Three Towns Forum

The Local => Genealogy & Research => Topic started by: andyCYD on May 10, 2012, 08:53:59 am

Title: Craig y Don history
Post by: andyCYD on May 10, 2012, 08:53:59 am
Does anyone know if the history of Craig y Don has ever been documented? I would like to add a history section to www.craigydon.co.uk (http://www.craigydon.co.uk)  but would not know where to start.

Thanks
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: DaveR on May 10, 2012, 09:05:18 am
There's a chapter of Ivor Wynne Jones' book about Craig Y Don:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Llandudno-Resorts-Ivor-Wynne-Jones/dp/0902375385/ (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Llandudno-Resorts-Ivor-Wynne-Jones/dp/0902375385/)
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on May 10, 2012, 09:08:59 am
I was just about to post - Chapter 16 of Ivor Wynne Jones’ ‘Queen of the Welsh Resorts’ provides a very interesting overview.

Perhaps, Craigydonian may be able to help you better as I have only lived in C-y-D for 30 years.

However, around 10 years ago I can remember the late Bill Hitchinson wrote a useful book about the history of the local bowling club.

.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 08, 2012, 10:20:53 am
With the 2012 All-England Tennis Championship at Wimbledon nearly upon us, 2012 is the Centenary of when local solicitor, J C Parke, played in the singles and in the doubles (with A E Beamish) when Britain won the Davis Cup in 1912.

Mr Parke played his tennis at the Riddell & Jarvis public tennis ground where St David’s English Methodist Church stands today.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bellringer on June 08, 2012, 02:03:57 pm
Was he the "Parke" in Chamberlain, Johnson & Parke in Trinity Square?
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 08, 2012, 02:37:53 pm
That has always been my guess, Stan.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: sam on June 08, 2012, 07:52:14 pm

However, around 10 years ago I can remember the late Bill Hitchinson wrote a useful book about the history of the local bowling club.



Wouldn't mind reading that book as my late Grandfather George Harris was a member of the Bowling Club in CYD probably until the late 90's. He used to have loads of medals/trophies at home (also for darts though not sure what team he played for).

Have memories of my brother and I being taken to the green while he played bowls and that it was veeeeeery boring to us as kids. We weren't allowed to 'have a go ' of the game so spent our time trying to occupy ourselves and keep out of trouble and hoping to get some juice and biscuits at break time - the most exciting thing that could happen there as far as we were concerned!

My taid was also the Head Gardener in Craig Y Don park up until approx. the mid 60's when he took over the HG's job in Haulfre Gardens and Happy Valley where he lived and worked up until his early retirement around the mid 80's.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history - J C Parke
Post by: Cambrian on June 08, 2012, 08:35:20 pm
Stan,

Yes he was a partner in Chamberlain, Johnson and Parke.  There is a small plaque near the front door of the office commemorating his achievements.  He was also an Irish Rugby International.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 08, 2012, 09:25:19 pm
Wouldn't mind reading that book as my late Grandfather George Harris was a member of the Bowling Club in CYD 

sam, I have many fond memories of your taid and played alongside George several times in the Caernarfonshire county bowling team during the sixties and seventies.

I don’t believe George Harris ever playing for the C-y-D team in Clarence Road.

However, I do remember George being a regular midweek team player for the successful Queens Road Bowling Club, the other side of the hedge.

I also seem to remember him often riding a bicycle everywhere.

When George looked after the bowling green in Queens Road, it was in pristine condition; a far cry from the plough field it is today!

You can certainly feel very proud of him and his bowling achievements.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history - J C Parke
Post by: Bellringer on June 08, 2012, 10:20:00 pm
Stan,

Yes he was a partner in Chamberlain, Johnson and Parke.  There is a small plaque near the front door of the office commemorating his achievements.  He was also an Irish Rugby International.

I must look more closely next time - I went into their office only yesterday.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: andyCYD on June 09, 2012, 09:41:39 am
Just did a quick google and found this site about J C Parke

http://www.irishidentity.com/extras/famousgaels/stories/parke.htm (http://www.irishidentity.com/extras/famousgaels/stories/parke.htm)

Seems like he was a real sporting legend.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bellringer on June 09, 2012, 10:58:29 am
Amazing. I wonder how he found time to become a solicitor!
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: sam on June 09, 2012, 06:05:35 pm
sam, I have many fond memories of your taid and played alongside George several times in the Caernarfonshire county bowling team during the sixties and seventies.


