your comments
Nigel Williams from Pen-y-ffordd, Chester
My Dad owned a caravan in Talacre in the early 1960s. I remember him buying it from a Mr Banks from Warrington for the sum of £75.00. It was a Willerby caravan. Dad painted it up, and Mum fitted it out with new curtains. Their pride and joy! It was sited on Thompson site, lower down from The Bakehouse. From there Dad moved the caravan to Taylor's Camp. I remember the ground rent payable was £100 per annum. Dad later upgraded to a caravan with an end bedroom! He paid £225 for the 'van - a Bluebird Challenger. Many, many happy memories of Talacre. The wonderful Bakehouse, their custard tarts and pasties; I remember going into the shop opposite Marsend's amusement arcade and hearing The Honeycombs 'Have I the right' playing on the jukebox; the horse rides along the Warren; Morfa Camp shop that gave Green Shield Stamps; the chippy and the bingo next door; the Open Top bus to Rhyl from outside of the Post Office; the smell of suntan lotion in the shop; I could go on ... Mum and Dad moved from Taylor's camp to Morfa Camp - next door. Owned by Harold Foukes and his wife. I remember going to collect water from the tap, the gas mantel lamps in the caravan .. Yes, indeed, so many happy memories of childhood holidays in Talacre! Good days
Fri Jun 19 08:29:10 2009
Brian Lewis (The Carlton Bungalow)
I was interested in the comments made by Wendy Fowles, I grew up with the Blackwells close by. Our bungalow was just behind Mrs Dean's (the old lifeboat house) and went to Gronant County Primary School. Mr Jones was the headmaster, Miss Jones and Miss Williams also taught there. They were wonderful simple days and for a child quite magical. My wife is a Gwespyr girl, the granddaughter of Captain Williams from Ffynnongroew.
Fri Jun 12 09:49:45 2009
Garon Bent from Mossley
This is a real blast from the past! My Gran had a chalet there number 44A. Opposite to us was Harry Vernon's place, to the rear was Russell Hickling. Nearby was one owned by someone called Ince. I remember the van coming down the road blaring out "CALOR GAS CALLING!". The water went to a trickle in summer and sometimes none at all. My Dad had a Moggy 1000 woody and used to get water for loads of people from a stand pipe at Gwespyr. An ice cream van used to come along the road selling the BEST raspberry ripple lollies. Huge Vulcan bombers flew overhead. My Dad as a child used to gather huge lengths of machine gun cartridges all clipped back together. I still have some of these. Shell cases from American Mustangs and actual cannon heads from Mosquitos. No electricity...paraffin lamps which I still have. If I get a whiff of Elsan I'm transported back 40 years and more. Wild horsereadish grew in abundance and the longest straightest carrots ever in the sandy soil. I am desperate for any photos if any kind soul can help. I'm 9 once more. Sliding down the huge dunes on a piece of cardboard and plucking big fat blackberries off the bushes...I could go on!
Tue May 5 09:13:17 2009
Linda Cox, Great Sutton
Marlow, 43A, The Warren: I go back to the Warren at least twice a year. The bungalow belonged to my grandad's sister Minnie. I was taken from a few months old - 16 yrs of age. Every year we went there either by train or bus. I remember the barrow boys who helped with the cases. The milk/orange juice van that sold papers/comics too. The bakery, the little shop between Talacre and Gronant and another before the bakery. Counting the number of engines on the trains. Having to collect water by bucket from the taps alongside the road. Also candle light. No electricity. It was just wonderful. Cinderella pink sandals with elastic - great to walk on the little winding warren lane. And of course the bells which pealed from the Abbey. These were very special holidays for me. I just wish the bungalows were still there today. It was a very special place and by other comments made it was for many people also. Happy days.
Wed Apr 1 08:37:00 2009
Rick Lawton
I used to live with my grandparents in Talacre. They had a bungalow called "Sandy Hey" off a lane that ran down the side of the Jubilee pub. I believe it was owned previously by a Captain in the army. Would love to know more about the building and also about Talacre during the wars.
