion ambushed
In 61 AD a Roman army is traditionally believed to have been ambushed at Nant Sepyr (the pass beneath Bryn Euryn), and its second in command (Sempronius) killed in the fighting. Read more.
Roman built road along coast
260-355 Roman road along the North Wales coast built
St. Trillo establishes his “llan”
6th century St. Trillo establishes his “llan” Read More
Cynlas the Red at Bryn Euryn
6th century Excavations have proved that this hilltop was the site of a Romano-British hil fort. This was built in the 5th or 6th century by one of the local “kings” who sprang up after the Romans left, probably Cynlas the Red. Read more.
Prince Madoc allegedly sailed for America
1170 Prince Madoc allegedly sailed for America
Reign of Llywelyn the Great
1194-1240 Reign of Llywelyn the Great. Seneschal Ednyfed Fychan of Llys Euryn, his Chief Counsellor Read more
Cistercian monks build Rhos Weir
1200 c. There was a medieval fishing weir near Rhos point, some remains of which can still be detected at low tide. It is thought that this was built by the monks from the great Cistercian monastery of Aberconwy. Read more
King John invades North Wales
1210 King John invades North Wales
Conquest of Wales by King Edward I
1284 Conquest of Wales by King Edward I. Conwy Castle built
Richard II captured
1399 Richard II captured by Duke of Northumberland near the foot of Penmaenhead Read more
Llys Euryn partially burnt
1409 Llys Euryn partially burnt by Owain Glyndwr
Rhos Weir
1575 Rhos Weir granted to Captain Morgan ap John ap David Read more
First Pwllycrochan built
1680 First Pwllycrochan built (estimated) Read more
Afon Ganol
1687 Lawsuit against Pugh of Penrhyn for building a bridge over the Afon Ganol and so obstructing shipping
Main North Wales road
1720 Main North Wales road constructed: Abergele – Dolwen – Groes. Ogilby’s road-book shows the main North Wales road coming through Bettws – Abergele, Dolwen and Croesffordd.
First Ship Inn
1736 First Ship Inn built at Llandrillo Church gates by Robert Davies.
First reference to a stagecoach
1764 First reference to a stagecoach travelling along the Old Highway
Calvinistic Methodist body
1771 Thomas Hughes, shoemaker, founds a small Calvinistic Methodist body at Mochdre
Mail coaches began running
1784 /85 Mail coaches began running from Chester to Holyhead. London to Holyhead by coach takes 48 hours.
Turnpike Road
1785 Turnpike Road made through the district
Crash of dance floor at Four Crosses
1808 Crash of dance floor at Four Crosses
Main roads along coast
1811 Thomas Telford is consulted on main roads and highways along coast
The Bible Society
1814 Llandrillo and Abergele Branch of the Bible Society formed
Colwyn Bridge constructed
1815 Colwyn Bridge constructed
Ebenezer Chapel erected
1815 Ebenezer Chapel erected Read more
Eirias Bridge constructed
1815 /16 Eirias Bridge constructed and the road to Mochdre made
Improvements to the Holyhead Road
1819 Thomas Telford completes his improvements to the Holyhead Road
National School, Rhos-on-Sea, built
1819 National School Built on Tan y Bryn Road
Sir David Erskine marries Jane Silence Williams
1821 Sir David Erskine marries Jane Silence Williams, heiress of Pwllycrochan Read more
Chester and Bangor Stage Coach
1827 Chester and Bangor Stage Coach first going through. Mail coach leaves Holyhead 5 p.m. spending the night at Bangor, and arriving at the Feathers Inn, Chester at 4 p.m. (Travelling at 8 miles an hour). “Hark-Forward” coach running from Bangor to Chester.
Glan y Mor road made
1828 Glan y Mor (Beach) road made
Turnpike Road diverted over Penmaenhead
1830 Turnpike Road diverted over Penmaenhead
Afon Ganol marsh drained
1830 About this date the Afon Ganol marsh was drained
Bethesda (old) Chapel built
1832 Bethesda (old) Chapel built Read more
London to Holyhead coach
1836 London to Holyhead by coach now took only 27 hours. By 1837 the coaches “Queen of Trumps” and “Lord Dinorben” run through Colwyn.