Bri that's lovely to hear - it's nice to have a connection to my taid through someone else's memories of him.  $thanx$  Whoops I may have got the facts slightly wrong.....it would have been Queens Road then not Clarence Road - I didn't realise there were two clubs! Yes he always rode his pushbike everywhere until later on when he bought a moped! And yes I am and always have been very proud of him  :)
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 12, 2012, 05:03:04 pm
Stan,

Yes he was a partner in Chamberlain, Johnson and Parke.  There is a small plaque near the front door of the office commemorating his achievements.  He was also an Irish Rugby International.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: andyCYD on June 15, 2012, 04:50:25 pm
I have added a history page to craigydon.co.uk. If anyone would care to correct my errors and provide further details it would be very welcome.

I have gone for a simple, chronological list of key events. I will try to add additional pages for stories that deserve more detail.

The page is at http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/ (http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/)

Thanks

Andy
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 15, 2012, 05:20:53 pm
Well done, Andy.

You may wish to consider naming the first house in C-y-D as Ascot because I have an idea a large block of apartments built on the same site may have a similar name.

BTW, there are small typos for 1902, 1969 and 2012.

If you care to walk into the clubhouse of the C-y-D Bowling Club there is a photograph on the wall celebrating the opening of the bowling club and giving the actual year.

There are also plenty of cheap postcards available for purchase on e-bay that will certainly help enhance your site.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: andyCYD on June 15, 2012, 05:43:46 pm
Thanks Bri
Should have spell checked.
Andy
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 15, 2012, 07:01:11 pm
Andy, it may be worth adding that Queen Elizabeth Court opened in 1979.

Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Llechwedd on June 16, 2012, 11:36:00 am
Didn't there used to be an Ascot Hotel on that site?
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 16, 2012, 12:19:03 pm
Which site?
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Welshmaid on June 16, 2012, 02:42:18 pm
My late great aunt used to run Craiglands Guest House on Carmen Sylva Road back in the 1950s early 1960s.   She was organist at St. David's Church in Craig-y-Don for many years.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Hugo on June 16, 2012, 05:46:19 pm
Didn't there used to be an Ascot Hotel on that site?

No the Ascot Hotel was on the Promenade / Carmen Sylva Road corner whereas the Queens Court was on the site of Jacksons Farm in Jackson's Lane ( now Clarence Drive)
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 16, 2012, 05:57:26 pm
Where Ascot Court is today.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: andyCYD on June 19, 2012, 09:55:55 am
Thanks for the tip off Bri. No plaque in the bowls club but I was lent a copy of a booklet produced in 2002. Take a look at
http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/bowling-club/ (http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/bowling-club/)
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: DaveR on June 19, 2012, 10:38:36 am
Thanks for the tip off Bri. No plaque in the bowls club but I was lent a copy of a booklet produced in 2002. Take a look at
http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/bowling-club/ (http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/bowling-club/)
Great article and photos.  $good$
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 19, 2012, 04:04:42 pm
Thanks for the tip off Bri. No plaque in the bowls club but I was lent a copy of a booklet produced in 2002. Take a look at
http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/bowling-club/ (http://craigydon.co.uk/home/craig-y-don-history/bowling-club/)

Excellent.

Founded in 1913 by Mr A E Vollam of the Post Office in C-y-D.

By coincidence, it was probably the same Mr A E Vollam who paid my subscription to join the Llandudno Bowling Club in 1966 and gave up his place for me in the club’s Happy Hours Cup, which I eventually won.

Mr Vollam also gave me a summer job that year in his Post Office in Gloddaeth Street.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: andyCYD on June 19, 2012, 05:05:15 pm
The actual date of founding is a bit confusing. The booklet and photo in the club house say it is 1914, although it appears the club had meetings before that.
Title: Re: Craig y Don history
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 19, 2012, 10:37:34 pm
That is understandable, Andy, because there were meetings recorded in late 1913 for the new club but the clubhouse had to be built and was unlikely to open until the spring of 1914.

The late Bill Hitchinson was the former Honorary Secretary and Bill has put 1914 on the front cover of his book so 1914 it is.

Incredibly, four months later Britain was at War and fighting on the Western Front.