Mon Feb 23 08:53:26 2009
Trev from Prestatyn
Just been looking at your picture (4) and your comment below it. I was one of the local lads who did that lol. How did you know we did that? It was a lads' thing ha-ha!
Tue Feb 3 10:17:50 2009
Alison Penty, Manchester
In the mid '60s my parents used to take my older sister and myself for a summer holiday to Talacre. We stayed in a wooden chalet in front of what seemed then, a massive sandhill. The chalet belonged to a friend of my dad. The chalet was situated in a large field on the back lane. It had calor gas heating and lights. The toilet was around the back, and held hundreds of spiders. I remember we had to walk to the end of the lane to collect water from the water tap. My sister and myself spent many hours sitting on top of the sandhill just watching the world go by. Sometimes, we would go down the other side to collect cartridge shells. We would also go with our parents to the Boat House, have a milkshake and put money into the jukebox. We would then go on the small dodgem cars which I think were situated across the road next to a small arcade. Sometimes my sister and myself would just walk around the chalets and I loved the chalet with the flag flying. One year we walked up to a monastry, I think it was, run by monks. I was allowed to try some jam the monks had made. I'm not sure whether it still stands? Coming back down we walked through a field of cows, I was terrified! At night we would walk with our parents to a little tea shop. Outside was a totem pole with faces carved into the wood. On a table there was a cage with a minor bird inside which used to swear, much to the enjoyment of two small children. I have so many happy memories of Talacre and would love to be able to turn the clock around so I could show my children and grandchildren.
Mon Jan 26 08:34:48 2009
Christine Adshead from Manchester
Hello, I'm Christine Adshead and from the mid '50s to '60s my family and I spent our holidays on The Warren. We stayed at 62A Oak Bank and whilst there I became friends with the children who lived next door. As I recall there were about 6 (all girls) and I remember Marie, Patsy and I think Hazel. Years later I lived on The Warren for some time but by then all the little bungalows had disappeared (something to do with the holiday camp at Presthaven as I recall). Due to lack of employment I had to return to Manchester but have visited Talacre every year since (sometimes 3 times). I am retiring this year and am considering purchasing a mobile home there to live.I have many many more memories of the holidays. The Boathouse Cafe, Billy Fury, Everly Brothers, Bobby Darrin on the juke box. Iris's Gift Shop, The Bramwells and their horses, Rosie and Smokey. The best bakery ever, then on the Warren, Arthur's double decker bus, a great chippy, I could go on forever. Never have I experienced such wonderful, happy times and I am so glad that I have these memories. Does anybody out there know what happened to Marie, Patsy etc?
PS. Where are you now Celia Swindon from West Derby? I'd love to hear from you.
Fri Jan 16 09:33:17 2009
Pamela Brooks, Rhuthun, Sir Ddinbych
We bought a chalet in the sixties for ten pounds. It was wonderful! No water, electricity or loo, but what a place for chidhood holidays! And the adventures we had in the dunes! Our chalet was in a little hidden valley with about eight others. We spent a lot of the summer holidays there -travelling from Wallasey by bus, which seemed to take half a day to reach Talacre. It all added to the magic of the holiday, and we trundled cases, pans, blankets - everything and more that we'd need for the holiday. One year thre were only six chalets in our hidden valley -one had blown up via a cannister of Calor gas, the other had been blown down. They were never vandalised and we could leave at the end of the summer knowing they would be there for the following Whit. Easy going and full of adventures, these holidays were the happiest of my life. I visited the Warren yesterday. Couldn't begin to imagine where our hidden valley was. Life must have been incredibly hard for permanent residents of the Warren, but for us as children, it was where imagination could run riot - and freely - and safely. Happy days!
Mon Jan 5 10:05:18 2009
Carol Green Sudbury Canada
I can remember the best holidays with my parents in the late Sixties. We stayed in an old bungalow and I can remember going horse riding every day past the place we were staying and on to the beach. Even certain songs bring back memeories and I always associate them with this place.
