I started school in Rhydymwyn in 1940. The school is a private home now I believe, but it those days it had a row of trees fronting the road with roots protruding from the ground into the school yard, around which we used to play. They spend a lot of money these days to replicate similar play settings.
I have to admit that I spent too much time looking out of the window at the fields at the back, wishing I was someplace else. In the early part of the war, at least, we carried gas masks to school, but I remember thinking that I wouldn't be able to wear one for more than a couple of minutes before I was gasping for air.
The headmaster, Mr Brown, was a strict disciplinarian. I wonder if Earnest Evans remembers him banging our heads together for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? But he did have a sense of humour. He told us one day that he owned a red, white and blue suit. Very patriotic we thought, as we all tried to imagine our very proper headmaster having such a wild suit. After getting all these wild thoughts going through our heads, he proceeded to tell us he was wearing it. He had us go up front and inspect the dark blue suit with minute threads of red and white. It taught me a valuable lesson that day. It also taught me not to be in the wrong place.
The ICI factory was building up fast and the village was a hive of activity as workers came from all over on busses and trains. The river Alyn still ran in front of the entrance to the ICI plant and the oldest farm in Rhydymwyn before it was encased in concrete and run through the factory.
The station was a busy place in those days. It had posters up showing German paratroopers and warning us to inform the authorities as soon as you saw any. Also the danger of personnel bombs disguised as common everyday objects. I never did find out if the Germans ever dropped any, or if they were just propaganda on our side.
I used to go the Antelope Hotel for lunch on school days, as this was the days before school lunches. I sat at a long table with travelling salesmen and farmers, and all I can remember is having stew. I suppose it saved on the food stamps but the meat was all gristle.
I walked home past the Statimeter, and marvelled at the coils of metal turnings piled up outside. Also the owner's big American Ford Pilot car parked out front. I was going to have one of those some day. I did.
The last time I was back in Rhydymwyn about 10 years ago I was surprised at how little it had changed. I still carry a piece of it in my heart.
your comments
Dave Vaughan
Hi Des, glad to hear you're OK, hope you're home for the reunion June 27th at the football club, there's no pub in the village at the moment sad to see. Hope to hear from you soon.
Wed Apr 8 09:56:47 2009
Des Frost, Seattle, Washington, USA
Hi to all my old friends in Rhydymwyn. I am living in Seattle again, I have been here for two and a half years. I work at Boeing again on the new 747-8. I am a Liaison Engineer. I have very fond memories of the village.I am a grandfather now, my daughter Angela and her husband Josh have a 3 yr old daughter Mackenzie and they are expecting their second child in July, they live in Dallas. I am woring in Dallas at the moment for Boeing and see them a lot. My son Nick is still living in Montreal, Canada.Would love to hear from any of my old friends on this site. Me and my wife Gail hope to visit this summer.
Mon Apr 6 10:15:08 2009
David Vaughan
To Ian Guard, I have great memories of the race track and race days. The location of the track was next to the Antelope pub. It is now a industrial site.
Mon Mar 23 09:17:58 2009
Vaughan, Rhydymwyn
Anybody that has been brought up in Rhydymwyn or went to the school either the old or new one. There is going to be a reunion at the football club on Saturday 27/06/09. All are welcome. Anybody with photographs, could you please contact me through this site.
Fri Mar 20 13:00:43 2009
Deirdre Frost
I have left Rhydymwyn now and feel that the village no longer has anything to welcome people, there is no shop no school and I am not on my own saying this how sad Rhydymwyn has become these days.
Thu Oct 16 09:25:25 2008
Allan Roberts, Connecticut
The bath house was in a sad state with the roof caved in when I first saw it during the 1940s. Over 60 years ago, and the roof had caved in then. But under the rubble there were some beautiful tiles around the bath. I thought at the time what a shame to have let it go so badly. My guess it must have been built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Does anyone have more info?
