"On 25th October 1859 a devastating storm hammered the coastline of Britain. While it raged, over 800 lives were lost and over 200 vessels wrecked.
The greatest tragedy of the storm was undoubtedly the loss of the Royal Charter, The Gold Ship, at Moelfre. In fact the storm became known as the Royal Charter Storm. This event, with the loss of over 400 lives, and the total destruction of the ship, overshadowed all the other events of that tragic day.
The tempest did however have an incising and long reaching effect on the town of Llandudno. A great transition was taking place. The old copper industry was in a state of rapid decline and following the implementation of the Enclosure Act of 1845, a modern seaside town was rising out of the marshes of Morfa Rhianedd. Llandudno was a rapidly emerging new town and the terrifying storm helped to seal its destiny.
At the time a plan, The St Georges Harbour Scheme, had been launched with the intention of running the railway to the beach and constructing a harbour to capture the Irish trade and to export coal from the Denbighshire coalfields.
To further this end a pier had been constructed near the present site of the Grand Hotel. With the coming of the railway the Irish Port could have been established at Holyhead, Porth Dinllaen or Llandudno. It was a valuable prize to achieve.
On the morning of the 25th October 1859 a strengthening north easterly wind rapidly increased to gale force and hurled huge waves into Llandudno Bay. A contemporary account describes waves like mountains roaring into the bay and smashing on the site of the present promenade. White foam, like a mist, covered the bay as a hurricane force wind drove the huge breakers ashore. There was unanimous agreement, even amongst experienced seamen, that such waves had never before been witnessed in Llandudno Bay.
In those days a row of thatched cottages stood near the site of the present Washington Hotel. They were overwhelmed by the waves and their inhabitants forced to flee inland. One witness describes watching a kitchen table being carried out to sea with its legs pointing upwards.
The new pier was battered mercilessly. Most of the large timbers were torn out, smashed to matchwood and strewn over a wide area of the beach. The report mentions the toll booth being carried on the crest of a large wave and deposited at the eastern end of the beach.
The damage was a fatal blow, not only to the pier, but also to the hopes of establishing a new port at Llandudno. Any chance the town had to challenge Holyhead as the Irish Port disappeared with the demolition of the pier. From now on Llandudnos future was to be a sea side resort, not a sea port.
No doubt Llandudnos residents were dismayed and saddened by the destruction, damage and at the abrupt ending to any hopes of the St. Georges Harbour Scheme succeeding. Had the storm not occurred it is possible that some other town would have become, The Queen of the Welsh Watering Places?"
Read more about the loss of the Royal Charter.
your comments
Jo
Does anybody have any pictures of the very first pier in Llandudno?
Mon Apr 27 10:38:43 2009
D Hughes, Llandudno
Does anyone have any imformation on the remains of the old tower on the hill above Maesdu. We always knew it as Granny's Armchair when we were children.
Thu Apr 23 11:00:35 2009
Rachel, Llandudno
Has anyone heard of the witches chair that was located on the Great Orme? Apparently they used to put people on there to see if the chair rocked and if they fell off over the cliffs they were witches.
Thu Feb 5 14:15:47 2009
Audrey Powell
Could anyone advise me on the location of any primary sources relating to Llandudno in the 19th century? I have visited the county record office in Llandudno and will be visiting the record office in Hawarden. But anything that would help me as I am writing my dissertation on the changing fortunes of Llanduno in the 19th century from the loss of mining and the contract for a port to the development of the Victorian seaside town. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Tue Nov 25 09:46:47 2008
brad from llandundo
does any one know anything about the Crickleigh Hotel that was on Lloyd St before it was turned into to houses?
Thu Sep 11 09:39:46 2008
Barbara, Llandudno
Does anyone have any information re the Edward Malam Military Hospital which was in Deganwy, or any of the local Convalescent Homes (Lady Foresters, Plas Mariandir, Swinglehurst, Tyn-y-Coed, High Pastures & Marle Hall) please?
Mon Jun 30 10:06:37 2008
Terry Davis
Any memories of the theatres and cinemas in Llandudno please? I have been researching this topic; have a lot of material but always interested in people's memories of plays, shows, music in the theatres/ cinemas.