Tue Sep 23 08:16:03 2008
Cynthia Craig
In answer to Pam Rowland you can find more information about the book on hometown.aol.co.uk/ccindy1941/index.html
Mon Sep 22 08:35:32 2008
Wendy Fowles, Cheshire
Before I start I have to say that the chalets that we lived in on the Warren did not deserve to be called shacks. Our chalet had a railway carriage attached to it so it was quite spacious inside. I used to play on the sand dunes a lot and one day I saw something shining in the sand so I dug around it and found a sword. It had been well preserved in the sand, it was in a sheaf and the blade was ornamental. My dad took it off me and I never saw it again. I presumed he sold it. As I mentioned before I was always finding things, especially in the empty chalets. One day my cousins and I found an old penny farthing bicycle. It's a wonder we didn't break our legs trying to ride it. Once again my father took it away and we never saw it again. There are lots of other things that I can remember about my childhood spent living on the Warren. Wonderful and cherished memories 1954-59.
Mon Aug 25 19:08:27 2008
Pam Rowland
I have really enjoyed this site. My gran (Tickle) had a chalet on the Warren during the '50s and so, as children, my cousins and sisters and myself spent wonderful holidays at Talacre. (We lived in Warrington.) We were a few doors down from the bakery and especially remember the wonderful custart tarts! Days in the cafe, and a big bonfire organised by the mission with hot chocolate drinks. We have some wonderful memories, and some nice old photographs of days in the sand dunes. I also remember being woken by the "Calor Gas man calling". Thanks for the site. I would love to get hold of the book.
Tue Aug 19 08:08:49 2008
Wendy Fowles from Cheshire
Childhood memories of the warren 1954 to 1959. It wasn't all a bed of roses, life could be very hard at times living on the warren with my 2 sisters, Pauline and Jacqueline, and my parents, Frank and Shirley Fowles. We would go with our father picking coal on the Point of Ayr colliery. It was dirty and back breaking. All the water we used was fetched from a standpipe using metal buckets. There was no electricity so we had to use paraffin lamps and candles. One night my parents went out and Jacky set fire to the shack we used to live in so we moved to another shack on the warren. There was a mission hall on the warren nearer to Talacre. We went on Sundays to the services for children. We spent half our collection money on sweets. A lot of the caravans, shacks and sheds were empty during the winter so we would play in the ones that were left to rot. One day we found a piano and fetched near to where we lived and played on it, we did get in trouble. Our cousins also lived on the warren with us. They were called the Lomas's. There was uncle Harry and aunty Joan, cousins Hilary and Barry. We used to play with our cousins and friends, Edwina Blackwell and John Larner who also lived on the warren. My sister Pauline had a friend who also lived on the warren. She was called Carol Lewis and had a younger sister called Christine. Carol had a pale blue bubble car. I think Carol still lives in Gronant today behind the post office. We all went to Gronant primary school but at dinner time we had to go to the institute for our dinners. We also had Christmas parties and pantomimes there as well. Since I have used this site and with the help of broadband I have been in touch with 2 school friends from Gronant primary school 51 years ago. They are called Janet and Diane Parry. It was wonderful to hear from them after all this time.
Fri Aug 1 10:23:25 2008
R Falland
When I was a girl in approx 1951 I was taken with my gran on holiday to Gronant. It was on a field right next to the railway line and there was a bridge that went over the railway to where Presthaven Sands is now. On this field was sheds, buses, trams, that type of thing that people had made into holiday homes; no running water; no electric and a great big hole for toilets! I have been told this was called Rainford holiday camp but I am sure that was next door. Can anyone help me on the name of this place so I can try and get some pictures?
Tue Jul 22 09:07:02 2008
Carole Walker (nee Fairhurst), Wigan, Lancs
My family (Mum, Dad, Sister, Brother and myself) had our summer holiday at Talacre Beach for many years. We stayed in a little 'bungalow', one of many wooden constructions where the sand dunes were right behind and you just had to walk over and through them to get to the beach. In the sand dunes were many old buses and coaches which had been made into 'accommodation'. The place we stayed in belonged to a couple, Alice and Alf Gornall, who had a fish and chip shop in Leigh, Nr. Wigan. My Dad delivered fish to them and our families became good friends and they would let us holiday in their little holiday home. We had great times, simple places but simply wonderful!