Richard Butler Clough lays the foundation stone of St. Catherine’s Church
1837 Richard Butler Clough of Min y don lays the foundation stone of St. Catherine’s Church Read more
Conway Poor Law Union formed
1837 Conway Poor Law Union (including Llandrillo) formed
Whitehall Dod succeeds to Llannerch estate
1841 Whitehall Dod succeeds to Llannerch estate
Parish of Colwyn created
1844 Parish of Colwyn created, mostly out of Llandrillo parish Read more
Tithe Enquiry Map prepared
1846 Tithe Enquiry Map prepared
Methodist Sunday School
1847 Methodist Sunday School in Rhos-on-Sea at a small thatched cottage called “Aberhod Bach”
Chester-Bangor Railway opens
1848 Chester to Bangor railway opened for passengers. Construction had begun in 1845 Read more
National School, Old Colwyn, built
1848 National School built
Ship fire disaster, Abergele Bay
1848 178 lives lost in ship fire disaster, Abergele Bay
First appearance of Colwyn Station
1849 First appearance of Colwyn Station in the October number of Bradshaw Read more
A record catch of herrings at Rhos Weir
1850 A record catch of 35,000 herrings at Rhos Weir Read more
Rhos-Bryn Euryn Railway recorded as working
1856 Rhos-Bryn Euryn Railway recorded as working
First sale of building land
1858 First sale of building land
Hebron (old) Chapel erected
1861 Hebron (old) Chapel erected Read more
Calfaria (old) Chapel erected
1862 Calfaria (old) Chapel erected Read more
Building of Rhos Abbey Hotel terrace
1864 Building of Rhos Abbey Hotel terrace adjacent to Rhos Fynach planned by Mr. George Fenton Read more
Pwllycrochan Estate sold
1865 Erskines sell Pwllycrochan estate and migrate to Scotland Read more
Ivy House built
1865 Ivy House built. Read more
Pwllycrochan opened as a hotel
1866 Pwllycrochan opened as a hotel Read more
Mr. Parry Evans’ title to Rhos Weir established
1866 Legality of Mr. Parry Evans’ title to Rhos Weir established at Conway Read more
British School built
1867 British School built
Irish Mail railway accident at Abergele
1868 33 people killed in Irish Mail railway accident at Abergele
Rev. W. Venables Williams appointed to the living of Llandrillo
1869 Rev. W. Venables Williams appointed to the living of Llandrillo Read more
Station Hotel (later Central Hotel) built
1870 Station Hotel (later Central Hotel) built Read more
Pioneer villas Erskine House and Penrhos Lodge built
1870 Pioneer villas Erskine House and Penrhos Lodge (later Odeon Cinema and Rhos Lan) built
Presbyterian Services
1871 First Presbyterian services held in a carpenter’s workshop in Ivy Street Read more
Agitators throw the Toll Gates into the sea
1871 Band of agitators throw the Toll Gates and posts into the sea near Colwyn Bay Hotel (in process of building)
Sir Thomas Pender
1872 Great reception of Sir Thomas Pender at Colwyn Bay
Mission room (chapel) built (precursor of St. Paul’s Church)
1872 Mission room (chapel) built (precursor of St. Paul’s Church) Read more
Colwyn Bay Hotel completed
1872 Colwyn Bay Hotel completed Read more
Building of the Promenade
The promenade we recognise today was built in sections over many years, beginning around 1872 when the Colwyn Bay Hotel was also being built.