Mon Oct 6 08:06:21 2008
Ian Morris
The small chapel with the well is actually a Bath House belonging to Coed Du Hall.
Fri Oct 3 07:54:50 2008
Pat Daley, Mold.
Does anybody know what the small chapel like building on the road past Coed Du Hall is - it is in the trees and looks like a small chapel with a well in the middle? Discovered this whilst walking and it aroused my curiousity.
Sat Sep 27 10:15:40 2008
Yvonne Farnley nee Buckley, Mold
Glyn Hyfryd was where my father, Norman Buckley, lived - opposite the car park as it is now by the entrance to the works. He remembers a lot about Rhydymwyn, as do I, his daughter. My then husband, Syd, and I use to frequent the Sun Inn. We were motorbike mad in them days. Phil Frost and Miles O'Reilley were always being told off by the village bobby - can't remember his name. Does anyone remember the Buckley family?
Tue Sep 2 08:48:12 2008
Keith Higham
Hi Pam, yes I am the Keith Higham who lived opposite Ellis and Ken our best mates all through our childhood. Your mum was the sister to Teg and Doug who was killed during the war as a Lancaster gunner. I remember him playing football in the street with us with his flying jacket on. Unfortunately that was the last time we saw him. I haven't seen Ellis or Ken for years. It would be nice to meet you if possible. I go into wales once a week to a friend in Colwyn Bay.
Thu Aug 14 14:00:19 2008
Cynthia Colegate - Halkyn
I lived at Rose Cottage formerly called River View from 1969 to 1974. I have fond memories of life in Rhydymwyn, it was a lovely village with great people and some real characters like Bob (I think). He loved a pint in the Antelope whilst listening to 'Myfanwy' on the jukebox.
Mon Aug 4 10:08:07 2008
Mike Gibson, Prestatyn
Hi Carol, met up with your mum and dad the other week. Was really nice to see them again after all these years.Your dad should still have my email address and telephone number so next time you see him ask him for them or alternatively, I have asked the website team to send them direct to your email address. Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Mon Jul 14 08:03:56 2008
Carol Jones, Mold
Hi Michael Gibson, I used to be Carol Howells and remember you coming to live in the village. We had so much fun playing in the orchard and in the river at the Graig. When did you leave the Antelope? I went to work there in 1965 for Mr and Mrs Roberts. I also remember the pub has changed hands many times. Such a shame village life has changed so much.
Fri Jun 27 08:00:06 2008
Pat - Kent
My mum worked at Rhydymwyn Valley Works during WW2. We visited the site in April this year and enjoyed a fascinating day being shown around by Sando Citra who has an amazing knowledge of the site. Some of the buildings are still standing, and the place is being made over as a nature reserve. If ever you get the chance to visit the site, which they hope to open completely to the public in due course, it is well worth a visit. It was the most secret site in the UK and the Germans never found it.
Thu Jun 26 08:08:49 2008
Christina
I lived in Rhydymwn for a few years in the '90s. As a faith filled Christian on the land I was thought of as a witch by the ignorant villagers. I used to lay hands on the sick for healing and do the gardens of the frail and do chores for the infirm to bring good will. I have since moved on to serve God in a greater capacity. I sadly think of the village as a God forsaken place. Gossip was sport to the women folk and Friday night at the drinking hole the topic. I had a dream warning that it would flood and it did.
Fri Jun 6 07:52:19 2008
Ian Morris
Hi Pam. Where in Rhydymwyn did your mum come to camp? Was it at Nant Alyn? We don't think there was anywhere else at the time!
Mon Mar 31 10:12:31 2008
Pam Starkey, Rhyl
Hi. My mum is always telling me tales of when she, Joyce (then Roberts), and her brothers Ken and Ellis would go camping at Rhydymwyn in the 1940s. They would go with two other families, the Giles and the Highams, all living in Norris Green, Liverpool at that time. It would be interesting to know if the Keith Higham writing here is any relation to the Keith Higham she has mentioned many times when remembering the happy times they spent there.
