your comments
Mike Fairhurst born in Cefndy Rd
I think Molly & Bill Fairhurst were the first tenants in the new council houses in Cefndy Rd. Also, Mrs Baxendale and family. No 95 was ours and the prefabs those people were the salt of the earth. Anybody remember 'Molly Moorcroft sells fish, threehapence a dish'? Great times, great people. To name some families; Crossleys, Bambers, Ellis, Evans, Cyryl Roberts, Skelleys, Fairbrash, Clarks, Hughie Betsy, Bains, Miles, Davies, Siddols. Ah, good times.
Tue Feb 24 08:45:14 2009
Graham Ellis from Southport
According to the book "Rhyl and Round About" published circa 1976 there was a Thomas Ellis who lived on East Parade. He apparently owned a brickworks which was later the site of the Grange Laundary.According to the book Thomas Ellis was Chairman of the Rhyl Commissioners in 1878.One of his great-grandsons was Johnny Ellis aka Bob Denzar whose "Skeletons Alive" act toured the music halls of the world. Johnny's eldest brother Charles Reginald Ellis is my grandfather; he too was well known in the town as a longstanding member of the Rhyl Silver Band.I'm afraid I can't throw any more light on any other Ellis family involvement in the local brickwork fraternity, but would love to know if anyone else can. Indeed anything on the Ellis family history in Rhyl would be very interesting to me, thanks.
Tue Feb 17 09:27:58 2009
Jan Williams from Dyserth & Rhyl
The 1896-1903 accounts for Rhyl Brickworks are available at Flintshire Record Office in Hawarden.
Mon Dec 29 11:20:07 2008
Mel, ex Rhyl, now south coast exile!
Very interesting reading about the brickworks and the Roberts and Jones families! I am sure I must be related to some of you. My Nain was Nellie Jones and she married Evan (Ifan) Roberts. Her father was Llewelyn Jones (Llew the crossing!). I would love to hear from anyone who knew them! I have been trying so hard to trace my Dad's family without much luck. To Stuart Jones - my Aunty used to live in Marsh Road (early 1960s) for some reason number 63 rings a bell! I had no idea those cottages were as old as you say.
Tue Oct 14 10:23:48 2008
Sian Evans from Llandrindod
Does anyone have any idea why Walford Avenue off Cefndy Rd is called Walford Avenue? I think it must have been built just after the war in 1945. Might it have been named after a local person?
Thu Sep 4 08:06:01 2008
Bob Machin ex-Rhyl
For Nathan. I remember Jack Evans well he was a good friend of my uncle Jack (Roberts) who lived at 131 Cefndy Rd and they both worked on cars at the Brickie and knew some of the Evans children, Jaqueline I'm sure I knew as a child.
Mon Aug 4 10:46:09 2008
Bob Machin, ex-Rhyl
Thanks Tina for all your information. I do recall most of the people you mention, I only remember Ned & Peggy in the Terrace, I think they may have been the last people to move out.
Wed Jul 30 11:49:57 2008
Shirley Quinn, Rhyl
To Margaret Campbell/ Kinmel Bay. My grandmother's sister Margaret Blackburn lived in Cefndy Road. Margaret's daughter Louie was murdered in the house in the 1970s. Are they any relations of yours?
Mon Jul 28 10:28:58 2008
Phil Boulton, Australia
To Mary Lloyd, I have only just read your letter about my mother, Sheigh McMullen, my mum moved to Australia when father died.
Thu Jul 17 10:56:29 2008
Jonathan Albrighton from Rhyl
My Nain and Taid used to live in the railway terraces near the Brickie, Fforddlas and Marsh Road and it was a regular haunt for me and my brother when we were kids. My nain (Lilian Parry) and taid (Emrys Parry) had two daughters, identical twins called Gillian and Jennifer. There are many stories I remember about the bricke including the suicide mentioned and an angler's tale about a giant pike that ate a bird of some kind. If anyone remembers my nain and taid or the twin sisters I'd love to hear about them!