Presbyterian Chapel
1873 Presbyterian chapel opened on Conwy Road on land donated by John Pender of Pwllycrochan Estate Read more
Original Ship Inn demolished
1873 / 74 Original Ship Inn demolished and rebuilt across the road from its original position near the Church, by Whitehall Dod
Colwyn Bay and Pwllycrochan Estate Company
1875 Establishment of the Colwyn Bay and Pwllycrochan Estate Company Read more
Shiloh Chapel Greenfield Road built
1876 Shiloh Chapel, Greenfield Road, built by the Welsh Wesleyan Methodists Read more
School Board formed
1876 Llandrillo and Eirias (UD) School Board formed
Congregationalists’ iron Church
1878 Congregationalists’ iron church built (Union Church site) Read more
Engedi Chapel
1879 Engedi chapel opened on Woodland Road West by the Welsh Presbyterians Read more
Colwyn Cemetery – first burial
1879 Colwyn Cemetery – first burial
Penrhos College for Girls established
1880 Penrhos College for Girls established (private Methodist school for girls) Read more
First English Methodist Service
1880 First English Methodist service in Colwyn Bay held in Shiloh Welsh Chapel, Greenfield Road Read more
Colwyn Bay English Baptist Church
1884 Colwyn Bay English Baptist Church congregation formed Read more
Old Colwyn railway station opened
1884 Old Colwyn railway station opened in 1884. Read more.
Rydal School for boys
1885 Rydal School for boys founded by Methodist educationalist T. G. Osborn Read more
Work begins on Theatr Colwyn
1885 Work began on the theatre (Theatr Colwyn) by the newly formed Public Hall Company Read more
Salem Chapel opens
1885 Salem Chapel opened on Abergele Road Read more
Union Church opens
1885 Congregational Church (Union Church) opened Read more
Congregational Church opened
1885 Congregational Church (Union Church) opened Read more
Bethesda Chapel built
1886 Bethesda Church, Old Colwyn built Read More
Building of St. Paul’s Church begins
1887 1887-1888 building of St. Paul’s Church begins – the nave, aisles and transepts Read more
Colwyn and Colwyn Bay Local Board formed
1887 April 13th Colwyn and Colwyn Bay Local Board formed – a Local Board of 12 members – constituted, by Order of Local Government Board, No. 21442, dated April 13th.
Station Road is laid out
1887 Station Road laid out. Designed by Booth, Chadwick and Porter, principal architects to the Pwllycrochan Estate Company. Row of nine shops in red brick built by Edward Foulkes, father of the architect, Sidney Colwyn Foulkes. Read more
St John’s Methodist Church opens
1888 St. John’s Methodist Church opens. Read more
Tabernacl Chapel built
1888 Tabernacl Chapel built for Welsh and English Baptist congregations. Read more
County Council formed
1889 County Council formed
Joint Water Supply Board formed
1891 Conway and Colwyn Bay Joint Water Supply Board formed
English Presbyterian Church opens
1891 English Presbyterian Church, Hawarden Road, opens. Read more
Municipal Building completed
1892 Municipal Building, Station Road, completed. Read more
Subway and approaches to the beach completed
1892 August 17th Subway and approaches to the beach completed and formally opened by Rev. W. Venables-Williams (Vicar)
Parish of Colwyn Bay
1893 Colwyn Bay became a separate parish, previously part of the parish Llandrillo-yn-Rhos Read more
English Baptist Church moves
1893 English Baptist Church moved to a corrugated building on Abergele Road, where Stermat now stands. Read more
Groes Bridge
1894 Groes Bridge rebuilt and widened
Urban District of Colwyn Bay and Colwyn
1895 January Under the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1894, the Local Government District became the Urban District of Colwyn Bay and Colwyn
Rhos Pier opened in April
1895 April Rhos Pier opened
Calfaria Chapel built
1896 Calfaria Chapel built Read more
Bethlehem Methodist Chapel built
1897 Bethlehem Methodist Chapel, Lawson Road built as a branch of Engedi.Read more
Promenade on seafront opened
1897 June 22nd Promenade on seafront – Colwyn Bay to Marine Path – formally opened. Read more
Rhos on Sea Golf Club
1899 Rhos on Sea Golf Club founded
Building of the Quaker Meeting House
1899 Building of the Quaker Meeting House in Erskine Road. Read more
Victoria Jubilee Cottage Hospital built
1899 Victoria Jubilee Cottage Hospital built. Read more
St. Joseph’s Church opened
1900 St. Joseph’s Church opened. Read more
Monsieur Jules Riviere died
1900 December 26th Monsieur Jules Riviere died and was buried in Llandrillo-yn-Rhos churchyard. Read more
Victoria Pier and Pavilion opened
1900 Victoria Pier and Pavilion opened on 1st June 1900 Read More
Urban District Council’s offices in the Municipal Building
1901 Urban District Council’s offices in the Municipal Building, Station Road. Read more
Electricity Works started for General Supply
1901 January 1st Electricity Works started for General Supply
Woodhill Baptist Church built
1902 Woodhill Baptist Church built by Welsh Calvanistic Methodists as an outreach of Engedi Chapel. Read more
Promenade and Sewage Works
1902 The Colwyn Bay and Colwyn Urban District Act authorised the construction of a Promenade and new Sewage Works. Read more