Wed Jul 9 11:15:50 2008
Angela Archer, Liverpool
We also remember well, how happy we all were 'on holiday' at Talacre. Many thanks for giving us all this site - it brings back so many memories of my childhood.
Mon Jun 23 08:51:03 2008
Wendy Fowles, Cheshire
Ann Larner, have you a brother I used to go to Gronant Primary School - the year would be about 1956? I lived on the Warren with my sisters, Jacky and Pauline. Also, my cousins Barry and Hilary Lomas also lived on the Warren.
Fri Jun 6 07:50:20 2008
Colin Beesley
Does any one remember the Beesleys who had a shack on the Warren? It was called Carlton 86b. My nan used to rent it out in the summer.
Tue May 27 08:22:13 2008
David
The book maybe good but its availability seems to be a problem! The place responsible for it, according the printers, doesn't advertise it nor can it be found on their website! AUTHOR: If you want the book to sell I suggest you kick the company up the rear!
Mon Apr 21 09:50:36 2008
J Sturdy, Wakefield W Yorks
Well! We are going to the area in June for a holiday, never been but all this is fascinating, made me look forward to going even more. Thanks
Mon Apr 14 08:21:46 2008
Tony Piper from Essex
Hello Cynthia and Anita. My wife and I were in Talacre last week 15 to 21 at Hoseasons holiday park. Apart from having a holiday it was to try to find some log cabins that we stayed in on our honeymoon in Jan 1961. I asked a local lady about them and she said they used to be on the Warren. I had a walk along the warren but nothing came to memory. From what I remember there were the log cabins and a shop. I wonder if you can help in any way?
Wed Mar 26 13:16:51 2008
Lois McGill
I was born in one of the bus/caravans on the site behind the garage apposite the wood in Tynamorfa. I think the name of the owners was Ignett. The site consisted of a variety of makeshift homes. Ours was 2 bus coaches hollowed out and made into a home. There was a tap in the middle of the field and we went back for many years on holiday. My surname then was Carrington. Does anyone remember us?
Mon Mar 10 09:26:41 2008
David Leo, Fleetwood
I remember living in the warren in the late 50s. We had a tin shack with a double decker bus next to it, no windows, and my dad went to bed with a large fork to kill the rats. We used to hide from the rent and bread men in the sand dunes. We eventually moved to Battery Row in Holywell. I think my grandfather owned caravans in Talacre. He was called Topsy Gallagher and my father was Roy Leo. Does anyone remember them?
Tue Feb 19 15:30:17 2008
Lesley from West Midlands
I grew up in Talacre. I knew a Clifford Wood. You don't say where you are now. Are you the same Clifford? We had some good times, some bad times. We were as free as birds in those sand dunes. I remember those times with mixed emotions.
Mon Dec 31 09:07:55 2007
Clifford Wood
I lived in one of the 'shanty' houses during the late sixties, just back from the Hidden Valley. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. A cliche I know. No running water, no electricity, no toilets, no gas. It made me the man I am now and the people I met then are forever etched in my heart. I was in my early teens and when I look back it was a GREAT period in my life. I worked in Joe Tynan's bakery and although we were poor (by anyone's standard) we ate like kings with all the 'mishapes' etc. Joe died not long after I left in 1971 but I will always think of him as an inspiration for my developing years.
Mon Oct 29 08:25:24 2007
David Mills, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Fascinating site! A trip down memory lane. I lived in Talacre from 1940 to '50, evacuated from Wallasey. I was known as Billy Mills in those days. Went to Edith Borthwick's school, in a single-decker bus! My dad, also Billy Mills, was the local baker. My mum's name was Lil. Regarding defences: the whole sandhills area was a firing range for RAF and US aircraft. We used to sit in an empty holiday cottage and watch the planes shooting at wooden targets in the dunes, or at towed drogues and windsocks, then we'd run out and collect the still-hot cases, shells and clips, to make bandalero-style belts. In front of me right now are some 20mm cannon cases collected from the dunes after being dropped from aircraft. The blockhouse was an RAF building where an airman would stay during firing practise, to collect the drogues that were dropped after being fired at. Mrs Borthwick's son was Morgan, a very good organist. Organ Morgan we called him. She was a tyrant! Ruled with a rod of iron. She gave out little pins called Purity Badges to anyone who was especially good. To my shame, I once received one. I must know the girls, Cynthia and Anita, but can't place them. I have a brother Mike and a sister Aneata, who also went to Mrs Borthwick's school. Later, we went to schools in Prestatyn and Rhyl.
