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Llandudno

And Colwyn Bay

This page is under construction


 
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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Associated Pages
 

References
   www.piers.org.uk - National Piers Society


  LIGHTHOUSES OF ENGLAND - The South East by Nicholas Leach and Tony Denton LIGHTHOUSES OF ENGLAND - The South Coast by Nicholas Leach and Tony Denton LIGHTHOUSES OF ENGLAND - The North West by Nicholas Leach and Tony Denton LIGHTHOUSES OF ENGLAND - The North East by Nicholas Leach and Tony Denton



Llandudno

And Colwyn Bay

All images link to larger copies which will open in a new window/tab



Llandudno Pier

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)


Llandudno Pier Postcards

Postcards of Llandudno Pier
LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk







Llandudno Pier Images


Llandudno Pier in 1979, seen from the departing Mona's Isle
Photo: ©1979 Ian Boyle,
LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk






Llandudno Pier in 1981
Photo: ©1981 Ian Boyle,
LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk







Colwyn Bay Pier

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
COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk COLWYN BAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk







Colwyn Bay Pier Images

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 - www.simplonpc.co.uk GREAT ORME TRAMWAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk GREAT ORME TRAMWAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk







Great Orme Tramway Images

 Walton & Frinton lifeboat centre on shore
Photo: ©2013 Ian Boyle, 29th December 2013
GREAT ORME TRAMWAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk GREAT ORME TRAMWAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk GREAT ORME TRAMWAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk GREAT ORME TRAMWAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk GREAT ORME TRAMWAY - www.simplonpc.co.uk







Llandudno UDC Buses

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,
LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk LLANDUDNO - www.simplonpc.co.uk







Colwyn Bay Miniature Railway

The

Colwyn Bay Miniature Railway postcards
Colwyn Bay Miniature Railway - www.simplonpc.co.uk







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