Gas undertaking acquired
1902 January 1st Gas undertaking acquired
Horeb Chapel opened
1902 November 2nd, Horeb Chapel, Rhiw Road, opened. Read more
Methodist chapel Hermon built
1903 Methodist chapel Hermon built (now site of Capel y Rhos).
Eglwys Dewi Sant completed
1903 Eglwys Dewi Sant (St. David’s Church) completed. Read more
Higher Grade School formally opened
1903 January 12th Higher Grade School formally opened
St. John’s Church, Old Colwyn
1903 St. John’s Church, Old Colwyn consecrated on August 13th. Read more
Town Hall opened
1904 Town Hall opened (corner of Coed Pella Road and Conwy Road), fire station next door. Read more
Hebron Chapel built
1904 Hebron Chapel built Read more
Bron y Nant Cemetery opened
1904 Bron y Nant Cemetery completed and opened
Police Station and Magistrates Court built
1905 1905-1907 Police Station and Magistrates Court on Rhiw Road built. Read more
Convent opened
1905 Convent near St. Joseph’s RC Church opened. Read more
Nant-y-Glyn Methodist Church built
1905 Nant-y-Glyn Methodist Church built. Read more
English Baptist Chapel opened
1905 English Baptist Chapel opened. Read more
Free Library opened
1905 April 25th. Coronation Free Library opened. Read more
Isolation Sanatorium opened
1905 April 25th Isolation Sanatorium opened
Promenade ARC lighting inaugurated
1905 August 18th. Promenade ARC lighting inaugurated. Rhos section June 21st
Pwllycrochan Woods purchased
1905 October 31st Pwllycrochan Woods purchased
Fairy Glen, Old Colwyn
1906 August 1st. Fairy Glen, Old Colwyn, opened to the public. Read more
Upper Colwyn Bay Water Supply Works inaugurated
1906 October 9th Upper Colwyn Bay Water Supply Works inaugurated
Trams running from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay
1907 Trams running from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay. Read more
Formal opening of Sewerage Works
1907 June 14th Formal opening of new Sewerage Works
Light Railway opened for public traffic
1907 October 19th. Light Railway opened for public traffic. Read more
Rhos Neigr sinks off Rhos on Sea
1908 The Rhos Neigr sinks off Rhos on Sea
St. Andrew’s Church
1908 Foundation stone for St. Andrew’s Church laid. Read more
English Methodist Church, Old Colwyn built
1909 English Methodist Church, Old Colwyn, built. Read more
Public Hall converted into “picture house”
