Author Topic: Llandudno Pier & Pavilion - Old Photos & Memories  (Read 152699 times)

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Offline Cambrian

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #180 on: August 02, 2015, 02:54:41 pm »
The chap who took over was William Richardson.  He also used to do impromptu silhouettes of leading politicians and entertainers when they went into the Pavilion Theatre for the shows and conferences that were held there.  He used to display these in the window of his kiosk.

Offline Michael

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #181 on: August 02, 2015, 08:14:29 pm »
   I feel inferior. Several members have posted "silhouettes" without a blink.
   Its all the fault of these internet spell checkers. Years ago I would have had a dictionary. Now I don't even know where it is


Offline DaveR

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #182 on: August 03, 2015, 12:37:26 pm »
The chap who took over was William Richardson.  He also used to do impromptu silhouettes of leading politicians and entertainers when they went into the Pavilion Theatre for the shows and conferences that were held there.  He used to display these in the window of his kiosk.
I remember him and his kiosk well in the 1970s. When did he call it a day?

Offline Cambrian

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #183 on: August 03, 2015, 02:22:10 pm »
Not sure exactly Dave but at a guess around 20 years ago.

Offline SteveH

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories aerial photos
« Reply #184 on: August 09, 2015, 12:33:16 pm »
Below is a link to a large collection of aerial photos of the pier and local area.......

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/asearch?search=llandudno

Offline DaveR

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #185 on: March 10, 2016, 02:30:57 pm »
Found this old advert for the Pier Bioscope from the Llandudno Advertiser in 1910. It was an early foreruner of a Cinema and was situated in the basement of the Pier Pavilion. The basement was originally built as a swimming pool in 1896 (with water provided direct from the sea) but soon closed due to problems with water quality. Thereafter, it performed a variety of entertainment related roles, including live shows, amusements, round the world ride and, latterly, the Llandudno Dungeon (a horror waxworks museum) from 1984 to 1990.

[smg id=3345]

Offline DaveR

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #186 on: March 10, 2016, 02:37:54 pm »
As mentioned above, this clipping from 27th December 1901 gives details of the conversion of the Pavilion's basement from an swimming pool to a hall suitable for entertainment use:

[smg id=3346]

Offline DaveR

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #187 on: March 10, 2016, 02:51:17 pm »
From the Llandudno Advertiser, 6th November 1909:

ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PIER PAVILION.
Considerable structural alterations are being made inside the Pier Pavilion to the gallery, Mr Owen Williams, builder and contractor, having secured the contract, and the work has been already commenced. The alterations are being made to the plans of Mr Arthur Hewitt. Mr Evan Hughes has also in hand the completion of the galley roof contract, the structural ironwork of which is being done by Messrs Edward Wood and Co., Manchester. Mr Griffith Roberts, ironmonger, will fit in the new water main for pier and pavilion, and complete fire appliances throughout are to be provided. The landing stage is being strengthened at an estimated cost of £1000. A further improvement will be the provision of a new tea room for patrons of the Pier Concerts, which is to be located in what is now the Egyptian Hall.

Offline DaveR

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #188 on: March 10, 2016, 02:55:50 pm »
Llandudno Advertiser, 7th April 1906:

PIER PAVILION REDECORATED & IMPROVED.
The initial concert is always welcomed by the inhabitants and visitors to Llandudno, marking as it does the opening of the holiday season. On Thursday next the first perform-ance will be given, and on Good Friday a sacred concert is announced, when the vocalists will be Madame Effie Thomas, and Mr Robert Burnett. From Saturday the concerts will continue, morning and evening until the end of September. The patrdns of the Pier and Pavilion will be astonished upon first entering the pavilion to note the, varied alterations and improvements that have been effected. The, whole of the immense building has been most tastefully treated with white enamel and gold, giving the hall a light, cool, and airy appearance, which cannot fail to be appreciated, and the upper windows have been glazed in a manner which will have the effect of preventing the glare of the sun. Special attention has been given to the Proscenium, which has also been decorated in white and gold, with hangings of rich plush velvet to harmonise with other parts of the Pavilion. Around the stage a prettily designed fancy iron railing has been placed, enamelled white and backed with red plush velvet. The wide stair cases leading to the gallery have been divided by a rail in the middle, which will make for the additional safety of the audience, when descending the. stairs in large numbers at the end of the concerts. A number of other smaller improvements have been effected, which will assist in the comfort and convenience of the hundreds of thousands of visitors whoi patronise. this magnificent concert hall during the course of the season.

