Three Towns Forum

The Local => Ask a Local => Topic started by: reelhistory on May 20, 2011, 12:27:22 pm

Title: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: reelhistory on May 20, 2011, 12:27:22 pm
Hello,

I'm researching for a BBC show that's looking at holidays in the UK back in the 50s.  I'm trying to track down someone that may have remembered this period and would like to share their memories.  Ideally it would be someone that was involved in a B&B/Hotel in Llandudno in the 50s and is still doing it.  However, I'm very interested to hear from anyone that has memories of Llandudno from that time. Any help, or suggestions, are very welcome.

Diolch!

Dylan
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Ian on May 20, 2011, 06:29:17 pm
I'm fairly sure we can help you, Dylan.  The galleries have a huge number of stills from the '50s, and we also host a large number of postcards from that era.
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Michael on May 20, 2011, 08:27:25 pm
And a few old codgers who write messages
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Ian on May 20, 2011, 09:10:52 pm
Perhaps you could contribute something, Mike?
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Michael on May 20, 2011, 09:17:47 pm
Well yes and no. I was still living in Rhos until 1949 so I remember the immediate postwar period, but then I went into the R.A.F. and I never really returned to this area, although my parents and sister still lived here. Also I've never had or lived in a B and B. But obviously if I can help, I will
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Ian on May 21, 2011, 08:07:45 am
There must be some members who know of someone who was around and possibly working the B & B trade during the '50s?
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: suepp on May 21, 2011, 06:38:56 pm
my mum helped my grandmother who was a single mum run a boarding house from a young age providing B&B & EM throughout the 40's 50's and early 60's. I remember standing on a chair helping with the washing up! She's not involved in the trade any more though

During WW2 people from the Inland Revenue stayed there
(http://)
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Fester on May 22, 2011, 12:29:29 am
Oh, Suepp... what a fantastic postcard, or advert, from that time... it rivals any marketing gimmick from today... superb.

I would have rushed to pay my ten-bob deposit to stay in such a place.
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: mull on May 22, 2011, 01:22:18 am
This brings back memories.
In late 1940s/1950s my Nain stayed in a cottage in Penrhynside.
During the summer she used to have couples from the Manchester/Stoke area to stay at the cottage.
I am not certain but I think they brought their own food and she used to cook the meals for them. At the time my parents lived in Liverpool but I spent a lot of the school holidays in Penrhynside.
Used to go round to my Uncle Dick & Auntie Jane a lot . They lived in Howard Place so must have passed close to were Suepp was staying. Uncle Dick was a Postman in Llandudno for many years.
Used to spend hours at West Shore sailing my model yacht after travelling down from Penrhynside on the tram. All this wandering around under 10 years of age on my own.
Different world then.
If I can remember any more I will post it.
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Ian on May 22, 2011, 08:56:11 am
Dylan:  one valuable resource would be the advertising booklets Llandudno used to produce during the '50s. Packed with illustrated adverts from every guest house, hotel and camp site imaginable, they formed mini-compendia of life at that time and made a pretty good snapshot of the thriving tourist industry. 
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: suepp on May 22, 2011, 11:05:14 am
My other Grandparents used to cater for holidaymakers in their  little house in Denness Place, there must have been a huge demand for affordable holidays and the locals could take advantage - good for them!

This is from The Llandudno Holiday Magazine 1954
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: suepp on May 22, 2011, 11:11:55 am
(http://)
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Ian on May 22, 2011, 11:45:52 am
Excellent stuff, Suepp.
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: suepp on May 22, 2011, 12:22:21 pm
I wonder who organised the yacht races etc? The other thing Llandudnohad at that time that they don't any more  was the Lido swimming pool complex linking the West Shore with Deganwy
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: hollins on May 22, 2011, 01:34:46 pm
Quote
This is from The Llandudno Holiday Magazine 1954


Suepp, How wonderful that you have kept or found documents like these. They bring back memories for me of my visits to the seaside in the 50's, especially the donkey rides.
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: reelhistory on May 23, 2011, 11:36:09 am
Thank you for your replies.