1909 The Public Hall (Theatr Colwyn) converted into Colwyn Bay’s first “picture house”. Read more
New water main
1909 March 31st Water turned on to the District from new trunk main laid between Dolgarrog and Sarnmynach
First aircraft landed in Wales
1910 August First aircraft landed in Wales, on the sea shore at Rhos-on-Sea. Robert Loraine in a Farman biplane
County Court at Colwyn Bay
1910 August 2nd Order of Privy Council for holding of County Court at Colwyn Bay
Royal National Eisteddfod held
1910 September 13th-17th Royal National Eisteddfod held
Glan-y-Don Hall built
1911 Glan-y-Don Hall built. Read more
Electric Light Cable extended
1911 March Electric Light Cable extended to Old Colwyn
Drill Hall (Princes Drive) opened
1911 July 15th Drill Hall (Princes Drive) opened
Sale of the Cayley Estate
1912 Sale of the Cayley Estate
Harold Lowe fifth officer on the Titanic
1912 April 14th. Local man Harold Lowe was the fifth officer on the Titanic when it sank.
English Baptist Church on Hawarden Road opened
1913 English Baptist Church on Hawarden Road opened. Intention was to build a church and a church hall, only the hall was built at that time. Read more
Princess Picture Theatre built
1914 Princess Picture Theatre built. Read more
Cayley Promenade
1914 January 28th Cayley Promenade embankment acquired
H. M. Troops in Colwyn Bay
1914 December 30th H. M. Troops quartered in Colwyn Bay
Light Railway extended
1915 March 26th. Light Railway extended to the Queen’s Hotel, Old Colwyn. Read more
Visit of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George
1915 March 2nd Visit of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George
Colwyn Public Gardens acquired
1915 June. Colwyn Public Gardens acquired by gift from Lieut.-Col. Williams Wynne. Read more
First Methodist services in Rhos-on-Sea
1916 First Methodist services in Rhos-on-Sea held in the Playhouse, then a theatre and cinema (now Co-op Store)
First Lady Member elected on the Council
1919 April 7th First Lady Member (Miss E M. Hovey) elected on the Council
Wireless College relocates to Colwyn Bay
1920 Read more
David Lloyd George visits Tabernacl Chapel
1920 Prime Minister, David Lloyd George visits Tabernacl Chapel. Read more
County Secondary School
1920 September Higher Grade School converted to County Secondary School
Erection of Workmen’s Dwellings at Rhos
1920 November 30th Erection of Workmen’s Dwellings at Rhos, public ceremony
Presentation of Tank
1920 January 12th. Presentation of First World War Tank Read more
Llandudno-Colwyn Bay road
1921 May Llandudno-Colwyn Bay through road opened for traffic
Acquisition of Eirias Park
1921 April 12th. Acquisition of Eirias Park. Read more
Y.M.C.A. buildings built
1922 Y.M.C.A. buildings built
Rhos-on-Sea Methodist Church
1922 August 14th Foundation stone of Rhos-on-Sea Methodist Church laid
War Memorial unveiled outside the town hall
1922 November 11th. War Memorial unveiled outside the town hall. Memorial tablets and memorial windows unveiled at St. Paul’s Church. Read more
Amalgamation of the Parish of Llysfaen
1923 April 1st Amalgamation of the Parish of Llysfaen with the Urban District by virtue of the Counties of Caernarvon and Denbigh (Llysfaen) Order 1922; and increase of members of the council from 24 to 28
Colwyn Bay Cricket Club
1923 Colwyn Bay Cricket Club founded
Royal Visit to North Wales
1923 November 2nd Royal Visit to North Wales. Visit of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales to Colwyn Bay
Inauguration of New Electricity Supply
1923 November 2nd Electricity Supply – consent to alteration of system to A.C. (Alternating Current). November 30th Inauguration of New Electricity Supply, and ceremonial opening of new Distribution Station in Ivy Street by Lord Colwyn.
Royal Bank of Scotland building reconstructed
1925 C.1925. Royal Bank of Scotland building reconstructed to a design by architect Sidney Colwyn Foulkes for Williams Deacon’s Bank. Read more
Wynn Gardens declared open
1925 Wynn Gardens declared open. Read more
Opening of Min-y-Don Park
1928 July 18th. Opening of Min-y-Don Park and recreation grounds. Read more
Colwyn House
1933 1933-1937 Colwyn House, Station Road, built for W. S. Wood department store. Read more
