Chester Chronicle - Cheshire Memories

Flint Memories: Councillor criticises Welsh Assembly Government's care of Flint Castle

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:21:11 +0000

A FLINT councillor has blasted the Welsh Assembly Government's attitude towards the town's most historic monument, writes Eleanor Barlow.

At a meeting on Monday, Flint Town Council received a letter from Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones turning down a request from Sandy Mewies to meet council members and discuss Flint Castle's promotion and security.

Enclosed with the letter was a message from visitor services manager of WAG's historic environment service, Cadw, advising the minister to turn down the council's invitation while discussions with officials continued.

Flintshire Memories: An Exhibition of Edwardian photography has gone on display thanks to the late Dai Price of Mynydd Isa

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:13:55 +0000

THE wife of a man who was the brainchild behind a photography exhibition is happy his ambitions are finally being realised after his death, writes Francesca Elliott.

An Edwardian Family Album, an exhibition of photographs taken by a Merseyside family in the early 1900s, is on display at the Lady Lever Gallery in Port Sunlight, Wirral, but David Price of Mynydd Isa, died from cancer before it opened.

Flintshire Memories: Forest clearing programme reveals hidden history of Nercwys

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:06:11 +0000

MAJOR felling operations across Flintshire are slowly revealing the hidden history of the area as local landmarks re-emerge from the forest canopy writes Lois York.

Back in the 1960s a big planting programme near Mold included the Nercwys mountain - and a 300-year-old shepherd's cottage which was demolished to make way for the trees.

Flintshire Memories: Talacre beach's Point of Ayr lighthouse home to metal man sculpture

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:01:42 +0000

A MYSTERIOUS metal man sculpture has been taking a good view of Talacre beach this week.

The modern work of art, designed by local artist Angela Smith, is spending the week on top of the Point of Ayr lighthouse.

Flintshire Memories: Mostyn steam packet poster

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:52:12 +0000

THE Mostyn History Preservation has been lucky enough to purchase an original poster dating from 1829 advertising the Liverpool and Mostyn Steam Packet Hercules.

The ship, which ran from Mostyn Quay to Liverpool sailed every Wednesday and carried freight and passengers and was a steam paddle vessel.

This service of course preceded the railway which only arrived in Mostyn in 1848.

Anyone with other items of Mostyn history that they would like to donate or allow to be copied is urged to contact 01745 560268.

Holywell Memories: History of St Winefride's Well, Holywell, told in book

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:57:43 +0000

A BOOK detailing the history of an historic monument in Holywell has been launched writes Eleanor Barlow.

St Winefride, Her Holy Well and the Jesuit Mission by Archdeacon The Ven Bill Pritchard was launched at St Winefride's Guest House on Saturday, October 17.

Flintshire Memories: Memoirs of Buckley man reveal war secrets

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:56:41 +0000

Veteran Harold Donnell speaks for the first time about his guilt over the sinking of a British submarine to Eleanor Barlow.

A MAN who was sworn to secrecy over his involvement in the sinking of a British submarine has spoken out - after 66 years harbouring the secret.

Harold Donnell, 89, has never revealed the incident which happened while he was working as a wireless operator in the Second World War and led to the British Army sinking its own submarine, which he believes was HMS Thunderbolt.

But the Buckley man has chosen to tell all in his memoirs, Just a Tick.

Flintshire Memories: The Duke of Lancaster ship at Llanerchymor

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:47:24 +0000

THE former British Rail ship The Duke of Lancaster has been moored at Llanerchymor since 1979.

The ship now has a new website courtesy of Paul Williams from Greenfield with the full co-operation of owners John Rowley and Patricia Scott.

Flintshire Memories: Cadw's 25th anniversary publication, The Making of Wales, is an updated edition

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:52:07 +0000

THOUSANDS of years of Welsh history are being celebrated in Cadw's 25th anniversary publication.

The Making of Wales, written by Dr John Davies, is a fully revised and expanded edition of the 1996 version.

Flintshire Memories: William Ewart Gladstone features on Royal Mail stamp

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:22:00 +0000

FLINTSHIRE residents can look forward to a familiar face landing on their doorstep.
Politician William Ewart Gladstone, the founder of St Deiniol's Library in Hawarden, is being featured on a Royal Mail stamp.

The four times Prime Minister of the UK is featured on Royal Mail's Eminent Britons stamps, issued on Thursday, October 8, alongside historical figures from the world of science, art, literature, politics and sport.

Flintshire Memories: Basingwerk Abbey, Holywell will be featured in Cadw's 2010 calendar

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:14:44 +0000

THE Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment service, Cadw, will feature Flintshire in its 2010 calendar, which costs £8.95.

Basingwerk Abbey, Greenfield, will be included alongside other historic sites in Wales.

These include Llangar Old Parish Church, Corwen; and Valle Crucis Abbey, Llangollen.
Cadw's publications manager, Diane Williams, said: "We're delighted with the calendar this year which features stunning pictures from Cadw's photographic library.

"Having this view on a kitchen or office wall is certain to brighten up anybody's day."

Flintshire Memories: Rural reflections of an earlier age

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:22:47 +0000

THIS week's snapshots reveal a busy harvest scene at a time when rural life was dominated by farming.

The first picture was sold at Dodd's Property Auction in Mold earlier this year to descendants of the Jones Balers Agriculture Machinery Manufacturers.

Noel Jones, son of the late Glynne Jones, co-founder of Jones Balers, immediately recognised its significance.

Flintshire Memories: Ysgol Glanrafon, Mold football team featured in Nostalgia article

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:14:14 +0000

A FORTNIGHT ago the Chronicle featured a couple of football-related photographs on the nostalgia page.

Dr Aled Davies, former Mold-Maes Garmon headteacher, has shed some light on them.

The photos featured junior footballers from Ysgol Glanrafon, Mold in 1968. Pictured in one of them was the school's headteacher at the time Ron Parry, who now lives in Rhosesmor.

A couple of the players were Dion Grant Williams, who now works for Llewelyn Jones Solicitors, and Kevin Jones, who now lives in Buckley.

Wrexham Memories: Holt community heritage day sees English civil war battle led by Oliver Cromwell

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:51:18 +0000

VISITORS to a Wrexham county village witnessed a brutal conflict with volleys of musket fire and blazing cannons.

The community heritage day in Holt saw a re-enactment group stage a battle featuring Oliver Cromwell, who led the 'Roundheads' during England's brutal 17th Century civil war.

Oliver Cromwell and the mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Arwel Gwynn Jones, launched the event, with Cromwell's troops marching from St Chad's Church to the Cross.

The church still shows signs of the historical conflict, with musket ball damage visible inside.

Flintshire Memories: 30 years ago this week

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:57:39 +0000

DURING a speech at a Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Grosvenor Hotel, Chester, British Aerospace chairman Lord Beswick predicted a huge rise in the Broughton workforce over the following five years to ensure productivity kept up with demand.

THE Manpower Services Commission announced a plan to build a job centre in Flint following a campaign by East Flint MP Barry Jones.

UNEMPLOYMENT dropped by 508 in Mold, Holywell and Deeside, according to the latest quarterly figures.

THE BBC's John Noakes and his Go With Noakes team visited Holywell to record a programme at Grange Cavern Military Museum.