Tue Feb 26 11:33:04 2008
Niki Llewellyn-Jones, Swansea
My grandparents lived in Rhydymyn for many years before moving to Rhosesmor where my nana still lives (she's 90). Does anyone remember Eleanor and Walter Gaskell, their children were Walter, Mary and John Gaskell. I would love to send my nana some messages as she loves hearing about old friends and neighbours.
Mon Feb 4 09:45:52 2008
Mike Gibson
Happy new year to everyone who has contributed to this site. I hope to read and indeed hear from more people who have, I know, lots of happy memories and stories to tell about Rhydymwyn and the surrounding areas. Tell your friends and mates about this site, I think it is a cracking way to reminisce and get back in contact with old friends. Hope you all have a great 2008...Mike Gibson.
Mon Jan 7 11:34:17 2008
Anthony Burke, Bourne (Lincs)
To Sam Williams. I lived in Rhydymwyn from 1940 (I was 1 year old) until 1946. I still love the village and have been there recently. My mum, Ethel Burke, was a great chum of Molly Blackman, landlady of the Antelope. Daughter Jane and I grew up together. My mum and Molly were 2 in the "Gang of 5". The others were Mrs Hyde from the garage, Bessie McLean from the school and Mrs Petigrew who lived in Nant Alyn.
Fri Nov 9 15:12:43 2007
Allan, Connecticut
Hi Keith. Long time no see. Last time must have been in '54 when I left for the RAF. It is good to hear from you.Yes I remember well the "Unloaded" chrome plated revolver. and the shocked looks on everyone's faces. We were lucky. But we were young and nothing worried us. My cousin sent me some photos of the field after the floods and the mess it made of the caravans and the Mill. I have seen times when they had to sand bag the farm to stop the water entering, but it was nothing compared with this last flood. We had some good times at the Antelope. We didn't have much money and I think we spent what we did have on petrol for our motorcyles. Ahh the good old days.
Mon Oct 8 11:12:03 2007
Allan, Connecticut
Hi Keith. The last time I saw you must have been in '54 when I left to go in the RAF. Good to hear from you. Yes I remember well the "Empty" chrome plated revolver someone had borrowed for the weekend. But we were all young and worried more about our motorcycles breaking down. We didn't have much money but we enjoyed going to the Antelope for a few beers and a sing song, with no fights or vandalism after. I had the shotgun repaired in Chester and I told Mr Morris I had fallen climbing over a fence. Thanks for getting in touch. Allan.
Mon Oct 8 10:44:31 2007
Mike Gibson
I have heard that once again the Antelope has changed hands. I do not think anyone has had it for more than six years. Some people said that it was haunted by the ghost of a young girl, but I never experienced anything of this nature. We did have a small fire in the front smoke room (no pun intended ha) in the early hours one morning. This was attributed to either a fag end or an ember falling from the fire place. However, the fireman did say it had been smouldering for quite some time. There were no flames, just smoke and when we saw the damage to the smoke room floor, it had burnt through the floorboards in a half moon pattern.I believe the incident was reported in the Daily Post by a local reporter who lived in the area.
Fri Oct 5 13:45:33 2007
Keith Higham, Liverpool
Hi Allan (Roberts). It's great to see all these comments on Rhydymwyn. I go there at least once a year and meet a couple of the old campers who have caravans on the field at Nant Alyn.I usually stop and have a chat with Ian (Jack's son). Do you remember nearly getting your head blown off by Peter Murray when someone who shall be nameless brought a revolver on to the field with live ammunition. Also when you borrowed old Mr Morriss's 410 to shoot rabbits and I broke the butt hitting a rabbit. I always remember Mr Mathews the landlord of the Antelope where they had a piano and we had some good singsongs. This might interest Sam Williams. Best regards, Keith
Thu Oct 4 10:50:54 2007
Vaughan, Cefn-y-Bedd
To Mike Gibson. So you haven't forgotten the football then, long time since I've been to Rhyl. Don't go to the village much now, still see all the lads on a regular basis, hope you're keeping OK.