St. Joseph’s Primary School opened
1933 St. Joseph’s Primary School opened on land near the Church. Read more
Charter of Incorporation granted
1934 Charter of Incorporation granted. Read more
Pat Collins’ Amusement Park opened
1935 Easter. Pat Collins’ Amusement Park opened. Read more
Viaduct over Penmaenhead opened
1936 Viaduct over Penmaenhead opened
Town’s first Air Raid Warning
1939 Town’s first Air Raid Warning
Literary Eisteddfod held
1941 Literary Eisteddfod held. Read more
Mines sighted off Rhos Pier
1942 Mines sighted off Rhos Pier, LLlanddulas and Llysfaen jettys.
Spitfire crashed
1943 Spitfire “Borough of Colwyn Bay” crashed before having seen active service. Given its name to mark the townspeople’s war effort through National Savings investment
Sale of Queen’s Lodge
1946 July 5th. Sale by public auction of the estate of the Rt. Hon. Lord Colwyn (deceased) – Queen’s Lodge, Pen-yr-Orsedd Farm, Bodlondeb Farm. Read more
Colwyn Bay host to National Eisteddfod
1947 Colwyn Bay host to National Eisteddfod. Read more
Synagogue opened
1948 37 Princes Drive opened as a Synagogue. Read more
Old Colwyn railway station closed
1952 December 1st. Old Colwyn railway station closed. Read more
Cosy Cinema closed
1955 Cosy Cinema (above Matthews Hardware) closed. Read more
Last tram from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay
1956 March 24th. Last tram travelled from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay. Read more
Harlequin Puppet Theatre opens
1958
Tram company sold carriage licence
1961 Tram company sold carriage licence to Crosville Motor Services Ltd. Read more
Drinking alcohol on Sundays legalised
1961 It became legal to serve alcoholic drinks on Sundays
Welsh Mountain Zoo opened
1963 Opening of the Welsh Mountain Zoo
Alvin Langdon Coburn dies
1966 Pioneering photographer Alvin Langdon Coburn dies
First Traffic Wardens
1967 Town’s first Traffic Wardens
Daniel Allen’s store closed
1971 Daniel Allen’s store, Station Road closed. Read more
Opening of Police Headquarters
1973 Opening of the North Wales Police Headquarters
Borough of Colwyn
1974 Borough of Colwyn and county of Clwyd created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The Borough of Colwyn incorporated the former Borough of Colwyn Bay, the Urban District Council of Abergele and the Rural District Councils of Aled and Hiraethog.
Amusement Park closed
1980 December. Amusement Park (formerly Pat Collins’) closed. Read more
Leisure Centre opened
1981 Leisure Centre opened by H.R.H. Princess Margaret. Read more
Visit of Her Majesty the Queen
1984 Visit of Her Majesty the Queen
Llanddulas landfill site
1984 Llanddulas landfill site opened by the Secretary of State for Wales
Opening of the A55 Expressway
1985 Opening of the Colwyn Bay section of the A55 Expressway
The Prince and Princess of Wales visit
1985 Visit to Colwyn of their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales
Shopping Centre opened
1987 Bay View Shopping Centre opened. Colwyn Bay Town Centre – new shopping precinct and pedestrian way opened. Read more
Princes Drive Baptist Church
1988 English Baptist Church sanctuary opened to accommodate expanding membership. Church name changed to Princes Drive Baptist Church. Read more
Clock presented to the town
1989 Andrew Fraser Memorial Clock presented to the town. Read more
1996 Conwy County Borough Council formed: The county borough was formed on 1 April 1996 by merging the districts of Aberconwy and Colwyn when it was originally named Aberconwy and Colwyn. However, its council renamed the district a day later, on 2 April 1996 to Conwy.
Miniature railway
1988 Final season of the miniature railway along the promenade. Read more
Government Buildings demolished
2016 Christmas. The demolition of the government buildings on the corner of Conwy Road and Coed Pella Road is nearing completion. Read more
Start of Electricity Supply to Colwyn Bay
In 1898 the Council erected 24 lamps to illuminate the East Promenade, powered by a generating plant built in Ivy Street. Electricity supply by the Council to private consumers commenced on 1 January 1900, and proved so successful that the generating plant had to be rapidly expanded. The building in Ivy Street is still standing.
