The Francis Frith Collection.
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Llanelian

Llanelian photos (1 available)

Old photo of Llanelian

Llanelian maps (2 available)

Old map of Llanelian

Llanelian memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Clwyd below.

Clwyd memories

Childhood in Bryn y Maen

As far as I was concerned there was nowhere else, only what I read or what my parents told me, my life centred around the post office, church, vicarage and Bryn Eglwys, and the neighbouring farms, the lovely views to the west. Buses to Colwyn Bay, exactly as described, characters in the hamlet, and the outbreak of war, the Home Guard, reminiscent of Dad's Army, the A.R.P., rationing, less sold in the shop consequently, gathering fruits of nature, country walks, listening to the radio, craft work, simple treats never forgotten, bilingual teaching in Llwydgoed school from Kate Lloyd, who was a lovely lady. Happy carefree days.
A memory of Bryn-Y-Maen contributed by First name Last name

Whose Bus Is This ???

Old Colwyn, Abergele Road 1908

This early motor wagonette was probably operated by J. Fred Francis from Colwyn Bay to Old Colwyn for a three-penny fare until the coming of the Trams in March 1915. It succeeded a two horse omnibus which ran between the two locations eight times daily until about 1907. The horse bus was painted green and is likely to have been purchased and constructed in the Manchester area circa 1895-8

Francis was one of the road transport pioneers of motor driven vehicles in the North Wales area. Within ten years of this date he was operating silver painted 'torpedo' charabancs to locations throughout the area, to Bettws y coed and Caernarfon etc. His early bus services were [almost literally !] overtaken ...read more here
A memory of Old Colwyn contributed by John Owen

The Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Tramway in Old Colwyn

Old Colwyn, 1921

What an interesting photograph of a grey painted tram heading for the 'Queens Hotel' terminus which was just over half of a mile away.

It would take just over five minutes and three tramstops to reach the terminus where, the brakes would be wound on full to counteract the falling gradient there. The conductor would hold on to the trolley pole rope, pull it down and tie it down to the front bumper. He would then untie the other trolley pole rope at the Penmaenhead end and carefully allow the trolley head to rise upward into contact with the overhead wire.

He'd then have to check for any lost property left in the car from the last journey before ...read more here
A memory of Old Colwyn contributed by John Owen

The Donkey Path

Old Colwyn, the Fairy Glen 1921

Re The Donkey path. I think Joanne is wrong - I know the embankment you speak of, there used to be a miniature railway which ran along the bottom of the embankment from the Prom entrance of Erias Park along to the Pier. The Donkey Path went/goes from opposite the Marine Hotel in Old Colwyn down to the beach, it branched off towards Glan Y Don and the Civic Centre to the rear of the Police HQ. It was so called as a Donkey was raffled to raise money for the making the path.
A memory of Old Colwyn contributed by Andrew Jones