Howard O

Anthony I stumbled across these photos of Bangor the other. Not sure if you have seen them Kind regards Howard

Love the castle - you’ve captured it perfectly. The track work at Bangor looks so daunting. Do you ever sleep ?! Kind Regards Howard

Great modelling Anthony. Keep having to remind myself it’s n gauge. Sorry you’ve had a tough time recently Howard

Anthony It’s with some reluctance that it wasn’t me that sent the brilliant photo of the Grand Hotel. I’m not sure who Hj72 is. re the buildings round the back of the hotel. Yes there may have been garages there but (at closest the camera) there was a large in-house laundry which ran quite a long way along the building.

Anthony I finally got to visit the museum in Penmaenmawr hoping to get photo of the Grand Hotel and Cinema. No joy I’m afraid as they have not cataloged much of their material. The lady manning the desk suggested that I try the Conway archives but no time on the day. you seem to be making great progress Well done! Kind Regards Howard

Hi Anthony Success ! We have connected with the Penmaenmawr Museum and Historical Society and got the reply below. Thankfully it confirms my memories and I now know where the Dingle stream comes out once it goes underground ! Flushed with success I will now go back with our thanks and ask if they have any photos of the Grand Hotel, Crescent Cinema and Sambrooks Ice Cream Parlour. (There should be an annotated map and a photo attached to this post but not sure if I've managed the technology - please let me know.) Kind Regards Howard Hi Howard I have marked on your map some different points which indicate the car park, allotments, a house that existed before the date of the map, and also Bevan's cafe which used to be at the bottom of the car park. On the second page, using an old postcard, the 'drain' is where we think the Dingle overflow travels into is marked. This still exists but of course the promenade has changed a lot since the date of the image. I am not from Penmaenmawr and I asked Dennis Roberts and Mel Roberts to assist with identifying the points on both images. I do hope this helps but if you require any further information, please let us know. Kind regards Suryiah Penmaenmawr Museum Dingle and car park query response.pdf

Anthony I've also fired off an email to the Penmaenmawr Historical Society asking for their help. I'm hoping for a better response this time although to be fair Covid hasn't helped and I think that two long-standing leading lights have recently retired. Cheers Howard

Hi Anthony Now you're testing me. I know from walking through it, there was in the 60's (and still is) a linear park in a small valley or glade with a path that criss-crossed a stream down towards the sea. The stream and park "The Dingle" is to the west of Constitution Hill - I think it just shows on your map. The park in the 60's was virtually canopied by trees. In my memory the park never went as far down as the station. When we walked down that way the footpath cut right, crossed Constitution Hill and came out by the the bowling green and the famous Sambrooks Ice Cream Parlour and gardens by the underpass onto the beach. I've been racking my brains trying to picture the area between Paradise Rd and the row of terrace houses by the station. I think there was some rough/car parking ground by the terrace but higher up was more vegetation possibly allotments. Sorry I can't be more helpful Howard

Hi Anthony, Great to see you back and enjoying making progress! I think taking a break now and again helps with life's balance. Great dogs ! Kind regards Howard

Hi Anthony Good to see all the progress that you've made. I can just about get my head around my own little 009 layout how you deal with the complexities of your masterpiece leaves me in awe ! However ..... I have managed to track down a photo of the esplanade in Penmaenmawr. The image was in a very old edition of a local newspaper so the quality isn't the best. The dodgy trackwork isn't real but results from a fold in the paper - yours will be much straighter! I was born in the end house nearest the camera. The property goes from the end of the row to the second downspout and occupied the top two floors. Underneath was an apartment. Unfortunately the photo doesn't fit into your time frame but thought it gives some idea of the lay of the land. The houses seem to have changed little externally. As the picture shows the new A55 along the seafront I guess the photo would be early 90's although I'm sure that there are folk out there that could narrow it down to the year, day and time based on the train! The main changes to the immediate landscape of the Esplanade since the 60's are the access road along the front of the houses which originally was a gravel footpath and gardens which ran a fair way down the embankment towards the railway. The footbridge to access the beach which I mentioned in a previous post was located roughly at the camera position but obviously lower. Sorry I can't find any images for the landward side. Kindest regards Howard

Anthony After talking with my sister last night. looking from the sea. The loop of road behind the houses was not continuous. The lower one ended in a tree surrounded clearing just where it starts to turn up. The significant height difference between the two roads on your loop was mainly accounted for by a wall which I think ran against the bottom edge of the top loop road. My sister has a sketch of our esplanade house that I did many years ago. Unfortunately it’s looking out to the sea so may not add to the topography. She’s promised to dig it out. The close by footbridge over the railway by my old house was quite a rickety affair and you could look down between the planks to the trains. I can’t find any pictures but I may be able to do a sketch from our memories if you like. Howard

Hi Anthony, Sorry I'm slow in getting back to you- my wife and I managed to get away for a short break . I'm afraid my memory is rather patchy as I was only a toddler when we lived there. Funny where this hobby takes you - I have had real longings that my Dad was still alive - he would have been able to answer all your questions. What your doing looks great. I know I have some old photos somewhere - I'll try and dig out. One bit I do remember is the plank footbridge over the railway to the beach . It was situated a short distance to the right of the house (looking from the sea). I doubt I'll be able to find any images but I'll speak to my older sister who my be able to throw some light. The houses at the time comprised a self contained apartment on the lower floor with a two storey house on top. My Grandmother lived in the lower floor flat in the 7th house but I'll forgive you for not including her !!! Best Regards Howard

Anthony I'm afraid you've put me in an impossible position . I was born in the last house !!! . Obviously my solution would be to retain my house, move the whole mountain around the corner and flatten Bangor. No pressure then !! Les's idea to lift the houses may help. On the sea side of the house the garden was very steep down to the railway which runs in a very deep cutting at that point. If the road you are concerned about is the Esplanade up to the main road, again that is very steep in reality. The small road immediately in front (mountainside) of the houses was quite a bit higher than the houses and access was by steep steps. There was no vehicular access to the sea side of the houses in the 60's. Your alternative to soften the slope may be a better aesthetic and simpler solution. Whatever you decide I'm sure it will be fine. Kindest regards. Howard

Superb !!! Absolutely spot on ! Howard

Anthony Sorry to hear that you've been struggling with a bad back. Hope you're feeling better soon. Howard