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This page shows postcards and images of the transport and piers
between Llandudno and Colwyn Bay.
Llandudno Pier official website:-
www.llandudnopier.com/default.asp
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All images link to larger
copies which will open in a new window/tab
A wooden 330
ft pier was built at Walton in 1830, later lengthened to 800
ft. A new pier was started in 1895, opening in 1898. It eventually
stretched 2600 ft, and had a 3ft 6in electric tramway. The tramway
was replaced by a battery car in 1936. The pier and battery car
were destroyed by fire in 1942. The pier was rebuilt after the
war, re-opening in 1948, with a 2ft gauge railway. The railway
was subsequently removed, and a 'Dotto train' operated. It appeared to be out
of use on my last visit however. A
large modern amusement hall has been built at the pier entrance.
Excursion vessels were able to berth at the pier until 200?.
For many years there has been an RNLI lifeboat moored near to
the end of Walton pier. A new berth with wave break was opened
at the pier end in 2005. (ref:
www.piers.org.uk)
Postcards of Llandudno Pier
Llandudno Pier in 1979, seen
from the departing Mona's Isle
Photo: ©1979 Ian Boyle,
Llandudno Pier in 1981
Photo: ©1981 Ian Boyle,
Designed by Maynall and Littlewood of Manchester,
Colwyn Bay Victoria Pier was one of the later British piers to be built,
opening on 1st June 1900. As first constructed, Colwyn Bay Victoria Pier was
just 316ft (96m) long and 40ft (12m) wide, comprising a timber promenade
deck with seating and railings along its length, and a large 'Moorish' style
pavilion. The pavilion was set to the right of the deck, with a walkway
allowing access to the pier-head to the left. A modern feature of the pier
was the illumination by electric light, and this proved to be quite a
spectacle at night.
As the popularity of the resort increased, so word
spread of the pier's high standard of entertainment, and in 1903 the
Victoria Pier Company decided to extend the neck to a length of 750ft (227m)
in order to facilitate outdoor theatrical performances. Elegant shelters
were then constructed for the convenience of the audience. A new Bijou
theatre was built in 1917 to allow 'lighter' entertainment to be staged.
The pavilion did not survive, it being completely
destroyed by fire in 1922. The District Council subsequently purchased the
Colwyn Bay Victoria Pier and work began immediately to repair the damage. In
July 1923 a second pavilion was opened, having cost £45,000 to build.
Unfortunately only ten years elapsed before the second pavilion was
destroyed in another blaze, followed shortly afterwards by a fire that
destroyed the Bijou theatre.
Again the District Council set about rebuilding, and
the present pavilion was opened on 18th May 1933, but the theatre was never
replaced. Success continued to be enjoyed until the late 1950s when falling
visitor numbers forced the closure of the pier pavilion. When the pier was
sold in 1968 to the First Leisure Company they converted the pavilion into
an American style Dixieland Showbar, and the ornate entrance gates and
tollbooths were demolished to make way for the Golden Goose arcade. Colwyn
Bay Victoria Pier continued to attract top bands throughout the 1970s, but
in 1976 the owners decided to apply for an order to demolish the structure.
Due to local opposition, this was refused and the pier was sold to Parker
Leisure Holdings in 1979.
The Dixieland Showbar was converted into a disco with
adjoining bars, and this appeared to be a success initially. However, by
1986 the estimated cost of repairs to the structure had made the business
untenable. A further demolition application was refused, and the Colwyn Bay
Victoria Pier was put up for sale once more.
Finally closed to the public in 1991, the survival of
the pier seemed unlikely. Purchased privately by Mr & Mrs Paxman in 1994,
who were determined to restore and open all of the pier's original
facilities, their efforts were rewarded when the majority of the pier neck
reopened once again in 1995. The pavilion remained closed and, after several
attempts to secure funding for continued restoration proved unsuccessful,
the decision was taken to put the pier up for sale. In December 2003 Colwyn
Bay Victoria Pier was purchased by Mr S Hunt who, like the Paxman's, hoped
to restore the structure and make it commercially viable. It reopened on
17th January 2004, whilst the theatre staged its first show in 20 years in
November 2004. However the owner was forced into bankruptcy by the local
council in 2008 and the pier was closed. (www.theheritagetrail.co.uk)
In 2014 Colwyn Bay Pier is threatened with demolition.
Victoria Pier Website:-
www.victoriapier.com
Colwyn Bay Pier Postcards
Postcards of Colwyn Bay Pier
To be added
Great Orme Tramway - Llandudno
On my first visit to Walton the lifeboat was anchored
close to Walton Pier and was accessed by small boat. On my 2006 visit a
breakwater had been built to protect the boat close to the pier.
Great Orme Tramway Postcards
Great Orme Tramway Postcards
Great Orme
Tramway Images
Walton & Frinton lifeboat
centre on shore
Photo: ©2013 Ian Boyle, 29th December 2013
Whilst most bus routes in
Llandudno were operated by Crosville, the Urban District Council (UDC) ran
an interesting collection of small Guy and Dennis buses on circular tours on
the Marine Drive which ran around the base of Great Orme Head.
Llandudno UDC Guy and Dennis
buses
Photo: ©1979 Ian Boyle,
Colwyn Bay Miniature Railway
The
Colwyn Bay Miniature Railway postcards