Mon Oct 22 15:52:10 2007
Jennifer Sierra - Vancouver Canada
Hello Emlyn from Wrexham. Thank you for replying. Please go to my site www.freewebs.com/talacre and we can chat about the 'gang' you listed. I have a message for you regarding your posting. AND P Holden, Holywell. I have some information regarding the coastal defences in Talacre Dunes if you contact me.
Mon Sep 3 10:24:57 2007
Martin Jones, Birmingham
My nan and grandad had a bungalow in Dee Avenue (no longer there) from 1966 till the owner of the land, Mr Riste, passed away. Does anyone remember him or the avenue? I spent every summer holiday there for about 20 years. I found this site because I'm popping there this weekend. Remember Mr Price who ran Maces? I think he was the mayor of Prestatyn as well.
Fri Aug 24 15:44:58 2007
Chris Gilbert, Wirral
We spent holidays in the hidden valley in the 60s, our last one was in 1971 when the chalets were being demolished. Does anyone remember Arthur who lived in the valley on a double decker bus? Nothing lives up to the taste of the pasties from the bakehouse. This website is fantastic. I have been looking for years for info. on Talacre which would give me a trip down memory lane.
Mon Aug 20 11:44:12 2007
Cynthia Craig
Jennifer Sierra, We have read your mother's book (Growing up on Talacre Beach). We also knew your grandparents as my Mum & Dad had the Arcade (Brookside) right opposite the Boathouse Cafe. My husband and my sister used to jive to the records on the juke box. They were the good old days and as most people say Talacre has changed a lot over the years. My maiden name was Marsden. I have a picture of the Methodist church when it was opened by Tommy Trinder and it has your grandmother on and all the local people of that time.
Mon Jul 16 13:22:19 2007
Emlyn from Wrexham
Dear Jennifer from Canada, further to the entries my wife informed me of her time in Talacre where she lived on Williamses field with the family of Speakmans. Jack, her brother, was in the army. Your mother taught him to play the piano. He sends his regards and some names for your mother to see if she remembers the gang; Manny Mendal, Tommy Corrigan, Dereck Shackles, Norman Hawkins, Jackie Rice Jean Davies, May Furnace, Marge Speakman, his sister. Most of the gang still meet on occasions. I am interested in the piano lessons that Jack had as he still plays the piano. Bye for now - love to all, Emlyn.
Mon Jul 16 10:36:59 2007
Gaynor Harper
In reference to Emlyn from Wrexham on what has happened to Talacre Lighthouse? Talacre Beach Caravan Park own it and are in the process of having repairs to done to it.
Thu Jul 12 15:01:51 2007
Emlyn from Wrexham
Dear Jennifer, ref my recollections of Talacre. I first started going there with the family in 1946. The caffee was were we would call for drinks. It was always full of cyclists from Merseyside in the summer - it was like a form of mecca meeting place. I still visit the place but sadly like most nice places it has been commercialised. I found it was more residential in the early days. I could have bought the old lighthouse as it was going cheap at the time in the auction. I wonder what has happend to it now. You can read my stories of Ffynnongroew where we lived as a family - bye for now.
Wed Jul 11 08:52:15 2007
Jennifer Sierra, Vancouver, Canada
Dear Emlyn,Yes, the Café was owned by Edward and Lydia Taylor. Their children: Talbot and (my mum) Rosanna (changed her nameto Alannah Van El). Do you ever recall her grandfather sitting at the entrance to the basin collecting parking fees? He had a cane and a straw hat? My Mum was born in Ffynnongroyw at 'Inglemere'. Lived in 'Saltcoats' and 'Dunoholme' on TalbotDrive during the winters and the lifeboat house 'Boathouse' during the summers. I have more photos (2006) I will be adding to my Talacre site. Mum and Talbot went to Picton School. My brother and I lived with Talbot my aunt and my cousins in Prestatyn/Talacre for a year in 1965.