Thu May 15 08:19:47 2008
Diana Hannam, Rhyl
Nathan from Kinmel Bay. Your great grandfather Jack Evans was my uncle, he was married to Margret Hannam my mother's sister, Rosina Maude Hannam. We are all related first, second third cousins. Jack Evans' great great grandfather, owned the Brickworks known as Cefendy Brickworks. Llewellyn Blackwell Evans built and owned the cottages on site. He was also one of Rhyl's first Commissioners. I have since learned there were originally six brickworks in close proximity to the Cefendy Brickworks and I live in Fforddlas on the site of one of the first brickworks in Rhyl. One of the oldest former residents of the Brickie, mother of Pat Jones formerly Roberts died recently. They live next door but one to me. You belong to a much larger family than you realise. The one sad thing about the brickmaking industry in Rhyl is the major contribution it made to the existence of the town and surrounding communities - people needed homes to live in. But unlike the coal industries, nobody ever sought to value this important aspect of our local history, which I have safely gathered together. We were ignored in the interest of promoting tourism and our great grandparents discouraged from speaking the mother tongue, the Welsh language in school, which was outrageous, which is why Rhyl has so few Welsh speakers. About the '50s when I was in school we were being taught Welsh again, I topped the exam in Welsh, beating a Welsh speaking girl which shocked the Headmistress, it also shocked me but that's another story. The 'Brickie' dynasty, still lives on - we are all over the place.
Wed Jan 16 08:32:39 2008
Lee Howard
Hello I am a photographer and am about to start a social documentry series on Rhyl, and I find it interesting that Rhyl was most famous for making bricks, when a large amount of buildings are now being demolished for regeneration. I believe that rebuilds should not be an option, they should refurb existing buildings, maybe that's the plan I'm not too sure. I don't intend to do to Rhyl what photographer Martin Parr did to New Brighton, I will document the process honestly. I hope and expect this piece to feature in a local gallery, hopefully Rhyl when it's complete.
Wed Jan 9 09:43:55 2008
Tim Edwards, Dorset.
Have found my gran's father was a builder in Rhyl around the 1900s. The 1901 Census puts him at 3 Abbey St, Rhyl, Hugh Thomas Roberts, with his second wife Margaret, and first born child, 6 more were to follow.
Mon Jan 7 11:48:30 2008
Dennis Lovell from Prestatyn
Having read Tina from Rhyl's note about Brickfield Terrace, I was born at 12 Brickfield Terrace and my mother was Catherine (Cassie) Jones - sister to George Jones - the mail. I am also doing family tree stuff and would to make contact.
Mon Dec 31 08:56:51 2007
Julie Hoult, Dyserth
It is really interesting to read about the Brickfields. My father David (Dio) Roberts lived in Brickfield Terrace. He was born in 1915, his father Ned was employed by the brickworks at some time, and his grandfather Cornelius was a carter for the brickworks and lived at number 3, Brickfield Terrace. My father told me that when he was very young the houses were not surrounded by water, until the springs flowed into the hollows. I don't know if anyone else is aware of that, or could verify that. The Roberts family became one of the larger Rhyl families. My grandfather Ned later became the landlord of the Queens Arms (the Galley) on Vale Road.
Thu Nov 29 08:22:54 2007
Tina from Rhyl
My taid and nan lived in No 12 Brickfield Terrace with my mum. My taid was George Jones, he was who Mary Lloyd (now Burrow) referred to as Jones the Donkeys. He was actually known all of his life as Georgie Mail and his family were always referred to as the Mails. I think this was because his dad was a postman? My mum, Pauline, remembers living at Brickfield Terrace and of all its occupants. She remembers Jones Cefndy's farm, this she remembers being where there is now a row of shops and flats on Cefndy Road. My aunty Violet, I remember used to work in ACE radio which was at the bottom end of these shops. Mr and Mrs Williams No 1 Brickfield Terrace were related to my mum, Lillian Williams was my nan's sister. My nan was Hilda Jones. My taid's family also lived at No 12 and when his parents both died he moved his family back in to this house. I have just started to trace my family back and was very excited to see that people remember my family. My mum talks about my taid going to work at night in the brickworks to keep the fires stoked and then in the summer he also went on the beach with the donkeys all day - and we think we work long hours! The lady with very blond hair that Bob Machin mentions - my mum thinks was called Peggy.
Mon Oct 22 08:22:40 2007
Michael John Hamilton-Smith
Sharon Foston wished to know about previous properties in Lynton Walk. She may be interested in the Old-maps.co.uk website, for viewing Ordnance Survey maps from 1871, 1877 and 1878. They show her road at those dates and are fascinating. To visit the site use the following URL: http://www.old-maps.co.uk/IndexMapPage2.aspx
Tue Sep 4 09:39:04 2007
Nathan from Kinmel Bay
My great grandfather Jack Evans and great grandmother Margaret Hanman lived at Brickfield Terraces then moved to 121 Cefndy Road. Jack Evans sprayed cars at the Brickfield. They had 8 kids, one my nan Jacqueline Evans. Anyone know any of them?