Wed Sep 5 09:35:57 2007
Mike Gibson
To David Vaughan, you MUST be the Davey Vaughan that played in our football team along with Mally Parry, Dave Wilson, Kenny Knowels etc etc. I think we met up a couple of times after I'd left the village, in the Dixiland in Rhyl.
Tue Jul 17 08:21:51 2007
David Vaughan from Cefn-y-Bedd
To all those brought up in the village, I have great memories of living in the village playing football on the green at the statue. I was the last one to run the Antelope before it was changed to an eating place. To Mike Gibson, someone stole the antelope's head on the last night of opening.
Tue Jul 10 15:12:10 2007
Mike Gibson, Prestatyn
It was interesting reading Alan's comments on the 'Morris family' of Nant Alyn. I remember there being a Buster Morris in my class at Rhydymwyn V.P. He used to bring in cattle horns which were full of hair, blood and gunge, and he would sit at break time and dinner hour cleaning them up, shaving them with his penknife and then polishing them and then putting layers of varnish on them before selling them as spill holders. I also remember a Mr Bill Parry and his wife Nell (I think) from that area who ran a mink farm. Anyone remember them?
Thu Jun 14 08:12:02 2007
Allan Roberts, Connecticut
If you want to see old photos of G.B, Google "Frith". It will take you to a Photo collection of hundreds of old pictures including Nantalyn. Sorry no Rhydymwyn as yet. One is of the mill with my childhood home on the hill behind.(the 1950c is suspect. It looks more like the mid '30s) And the Penny a day school to the left. I am inclined to think that this was in the 1800s when the Cornish men and families came to build the leete and the lead mines employed many workers. But that is only my guess. Incidentally Ian, I would love to see any photos you may have of Nantalyn.
Thu Jun 7 07:51:37 2007
Al Roberts from Connecticut
Barrie, you have brought up some memories. The searchlight near the brick works. The mobile movie truck which showed pictures to standing room only crowds on the road between the Sun Inn and the post office. But most of all, playing in the barns which was very exciting until someone dropped a brick from an upstairs window and hit a boy on the head. I can't remember what happened after but I know it put an end to the games and do you remember the steam trucks which carried huge loads of bricks from Ruby brick yards?
Wed May 23 09:12:54 2007
Barrie Vernon-Roberts from South Australia
During WW2 my family lived at Dolfechlas and my brother and I attended the village school. A searchlight unit was located in the park surrounding our house and the soldiers used to come to the house every morning to fill their jerrycans with drinking water. My father was the Major in charge of the local Home Guard and Manager of the local brickworks. Those times were hugely exciting for us and our school friends who would come to our house each Saturday morning for mock battles in our farm buildings which were no longer in use at that time. I was born in Gwernaffield in 1935 and we moved to Llanferres after the war.
Mon May 21 11:08:49 2007
Alan Roberts. Enfield , Connecticut
Yes, I lived in one of the new houses just above the Mill, from 1940 to '49. I fondly remember John and Mary Morris. They were like Grandparents to me. I knew every inch of that valley and all the mine shafts and audits. Its a wonder I survived. After the war the camp ground filled up with mostly Liverpool people wanting to get away from all the hardships. I made many friends during the late '40s and early '50s at the camp. I must admit that I never knew that the cottages next to us was once a school house. I remember the Goodwins Coal Merchants. I also remember looking longingly at the chocholate bars in the shop window during the war, and Mrs Morris having to show me that they were just fake. I would like to hear from anyone who remembers those times.