Offline DaveR

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #189 on: March 10, 2016, 03:08:53 pm »
Reader's Letter from the Llandudno Advertiser, 2nd December 1897. Some things never change! Note: The Victoria Pier was planned to be built roughly opposite to where Venue Cymru is now, it was never built...

TO CORRESPONDENTS. The ADVERTISER is pqblished every Thursday. All communications to the Editor should be addressed to Llewelyn Chambers, Llewelyn Street. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith, and should always be written legibly with ink, and on one side of the paper only. We cannot undertake to return rejected communications (We do not hold ourselves responsible for any opinion expressed by our correspondents.) ).

THE LLANDUDNO VICTORIA PIER.

To the Editor.

Sir, The reference to the above in your contemporary last week deserves some notice. Councillor Thomas Owen may be only concerned for existing attractions and conservatively jealous of the welfare of Llandudno; he is apparently undesirous of providing or encouraging another source of attraction for visitors to our charming town.

Disgusted's suggestion that the magnificent pavilion would abut or be placed on the Promenade is absolutely misleading, and it is to be regretted that he should not have sought authentic information upon the subject before launching a piratical craft against the project in question. The. Pavilion will be sitl at least 180 feet seawards from the Promenade and will face the present one in an oblong shape. It is moonshine to prate about "indignation meetings" and Craig-y-don ratepayers' opposition; the latter welcome the Pavilion and Pier with open arms, recognising them as health and pleasure resorts which cannot fail to conduce to the welfare of themselves and those who visit their houses.

The progressive element in the town is not and has not been asleep it is the "Little Englander" section which is oppressed with nightmares, and views with alarm anything that tends to the expansion of Llandudno. The Council have no jurisdiction over the work or plans, the Board of Trade exempted the scheme from their supervision in any way, and it is purely an act of courtesy on the part of the promoters to place any of their plans, etc., before the Council. There has not been any keeping back" or "hoodwinking" of the Council or Ratepayers. Those of your readers who remember the introduction of the L. & N. W. Railway, the present Pier, the asphalting of the Promenade and footpaths/and other public benefits, will remember hot the faddists and cranks fought against the. Is there any resident or visitor but what approves of their presence in Llandudno ? No, sir The antagonists of the Victoria Pier and Pavilion may as well cease their vain Attempts to frustrate or delay the advent of the work. It is coming to stay, sir and "will be here long arise to confound the gloomy predictions of those who are apparently averse to the development and attractiveness of Llandudno.

I am in a position to state that the New Victoria Pier and Pavilion will be second to none in Great Britain, if not on earth, and will stand proudly forth as distinctive evidence of the determination of Llandudno men not to leave our town behind in the race for popular favour, but to consolidate and maintain its position in the forefront as the Premier Health Resort of the United Kingdom.

Yours, F. J. SARSON.

Offline Lyndylou

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #190 on: March 10, 2016, 04:22:29 pm »
Great find, well done        very interesting reading.    $good$

Offline Fester

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #191 on: March 10, 2016, 05:11:08 pm »
Ha! A sideswipe at Victorian 'NIMBY's'
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline DaveR

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #192 on: March 11, 2016, 09:00:41 am »
Ha! A sideswipe at Victorian 'NIMBY's'
I always think it was a shame that the Victoria Pier & Pavilion was never built, it would have looked great in the centre of the Promenade.

Offline Fester

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #193 on: March 11, 2016, 10:52:47 pm »
I've seen the original designs for it, in that famous book about Llandudno, (which name escapes me)... it looked like it would have been a very majestic structure,  with a 2000 seat theatre jutting out to the side.
Fester...
- Semper in Excretum, Sole Profundum Variat -

Offline hkjroberts

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Re: Llandudno Pier - Old Photos & Memories
« Reply #194 on: March 18, 2016, 03:11:58 pm »
Hi, this is a comment in answer to member rsj46 who posted about Blackfriars on the promenade in Llandudno, which is now part of Cae Mor and next to the Four Oaks.

My grandparents and my Uncle Brian Latham are the people you refer to.  My uncle is now 92 and has just driven the length of the country - an amazing man.  I would love to see your cinefilm. Please get in touch.
Bye for now