Wed Aug 15 09:54:59 2007
Stuart Jones (Rhyl)
The row of houses in Marsh Road used to belong to the railway and the people who worked on the railway and their families. I have found out that my house number 63 spans almost three centuries old. The house was built in 1898. Anyone got any pictures of Marsh Road please?
Fri May 11 10:01:08 2007
Mike Davies
Lynn, ref your enquiry. There are 2 houses, 161and163, both were part of the Ty'n Rhyl estate and I have copies of the sales details of 1924. I believe one of the properties could have been a mill/bakehouse for the estate.If you look at the gable end, you will see it is raised and squared where a vane could have been, also I BELIEVE, some years ago buliders uncovered what may have been a large oven. I live on Vale Rd., and our deeds show that the land which nos 141/157 occupy was known by a Welsh word which translates as "pheasants kitchen" which may indicateit was a source of "game".
Wed Mar 28 14:23:21 2007
Sharon Foston, Rhyl
We live in Lynton Walk, Rhyl and have recently started to dig up our back garden. Having knocked down the garage which was built with the house in, I believe, the 1930s, we are now discovering rows upon rows of bricks, laid out as if something had been built on this site prior to the house. Despite my best efforts we seem to be unable to unearth what our 'discovery' is. Can anyone tell me if there were any buildings on Lynton Walk PRIOR to the houses that are presently there? I would be very interested to know.
Mon Mar 26 08:58:57 2007
Lesley Catton, Telford
Have previously left a note and try to keep up to date with the site. Diana Hannam's recent comment was intriguing as my paternal great-grandmother married a Roberts and moved from the Brickfields to live at the nearby Yacht Farm and my Nane's sister Ellen married a Lloyd. All the family lived at the Brickfields and the family name was Jones. Lots of first and second cousins there. I have been concentrating doing my Grandad's (George Meadows) side of the family tree so only done bits of my great-grandmother's side Catherine Jones nee Williams but really inspired to start. Any info out there?
Thu Mar 1 16:45:23 2007
Angela Lancaster, Worcester
I have enjoyed reading about people in Rhyl as I come from a very old Rhyl family myself. I am trying to trace my family tree and would love to hear from anyone who remembers Suzy Williams from St Anns Atreet and her children Annie, Raymond, Betty.
Thu Feb 22 09:25:19 2007
Daniel Palmer from Rhyl
Has anybody got pictures of brickworks b4 it was flooded? I was brought up on Walford Ave and am interested in the history of the place.
Tue Feb 13 15:31:40 2007
Lynn from Rhyl
Hi all, i live at the back of what was known as the Farmers Arms, next to Tyn Rhyl and was wondering if anybody knew anything about the history of my house Kelmscott 165. I was very interested to read comments by Mike Davis.
thanks
Mon Feb 12 10:50:44 2007
Diana Hannam. Rhyl.
Dear All. I was so pleased at your responses, there is so much information out there, to piece together a historical record of Rhyl and its first industry. I was more amazed to find the first owner was my great great uncle, Llewellyn Blackwell Evans, who built all the cottages on the site. The Hannams lived in the Brickfield Terrace, great grandfather, and grandfather in Cefndy Terrace, who married later having all their children born on the site. A consequence of which came the Brickfield community in turn Hannams, Jones, Roberts, Lloyds, all becoming first and second cousins. The original families were all Welsh speakers, coming from the Denbigh area, Nantglyn, and surrounds. The reference to Mayors and Councillors referred to the nineties. David Blackwell Evans was a Rhyl Commissioner during the early 1900s, Brickfield Local Government community service to the town started as far back as that. We all started our journeys in serving the community about 1995, still on going. As well as having been a Rhyl Town Mayor and still serving as a Town Councillor, I became an Independant County Councillor in 2004. Our current AM is Ann Jones, and our Member of Parliament, Chris Ruane whose relatives came from the community. What would our grand parents have said? Our roots were firmly embedded in the clay pit, which is now a beautiful nature reserve, full of wildlife. There is nothing to identify the hardship of its past industrial history, other than a few metal murals, erected more recently. And of course all the information tucked away waiting to be written, when time dictates, we should all value our heritage no matter how humble, please keep them coming, a great thanks for your contribution.