Wed May 9 08:36:56 2007
Ian
Tan y Coed was owned by the Morris family. The school at a later date became two houses, one of which was Tan y Coed. The Coal Merchant, Rob Goodwen, lived in one house. Mr & Mrs Pimblett we think converted the two houses into one when it became Tan y Coed. The Caravan Park and Nant Alyn Mill has been in the Morris family since the late 1920s and we have lots of old pictures to cover this period. Does anyone remember the shop at Nant Alyn? Or Morris's field as the caravan was known in the 30s & 40s?
Tue May 8 09:19:20 2007
Mike Gibson
To Mr. Howells, Hello there Sir. Yes do remember you and your family, as I said I went to school with your daughter Carol. She used to knock around with a Cathy Jones, I think.
Fond memories of the youth club, some great Friday nights spent there. Ha, ha. Very good memories of playing football at the institute for hours and hours with the likes of Kenny knowles, Davy Wilson Gaz Davies, Bodie (Tyrone Davies). My dad Joe, passed away in Jan 06. My mum Shelagh died in 95. Had some very very good times in Rhydymwyn. We were made very welcome by all of the villagers when we 'emigrated' from Stoke-on -Trent in 1960.
Tue Feb 27 10:29:13 2007
Mike Gibson
To Dawn Lloyd.
Thanks for that info. I am 55 now. I don't remember a Fran but do remember Ian, he was a couple of years younger than me though. I do remember Frank, though he was quite a lot older than me.
I am trying to place your mum then if it is not the Carole I thought it was. There also used to be a Carol Jones who lived in the same street as your mum, maybe it was she who knocked about with Christine.
I hooked up with Des Frost quite recently, I use to knock about with his brother Vincent (Inky). Cheers for now.
Tue Feb 20 13:32:52 2007
Dawn Lloyd
To Mike Gibson, My mum is Carole i think you are thinking of Fran Vernon (Hines). They are first cousins. My great granddad brought her and Ian up because there mum died. My granddad Joe Veron, Roddy's oldest son brought up Paul Hines, Fran and Ian's brother. Ian went on to play for Notts Forest and now lives in Ireland, Fran lives in Connahs Quay. Fran had her wedding reception at the Antelope, i was one of her bridesmaids. Do you remember Frank Vernon?
Tue Feb 20 10:59:27 2007
Mike Gibson Prestatyn
Hi Dawn Lloyd. I think I went to Rhydymwyn school with your mum. Did she use to hang about with a Christine Edwards? I remember Roddy Vernon and an Ian Hines, turned out to be a good footballer I'm told. My dad Joe Gibson used to go to work with Roddy in the Winter time to Courtaulds Flint. Many's the time they WALKED from Rhydymwyn to Flint through the snow etc etc.
Does your mum remember sitting in the old caravan in the orchard with Carol Howells, me and Inky, I think we were about 10 ha ha.
A quick note to Ian Gaurd, yes when my parents had the Antelope the race track was part of the land and lease etc. Many many races were held during our time there.
The talk was 'if you could ride Rhydymwyn track, you could ride anywhere'. What a place for gathering mushrooms, have picked many many pounds worth on there and sold them from a little stall outside of the cafe, to day trippers or coach parties going to and from Rhyl etc. Happy days.
Mon Feb 19 13:38:41 2007
Dawn Lloyd, Flint
My great grandfather was Roddy Vernon, and worked at the Antelope pub. He lived at the top of the street next to the carpark of the ICI factory, where he worked as a policeman on the gate. My mother is Carole, Joe's daughter and remembers the Frost family.
Fri Jan 26 10:59:40 2007
Allan from Connecticut
Yes Ian. I remember the motorcycle races well except for the names, but the track was behind the Antelope hotel and parallel to the railroad tracks. It was an old war time Valley Works site and unbanked so the riders had to use a lot of skill to take the corners. It attracted a lot of visitors eager for some entertainment after a long war. I can still hear the roar of the unmuffled engines and smell the castor oil burning. The Chester - Denbigh train would take their time coming in and out of the station to see the outcome of the race. Also, if there are any readers who remember the campground in Nantalyn in the '50s and the nights at the Antelope, I would be interested to hear from you.