Tue Jul 3 14:03:00 2007
Emlyn from Wrexham
Dear Jennifer, Reading your memory of Talacre, I was wondering if the Taylers you referred to were the ones who owned Taylers caffee near the beach. My family lived in Ffynnongroyw and on Sunday afternoon we would walk to Talacre along the cob in Tanlan passed the old pill box then over the style onto the sands. Many times we had tea and sandwiches in the old lighthouse. One of my brothers was called up for National Service. He spent two years as a Bevan boy down point of Ayr Colliery. In those days you were told were you were going to do your National Service. Shortly after he completed his two years service there was a disaster down the pit where miners were killed - several of them we knew and were friends. I remember one bungalow half submerged by sand until all that was left was the tall chimney stack.
Mon Jul 2 08:37:01 2007
Sue Farley. Liverpool
Oh, I had forgotten about Gamfa Wen - yes, it was full of all kinds of treasures, statues, furniture, wooden figures and the Maypole. I remember the man who lived there and yes, there was always something added to the garden every time we saw it. So many lovely memories, firstly of the bungalows on the Warren and then the caravans in the 1960s... Walking by the railway line, playing pooh sticks in the stream, waving to the driver on the train as it passed through the farm at Tyn-y-Morfa, all those cottages buried under the sandhills by the lighthouse - what tales they could tell....And, of course, the bakehouse!
Tue Jun 5 08:03:21 2007
Jennifer Sierra Vancouver B.C. Canada
As I was preparing some pictures to share with the readers of this site, I came across a disturbing March 2007 article by the BBC on the damage from the storms done to the 'Point of Ayr' lighthouse in Talacre. Since I had taken many photos of the lighthouse in September 2006, I decided to construct site to post more photos for everyone to enjoy in addition to further information about my mother's book(s) 'Growing up on Talacre Beach' 1993 and her other two books 'Ship Ahoy Sagebrush' 1994 and 'Aran’s Medley' 1995. Please visit www.freewebs.com/talacre
Mon Jun 4 16:35:15 2007
Jennifer Sierra Vancouver
I am the daughter of Rosanna Baxter Taylor who grew up in Talacre with her brother Talbot and parents Lydia and Edward Taylor. Mother now resides in Vancouver BC Canada. I visited Talacre for a year with my brother in 1965 and again September 2006. On my recent visit I took pictures on the sand dunes and beach – The Gap, the Basin and the Hidden Valley. I also took photos of one of the foundations from one of the buildings on the 'Warren', and another with iron rods sticking out of the ground and a third photo of a red brick chimney attached to a house that is still buried beneath one of the sand hills. I have several photos I took of the light house and the Pagan designs I found in the sand September 18th 2006. My mother's family lived at 'Saltcoat' on Talbot Drive in the winter and in the summer (Easter to Labour Day) in the 'Boathouse' by the gap on the beach for 10 years. My grandfather Edward Taylor (Talbot helped) built (Lydia gave all the houses Edward built their names) - all the houses on Talbot Drive plus several others. The family also owned and ran the café and holiday park. It was my grandmother, Lydia Taylor, who 'opened the Methodist church' and attended regularly and the Methodist church was also where my parents were married. My mother wrote a 96 page book in 1993 called "Growing up on Talacre Beach" and this has a history of her childhood by the sea and has some photos. Speaking of the war; mum wrote a story of a mine that floated up onto the beach. Grandmother dug the sand around the base of the mine in hopes she could divert the mine away from the boathouse on the beach when it drifted out into the Dee Estuary on the next tide and unfortunately, as fate would have it, the mine returned on the next tide and blew the boathouse up.
Tue May 29 09:26:03 2007
John, Cheshire
With regards to an earlier posting, I too would like to know about the Wartime coastal defences on Talacre beach. Does anybody know what the (remains of) buildings are that are scattered amongst the dunes?I have been told that the site was once a firing range for wartime aircraft, but I can find no internet reference or verification to back this claim?