Mon Feb 5 11:43:44 2007
Nic Jones, Wrexham
I know of a building being demolished in Rhyl, which has a brick with the mark "C&R" on the top concealed face (or frog) of the brick. Does anyone know which brick company used this mark ?
Wed Jan 17 15:34:19 2007
Margaret Campbell nee Blackburn, Kinmel Bay
Hi, I'm Margaret that used to live at 141 Cefendy Rd in the 50s and 60s. It has been interesting to read about the brickworks on your site. I used to play in and around the brickworks and was always walking my dog, Prince, through the hay field which is now the school field on to what we called the "island" at the end of the pointed bit of land in the big pond. When the pond used to ice over the local lads would play ice hockey with sticks. I used to follow the footprints in the ice of the local wildlife. A Miss Edwards lived in the first of the bricky cottages, as was the custom in those days I used to call her auntie although she was actually no relation. There was Jones farm which I lived across the road from which had women in white overalls working in the pickle factory that was in the farm grounds. There was an amazing woman called Cissie who used to walk to the farm with a sow. She was dressed in a long apron and wellies (not the sow!) tapping it along Cefendy Road with a stick. There was a circus performing at the Pavillion in Rhyl for the season every year and they used to stay at the farm in the caravans on the land. At the time of year when eels were plentiful the locals used to catch them to eat. This was in the small pond which went on to be filled in and had the Woodburns clothing factory built on it and where I had my first job after leaving Glydwr School to be a machinist. Best regards to anyone who remembers that time.
Thu Jan 4 14:06:39 2007
Bob Machin from Rhyl
I spent a lot of my childhood playing in and around the Brickworks (1950s). Joe Darlington ran a garage in one of the cooling sheds and Hughie Roberts ran a joinery and firewood business on the site. Joe lived on the corner of Cefndy Road and Kingsley Avenue. I was born at 131 Cefndy Road the home of my Auntie & Uncle, Jack & Doris Roberts. The terrace was still occupied by one or two families. One couple had a Jowett Javelin saloon and she had very blonde hair, They eventually moved to a prefab in Aled Avenue (?). When the terrace was abandoned we broke through the walls of the upper floors and so could run through from one end of the terrace to the other. There was a Gypsy caravan parked up on Ffordd Derwen and the son of the family used to dive off the end of the spit of land the terrace was on and come up on the other side where Mr Jones kept his donkies. There was an attepmt to use the big kiln to grow mushrooms, there were 3 guys who set it up but I don't think it lasted more than one crop. Also Jim (?) Skeffington started a breeze block making business on the site. If anyone has photos taken around the mid 50s I'd love to see them.
Mon Dec 18 09:58:46 2006
Katie Jones
I'm creating a book of Rhyl for my final year at university, please tell me your holiday experiences you had or what you think of Rhyl now. If you have any picture from any time in Rhyl I would be happy to buy them off you. Thank you, Katie Jones.
Wed Nov 8 12:30:24 2006
Mary Lloyd, formerly of Rhyl
Now Burrow, living in Kendal, Lake District. I was born at 9 Brickfield Terrace in 1933. I lived at this address with my parents, William and Eleanor Lloyd, untill the age of 6 when we moved to Victoria Road, Rhyl. The residents before 1939 of Cefndy Road as I remember were; number 1, Mr and Mrs William Jones and their six children. Number 4, was Mr and Mrs Thomas. Number 5, was Mr and Mrs Parr. Number 6, Ned and Peggy (lala) Roberts, the only family on the terrace with a car, at number 7 lived Mister Roberts, mother Hannah. Number 8 was a Mister and Mrs David Jones and their two children. My grandmother lived at number 10, another relation, Hannah Jones, lived at number 11 and Mr Jones also known to us as Jones the Donkeys lived at number 12. Mr Jones took his donkeys to Rhyl beach opposite the Palace Hotel, he would offer children donkey rides for thrupence and stayed until around seven at night at which time he would take them home; some of the children from Brickfield Terrace would meet the donkeys on return at Fordd Las and Mr Jones would let them ride the donkeys back home. The men that worked at the brickworks used to take pieces of clay home and make painted toy models for the children of the terrace, which were greatly appreciated. One man even made a bust of Hitler. I had a very close realtionship with Brickfield Terrace as my grandmother lived there for many years after I had left. The houses were two bedrooms, a back kitchen with one cold water tap and one living room downstairs, flooring was brick and the upper was wood. There were two small yards, one front and back, down the end of the back yard was the wc. Personally I don't remember any mayors from Brickfield Terrace, I would be grateful to anybody who could tell me the name of the first one and when he became mayor. I would also like to get in touch with any of my old friends from Rhyl if anybody recognises my name, especially Shellagh Mcmullen married to a Mr Bolton in 1951 and Esther Jones married to John Rimmer also in the 50s.