What we are ideally looking for are people who can talk about their experiences of holidays/accommodation in the UK in the 1950s.  In the first instance we would like a brief chat with people over the phone but we will also be looking to invite a handful of people to Blackpool on Monday 30th may to take part in our show (this will involve watching footage from that period and then being interviewed).

If anyone is interested then I can be reached on: 0161 244 4229

Thank you!
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Blodyn on May 24, 2011, 09:41:07 am
In late 1940s/1950s my Nain stayed in a cottage in Penrhynside.
During the summer she used to have couples from the Manchester/Stoke area to stay at the cottage.
I am not certain but I think they brought their own food and she used to cook the meals for them.

Mull, the practice of visitors bringing their own food seems to have been not unusual.  My maternal great grandmother had a guest house in Suffolk some time between the 1900s and 1930s and she ran it on this principle.  In her case, each family had their own dining room as well as bedroom and it was referred to as "apartments" rather than a "guest house".  My paternal grandmother had a guest house in Deganwy between the late 1920s and 1940s and I think that she too cooked the guests' own food. 
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Trojan on June 11, 2011, 04:49:26 pm
Some good 1950's seaside holiday snaps here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/manchestman/1950SAgainDadMum# (http://picasaweb.google.com/manchestman/1950SAgainDadMum#)
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: white rabbit on June 11, 2011, 07:10:03 pm
One of those could have been me!!!
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Trojan on June 11, 2011, 07:22:14 pm
One of those could have been me!!!

The Eagle photo service.  ???

https://picasaweb.google.com/manchestman/BWDadMum
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Micox on June 18, 2011, 09:53:56 am
Hey Suepp! Wasn't Denness Place council houses in the 1950s? If so were your grandparents running an illegal  B&B?  WWW

I left JohnBright's in 1953 when I was 15 (left by mutual consent), so the 1950s were formative years for me. My only involvement with B&Bs though was delivering fruit and veg to them as an order boy for Overton's and renewing the gas piping in them as and practically all the hotels in town as a gas board apprentice.  I can remember skidding around the greasy floor in the Imperial kitchen playing tennis ball football with Sammy Price in our tea break.

Your Cranky, Crinkled, Curmudgeonly Codger - Mike.  Z@@
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: suepp on June 18, 2011, 11:33:28 am
 WWW  the people they put up were most likely friends of the family from Bootle, who would not have otherwise been able to afford a holiday! $good$
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Llechwedd on June 18, 2011, 11:45:58 am
The prcatice of bringing your own food on holiday was called "Apartments" and was common in late Victorian times and well into the 20th century.  B & B took over.
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Trojan on June 27, 2011, 05:14:30 am
Llandudno 1952, a film by George Wain.

Llandudno 1952 ~ A Film By George Wain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvmz0eiavQo#)
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Ian on June 27, 2011, 07:38:35 am
Fascinating.  Liked the shot of St Trillo coming in.
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Blodyn on June 27, 2011, 10:35:03 am
The prcatice of bringing your own food on holiday was called "Apartments" and was common in late Victorian times and well into the 20th century.  B & B took over.

Thanks, Llechwedd, it's good to have that clarified. 
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: stephenprudence on July 06, 2011, 10:13:20 pm
What an absolutely wonderful film on the previous page! I'm only 25 year old, but to see things like this fill me with good feelings! Tell you what though half of the stuff the family were doing would be banned by 'elf and safety' these days.

All you'd hear is "Get away from that dirty pool of water!"
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: Gixer181 on June 17, 2012, 01:12:11 am
Hey Suepp! Wasn't Denness Place council houses in the 1950s? If so were your grandparents running an illegal b and b.

I think you find that alot of family's did this. we used to in the 70's and also our neighbours did the same thing and we lived in Hywel Place. Our neighbours where the paracellias excuse spelling
Title: Re: Llandudno in the 50s
Post by: ed jones on February 11, 2013, 05:34:53 pm
One of the photos posted by Trojan is two children riding on the pier elephant mentioned on a previous post by Gwynant $walesflag$