Fri May 25 09:33:37 2007
Donna Clarke, Manchester.
Talacre, what fantastic memories. My grandparents, John and Lily Christey, used to rent a little cottage on Dee road, and take me on holiday there when I was young. I'll never forget the day at the cottage when my grandad went to the fruit bowl to find it filled with my new friends, snails! I used to collect them and try to keep them as pets errgh I know but I loved them. I was only young! I still remember the day my grandma phoned my grandad to tell him of a caravan she had seen for sale. She loved it up there especially the bingo, and so they decided to buy their first caravan. It was in 1986 when I was only five. They found their ideal hideaway on a little caravan site called Ayre View. It was only a small site with caravans edging a large grassed area which I had great fun playing on for the next 12 years! The owner was called John, he was a lovely man, so friendly. He owned a little amusement arcade at the bottom of the site, and a bingo hall on Station Road. Me and my sister Amanda used to have lots of fun playing on the bouncy castle and trampolines over and over again for only 20p a go! We used to hire bikes from him and ride over the warren to Presthaven. I have fond memories of the old chip shop on Gamfa Wen, those chips were the best in the world! I remember a bungalow also on Gamfa Wen, it belonged to a man who used to collect all sorts, his yard was filled with all kinds of treasures, including a maypole! I used to dream about dancing around that maypole. Every time we walked past his house I'd see something new. The man sadly died, I don't know what happened to all his treasures but I'm sure that they used to make him happy. Another thing that I remember was the bakery on Station Road. Their pies were lovely and their cakes even better! There are so many other memories I have after countless holidays with my grandparents also holidays with my mum and dad, brothers and sister, all happy. As time goes on things change. My grandparents have died so Talacre faded away. I'm 26 now and have 2 children of my own. My sister also has a little girl too. We have decided that this summer 2007 we are going to return up to Talacre, with our own children to try and capture some of the happiness it once offered.
Wed Apr 4 16:39:21 2007
Barbara
I am new to the site, and want to know if anybody has photos of the old wooden bungalows that were by the sand dunes in GRONANT during the 1940s. I was born in one of these bungalows.
Tue Mar 20 13:53:19 2007
Terence Mostyn Glenfield NY USA
Looking for any info about Arthur Mostyn born 1851 Wales or Ireland. He moved to the States around early 1870's. His father's name was Samuel, his mothers name Jenny Noles.
Mon Feb 19 13:40:20 2007
Jean Smith from Connah's Quay
I was Jean Brooks before I was married and I lived in the bungalow by the greenhouses on the main road just before you turned down to Talacre Beach. I lived there from 1946 when I was born until 1965 when I got married. My grandfather, father and two uncles had the greenhouses as part of the nurseries there. My dad, Joe Brooks, and my uncle, Ernie Brooks, used to have two vans which sold fruit and veg around the area in the 1950s and 1960s, up to about 1971. Talacre was the Saturday morning run for my Dad, and I often went with him and visited all his customers. My dad's other runs during the week were to Gwespyr and Llanasa on Tuesdays and Fridays. My uncle Ernie's runs were in Ffynnongroew and Gronant. Has anyone got any memories of my family please, or any photographs of the main road there and the houses along that road going towards Tanlan? By the way, this is a great site with lots of interesting things to read.
Tue Jan 16 08:34:50 2007
P Holden, Holywell
Talacre. Can anyone cast light on the (all but disappeared) WW1 (?) WW2 coastal defences in Talcre dunes? There's still a cupola on the beach.
Wed Jan 3 09:50:48 2007
Michael Houldsworth, Manchester
I used to live in Talacre for a few years I worked in the Smugglers Inn and the history you can find out on this site is great, thanks.
Thu Nov 2 08:16:33 2006
Rikk Mallory, Manchester
Thank you, for bringing so many memories flooding back, and thank you for the calender and book I highly recommend them to all 'ex pats' from Talacre.
I would love to find some detailed maps or photographs of the area and station, and of course the warren bakery and the cockle shed. Thank you both.