Tue Apr 22 10:18:12 2008
Chris, Lancashire
In reply to Alan Fleet and Annie from Nottingham, I have a picture of myself looking devastated outside a boarded up Alice in Wonderland. I would have been about five, so that would have been the summer of 1961, probably July or August. I remember the attraction with great affection. I think it should be re-created!
Tue Sep 4 13:49:51 2007
Phil Hughes, Cheshire
I have many happy childhood memories of Llandudno and still visit the town whenever I'm passing. My parents' ashes are scattered in the delightful Haulfre Gardens where they spent happy times in the early 50s. Mum stayed with family/friends at Pensnet in Trinity Avenue during the war and went to school there too. They used to tell me of cruises on the St Tudno and St Seriol, the open air service at St Tudno's church, Maes Ddu open air swimmimng pool, the Alex Munro show at Happy Valley, the mysterious cave of Ogof Llech, the zig-zag path down to west shore and John Morava concerts on the pier. I can remember walks on the great Orme, tea at the old rectory, sailing wooden boats in the lakes at Craigside and west shore and endless sunny days on the beach. Heaven!
Mon Jul 2 14:31:58 2007
Kevin Lynch from York
When the war ended, the people of Manchester sought holiday relief in either Blackpool or Llandudno. As a six year old I was entranced by the sweeping promenade of North Shore, Happy Valley, the Pier and the quiet sandy beach which was West Shore. Every year our annual weekly holiday was to a variety of small boarding houses and despite some inclement weather my love of Llandudno was ensured.
In the last sixty years, the Victorian charm of the resort has been mostly retained around the modernisation which has taken place. The little outdoor theatre in Happy Valley is regrettably no more, the beach at West Shore has been environmentally re-organised following work up-river on the A55 and the Pier approaches are cluttered by stalls which should be moved onto a new market area on an adjacent site.
But I still love the place with a passion and I will talk to anyone about its charms. Indeed I cannot understand why so many UK residents have never heard of, let alone experienced the best resort in Britain.
Mon Jun 11 10:00:14 2007
Geraintski Llandudno
Trying to do a bibliography of FICTION either set in Llandudno or with Llandudno in the story. So far I have:Jampot Smith by Jeremy Brooks; The pigeon's cave by JS Fletcher; Sea Rhapsody by Joan Davies; The fish in room 11 by Heather Dyer; The battle for Goatly Hall; The Card by Alan Bennett; Two penn'worth of Sky by Katie Flynn; Errant Target by Cyril Joyce. Are there any more out there?
Tue May 8 14:17:11 2007
Sonya James from Llandudno
I have lived in Llandudno all my life, and remember the Alice figures in happy valley, also Waldini and Aberdeen hill. On leaving school my first job was selling programmesfor John Morava at the end of the pier and now i have a kiosk on the pier selling sports goods, 40yrs later!
Tue May 1 09:15:26 2007
Gerald Waterfield, Kingswinford
My memories of Llandudno go back to my first week's holiday in Llandudno just after the war 1946 I think.
Food rationing was still in force and we took our own provisions. The landlady did the cooking.
Highlights included: The talent contest at the band stand on the prom. This included the opportunity of conducting the band.
Morning music at the pavilion at the end of the pier.
The steamer sailings to Douglas and the evening 'cruises' to the Menai Straits.
The entertainment in Happy Valley which included a hypnotist who invariably locked the fingers of both hands together for about half the audience.
The ride on the open deck tram or the single decker toast rack from West Shore to Colwyn Bay.
The 'tour' around the Great Orme by mini coach ( or was it a clapped out old bus?(one direction only).
Punch and Judy on the Prom and the launching of the Life Boat.
Sun sets at West Shore.
Haelfre Gardens and the walk up Great Orme by zig zag paths.
Miniature Golf in Happy Valley.
Sunday morning out door service at St. Tudno's sat on the tomb stones with the sea as a backdrop.
We traveled by Don Everalls coaches from Woverhampton with a coffee break at The Raven Hotel, dropping off at Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and finally Llandudno.
Although we have traveled to many parts of Europe we continue to return to Llandudno.
Must go now, have a bag to pack.
Guess where we are going?
Mon Nov 14 14:26:49 2005