Thu Jan 18 08:24:33 2007
Ian Guard, Runcorn, Cheshire
Rhydymwyn race circuit. I am reading a book about motorcycle legend Mike Hailwood who won races at the circuit on 27 July 1957. Does anyone have any memories of this or the location of the circuit?
Mon Jan 15 09:20:19 2007
Mike Gibson, Prestatyn
Hi Stewart, I am presuming the Mike you are addressing is me ha. No Ron Stokes took over from my family in 1965. My gran, Mrs Kelly, was the then owner. My late mum & dad came from Stoke to help her run it in about 1960. Have just 'hooked up' with Des Frost. Had a good old natter about old times ha ha. I remember Mr Harris of the postoffice very very well. Were you from the village - don't recall your name. Drop us an email etc.
Thu Aug 24 09:27:53 2006
Stewart Williams from Abergele
Hi Mike, I worked a 'season' in the Antelope Hotel behind the bar in 1965 for Ron Stokes, was he your father? Also working there was old Roddy Vernon, anyone remenber him? I later married Moira Harris from the Post Office and we are now retired and living in Abergele. And yes Sam, your food is good, called there earlier this summer and had a meal.
Mon Aug 21 10:30:58 2006
Des Frost, Savannah, GA USA
Sam,
Like I said in a prior message I used to work behind the bar in the Antelope for Roy Melbourne in the early 70s. He used to own a club in Liverpool in the early sixties (1961-62) and paid the Beatles "twenty five pounds" per night to play in his club. He was a bit of a cheap old so and so. He would smoke big cigars and used a cigar holder. When the cigar was nearly finished he would use the knife (that is used to slice lemons to put in drinks) to flick out the old stump. He would never clean the knife. While being a bar man there I served Micky Thomas beer in the lounge, who used to play for Wales and Wrexham as a midfielder. Also I served Brian Connolly of the band Sweet during my days as a bar man. Cheers, Des!
Tue Aug 8 11:03:47 2006
Judith Standring, Jakarta, Indonesia
Jean Sumner,
Could you mean Mwyn Bwll, Garreg Boeth which is on the road from Rhydymwyn to Cilcain. If so I was born there.
Wed Mar 22 10:17:13 2006
Ian Jolly, Bryn-y-Baal, Mold
To Jane Williams,
The underground 'safe location' to which all the art treasures where taken was not in this area - it was to the underground Manod Quarry near Ffestiniog. It was still in the hands of the Department of the Environment until 1981. I remember going underground there in th late 1970's. There are details and photographs on the BBC's North West Wales website. A search on Google for 'Manod Quarry' will bring other websites - it is well documented.
Grange Cavern was used for ammunition storage - a friend of mine ran the military museum there.
Thu Mar 2 22:05:07 2006
Andrew Barraclough - Wrexham
I'm trying to find some history on my mum's home, Tan-y-Coed, Nant Alyn road, as far as we are aware, it was a school with separate teacher's house, and possible a coal merchant's home, it's next to the old mill on the valley hill side, with a quarry to the rear, all help appreciated, cheers Andrew.
Thu Feb 23 21:08:31 2006
Ben
The underground safe holding during the war was up towards Holywell in the 'grange cavern', later used as a military museum but its since closed down. The tunnels and buildings in Rhydymwyn were used for munitions production and storage.
Tue Jan 24 14:44:04 2006
jane williams
Hi, I have heard that there was underground 'safe' places that during the war all the 'art' from around the UK was stored there for safe keeping..is this true, do you know anything about the underground 'safe places'.
I have recently moved to Gwernaffield, a building which was once the old farm just as you left Gwernaffield to go to Pantymwyn..does anyone know anything about the families that lived here as I think our house is haunted by a little boy, would love to know more...
Thanks for any information..
Tue Dec 27 20:02:58 2005
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