Tue Aug 15 09:14:20 2006
Don Roberts, Oswestry
APPROX 1936-39. I would be about7, we stayed every summer for a week or so in a WW1 hut at T. In the woods was a RC NUNNERY - very mysterious to a Welsh nomconf. - we could hear a bell at times but never saw the nuns or the building. I remember the long straight road to the beach and a glass egg timer which was in the hut.
Tue Aug 1 09:33:29 2006
Tracey, Cheadle, Stockport
Hi what a great site! I have been looking now for many years for help on the Warren. I lived there for some years when I was a young girl. Please if anyone can help I would love to be able to get some pictures of the old site to show my grandchildren.
Tue Aug 1 09:27:18 2006
Colin Beesley
My nan had a shack on the warren from the early 50s up to 1972, I spent most of my childhood there, we were opposite whitybees just down the road from the bakery, I can still smell them pies.
Mon Jul 17 16:05:20 2006
John Ford, Chester
We used to go regularly to Talacre from Liverpool in the Sixties,We stayed mainly at a bungalow and if I remember rightly it was 'Ellis's 7L Hidden valley. The best pies in the world came from the warren bakery, and my mum would stock up at 'Percys' general store. Happy holidays, fabulous memories.
Mon Jul 17 13:49:46 2006
Dave Kilby
I remember Mrs Borthwick. She lived at the end of Dee Road, with her son & husband. Spoke in Welsh to her dog, and was rather fearsome. My Aunty Evaline had a wooden bungalow - it was a ship's cabin I think she said - a couple of doors away. Do you know what became of the Warren, where Tynan's bakery (where June served)? It isn't shown on any maps. It used to go down the coast to Gronant. It had a spur off it where some people had converted buses into homes.
Mon Jul 10 15:26:06 2006
Ann Larner from Greenfield
I grew up in Gwespyr and my dad and his family were from the Warren in Talacre. My grandparents were called Doris and John Larner. I spent many happy hours in Talacre with my sisters and cousins. My grandparents lived in one of the 'metal shacks' about half way along the warren, with my aunty Doris living next door and if I remember rightly opposite a small shop! My auntie Doris used to regularly take me to Liverpool on the train from Talacre Train Station. I remember how upset my grandad was when he had to move from the warren into a pensioner's bungalow in Gronant and sadly he never lived much longer after.
Thu Jul 6 09:25:52 2006
Cat from Connahs Quay
Hi I would love to hear any views, memories etc you have about Talacre for a project I am doing for my art degree. I would love to make an installation for the area, kind of like a stainless steel abacus, but instead of balls on the rods, there would be coloured and clear acrylic cubes, each containing a memory, precious photo or found object such as starfish, special shells etc. Basically anything that communicates to new visitors the memories that Talacre holds for many people. Each cube would be locked with a little padlock to convey the preciousness and timeless quality of the memory. Would really appreciate anything you can tell me.
Tue Jan 24 11:56:56 2006
John Shaffer from Oswego, New York
I'm looking for information on Anna Maria Lady Mostyn, wife of Sir Pyers (d. 1916);
especially her efforts to introduce parliamentary legislation to protect the well at Holywell from mining activity - a noble, but ultimately unsuccessful crusade. Any reference to current family or historical sources would be appreciated.
Sat Nov 12 16:43:12 2005
David Faulkner - Lymm Cheshire
My Uncle Joe Healay used to live in a shanty/block house in Talacre, we used to visit in the summer holidays (early 1960's) I still remember the wonderful smell of his pipe, and the taste of freshly caught and cooked Dabs.
Fri Nov 4 22:45:06 2005
Cynthia Craig, Kinmel Bay
My sister and I wrote this book in December 2004, we have now published a Calendar for 2006 with lots of pictures of Talacre as it used to be and we can be contacted on 01745-356750 or 01745-887258
Tue Jun 14 13:27:21 2005
Joyce Morris, Hamilton, Ontario, Can
It looks as though it would be quite interesting, and would not compare with the life the evacuees had here in Canada, when I was at
school. Especially, life in Wales as my
husband is Welsh.
Wed Jan 5 20:08:43 2005
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