Mon Oct 9 10:36:57 2006
Lesley Catton from Telford
My great grandmother Catherine Jones and family lived at 10 Brickfields, shall certainly be passing this site on to my Mom who lived there during the war years and other family members. My other great grandmother Margaret Roberts lived at the nearby Yacht Farm.
Mon Sep 11 16:31:56 2006
Barbara Price, Radcliffe, nr Bury, Lancs
I would be very pleased if anyone could tell me the truth about a 'murder' or 'suicide' that occurred at the brickworks. I have been told that a young woman 'wrapped in chains' drowned in the brickworks pond. I believe that she was a cousin of my grandmother who lived in Rhyl. My grandmother was called Lil Ellis.
Fri Sep 8 11:01:52 2006
Andy Lewis from Liverpool
This is a strange question - as I used to holiday a lot in Rhyl when I was a kid, does anyone have any pics or photos of the ghost train from around 1974? It's not the little one at the side of the entrance but the big one that was by the rotar and I had a dip like a coaster. The art work used
to scare me when I was a kid, horrible ghoulish paintings. Much appreciated if anyone can help.
Mon Aug 21 11:23:56 2006
Michael John Hamilton-Smith
My grandfather, James Frederick Hamilton Smith, was the General Manager of Rhyl Cefndy Brickworks circa 1900. He had returned home to New Road, Rhosddu, Stansty, Wrexham from The Atlanta Terra Cotta Co of Kansas City, USA. Anyone have any photos of Cefndy at that time please ?
Mon Jul 10 09:36:39 2006
Norman Blackwell from Gt.Yarm
I remember during one of the hard winters in the early 1930s a group of us sliding on the ice on the Ty Newydd brickworks pool (the works was not there and Clifton Park Road had not been built - all fields through to Grange Road), we cut rushes and lit a big fire on the ice, anyone remember?
Mon Jun 26 09:08:12 2006
steve from rhyl
Has anyone got any photos of the cefndy brickfield pit before it was filled with water as i fish the pond regular and would be interested in any pics that are available.
Fri Apr 21 09:41:36 2006
Mike Davies, Rhyl
Re. my last comment: I have a copy of a map dated 1880, which shows this large area of water. There are many underground streams which cross Vale Road, which could account for the pool that formed. My wife was born at what was known previously as The Farmers Arms. Now a day school, it had a beer cellar with sandstone stillages for the barrels. Through this ran a gulley which carried a constant flow of pure spring water. This was analysed and found to be the same as is found in Dyserth. However against advice the present owners filled it in with cement! It is anyone's guess as to where this water is now going. There are, so I was told by my Grandfather, wells to the rear of both T,n Rhyl and Maes Gwilym (now the Mormon Church).
Mon Feb 27 21:07:47 2006
Michelle Rhyl
My husband and I are wondering if you have a list of employee's, as my hubby's late Great Grandfather and Grandfather both worked at the Cefendy site.
We also believe that his Grandfather was brought up in the cottages.
Their names are Issac Llewelyn Taylor and Llwelyn James Taylor.
Would love any feed back.
Sun Oct 23 14:53:49 2005
Mike Roberts from Formby (old Prestatynite)
I little realised the brickfield history of Rhyl until only recently. Listening to the marvellous BBC Radio 4 programme 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' from Rhyl, Humphrey Lyttleton remarked on the history of the bricks something like this: 'In the 19th Century Rhyl exported bricks to build the houses of Manchester and jack up the cars in Liverpool.' Thanks for that Humph!
Thu Jul 14 23:35:53 2005
Mike Davies
My house in Vale Road was built of local red clay bricks in 1868. The clay came from a pit situated where Topps tiles now stands. I have the original deeds tracing the history of the field it was built on and believe I am descended from one of Rhyl's oldest families.
'
Mon Jun 27 19:11:04 2005
Dennis Lovell from Prestatyn
I was born at 12 Brickfield Terrace at the Cefndy brickworks in 1930 although I don't remember much about the area. Our house was the first to fall into the quarry.
Thu Mar 10 20:17:03 2005
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