Llandudno

Situated between two limestone headlands on the North Wales coast, Llandudno is Wales' most popular seaside resort. Known as the "Queen of Welsh resorts", the town has retained much of it's Victorian charm and character. Its Victorian heritage is celebrated each year during the May bank holiday Victorian Extravaganza and Transport Festival.

Visitors are spoilt for choice with accommodation from the seafront Victorian hotels to Victorian and Edwardian guest houses inland. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars on Mostyn Street and its adjacent streets. In recent years, the Mostyn Champney and Llandudno retail parks has enhanced Llandudno's status as a centre for shopping. The modern Llandudno Theatre, Venue Cymru, regularly hosts musical concerts, theatre, operas and conventions.

For a relaxing time, the Happy Valley on the Great Orme (Y Gogarth) is a beautiful garden with stunning views of the sea and Llandudno's pier. The Great Orme tramway offers a scenic trip to the summit. In 1987 a dry ski slope was built along with a toboggan run. Other sports are catered for with a park for the street board and bmx enthusiasts in Builder Street West. Golfers have a choice of three courses; The Maesdu, The North Wales and Rhos-on-Sea. Llandudno's recently rebuilt indoor swimming baths offers two pools; the main pool is a 25 metre, eight lane international competition pool with movable floor. The other pool is a 20 metre four lane pool. For leisure activity by the beach, Llandudno is blessed with two shores; the north shore and the west shore.

Llandudno's horseshoe shaped north shore lies between two limestone headlands; the Great Orme and the Little Orme which were formed over 300 million years ago. Llandudno's oldest buildings are made from limestone. Stone-age remains have been found in caves at Pat y wnnol, Tan-y-bryn and Rhiwledyn, where the Skeleton of Blodwen, the town's first resident was discovered in 1890. Four thousand years ago, Llandudno's copper bearing limestone was tapped for the first time. Archeologists believe it was probably the only full-time working copper mine in Britain.

History and Origins

Llandudno is named after a Celtic Missionary who, in the sixth century, sailed to Y Gogarth from South Wales. The locals helped him construct a wooden shelter to serve as a meeting place on Y Gogarth. The enclosed area around such a holy place was known as a llan, and thus Tudno's llan or Llandudno. In the 12th century, Tudno's original building was rebuilt in stone. Another Celtic saint, Trillo, began his mission a little further east of Llandudno at a place now known as Llandrillo-yn-Rhos. The tiny seafront church can only accommodate six worshippers.

In the sixth century, Deganwy Castle was created by Maelgwyn Gwynedd, who was not only the most powerful King in Wales, but also ruled other regions in southern Scotland, England and Cornwall. The castle was essential to protect the farmlands of Dyffryn Conwy and access to the mountains of Eryri. The court of Malgwyn overflowed with musicians and bards. Legend has it that Malgwyn created the Eisteddfod tradition with an invitation for those accomplished in music and poetry to compete at Deganwy. Malgwyn founded the church at Llanrhos, and it was this church that he met his death in 549AD - a victim of the yellow plague.

From the ninth to eleventh century, Llandudno's coast was subject to attack from the maurading Vikings. In 856 Rhodri Mawr inflicted a massive defeat on a Viking fleet off Llandudno's coast. The victory is commemorated with the name given to Y Gogarth, the Great Orme. An even more famous maritime hero, Madog, reached America more than 300 years before Columbus, and began his voyage from a small harbour in Penrhyn Bay. A large bungalow, Odstone, retains some of the original harbour in its front garden. On an ancient stonework is a tablet inscribed with Madog's voyage to Alabama in 1170AD.

In Tudor Times times, Roman Catholicism was supressed by Queen Elizabeth's monarchy. It was deemed disloyal to the Monarchy and acting as traitors to Spain or the Pope. Many people secretly supported the Roman Catholic faith but few were prepared to openly defy the crown. The Pugh family of Penrhyn Old Hall were prepared to actively promote the Catholic faith by producing Catholic literature. In a cave on Rhiwledyn not far from Penrhyn Hall, Robert Pugh, together with Father William Davies, created a secret printing press. From 1586-1587 they, together with members of the Pugh family, printed a small 180 page book. In April 1587 a shepherd spotted smoke rising from the cave. He reported his observations to the local magristrate, Thomas Mostyn. An attempt was made to arrest them at the cave, but they managed to escape by sea. The Pughs were eventually pardoned and permitted to return to Penrhyn Hall but in 1592, Father William Davies was hanged, drawn and quartered. Davies was declared a martyr and was beatified by the Pope in 1987. A primary school in Llandudno is named in his memory.

Llandudno's copper mines lay abandoned for two thousand years. During Medieval times, mining of metals was a felony. After it was repealed in 1685, mining was resumed on Y Gogarth. Mining continued for two centuries and was the main economy in Llandudno before tourism began. Three copper mines operated on Y Gogarth. The Old Mine on the Bishop of Bangor's land, the New Mine around Pyllau farm, and Ty Gwyn on the Happey Valley side. There was no smelting works in Llandudno so the ore was transported by ship to Swansea for processing.

During the 19th century, Llandudno established itself as a place for health-giving water treatments. The Llandudno baths was opened in 1855 on the site of the current Grand Hotel. Sea bathing was highly regulated. Naked bathing strictly prohibited and separate areas designated for males and females. Richard Codman began his Punch and Judy show in 1864 and his descendants continue the family tradition today. Llandudno's north shore is lined with splendid Victorian Hotels. The St. Georges was the first one to be built. During this era, Llandudno attracted many high class clientele. The St. Georges guests included Napoleon III, Empress Eugenie, Bismark, Disraeli, John Bright and Gladstone.

From 1907 to 1956, a tram system ran from Colwyn Bay to the West Shore in Llandudno. The tramway system that's run up to the top of Y Gogarth is still running today. This tramway operated by an underground cable system which was originally powered by steam engine but now by electric motor. Mainline railway reached Llandudno in 1859 along the branch line from Llandudno junction. There are still regular services running today, but not of the quality of pre-war club trains that businessmen used to commute to their office in the North West of England. Many of Llandudno's large guest houses were originally occupied by these affluent businessmen.