Old Lock-up opens to public again

 

* An early drawing of the Old Lock-up.

 

The Old Lock-up and Old Town Hall, Victoria Square, Llangollen, held an open day on July 27, and it was a great success with nearly 100 visitors in a matter of hours.

 

They enjoyed a look at the plans the Armoury Conservation Trust - now a registered charity - has for the renovation and future community use of the Old Town Hall on the upper floor.

Visitors were also able to view new interpretive material in the Old Lock-up on the ground floor, which has been nearly fully restored and presents a unique and authentic view of how the Llangollen's first gaol and police station were used and would have appeared in the mid-1800s, complete with policeman's hat, handcuffs and a very heavy truncheon.

Previous visitors to the Lock-up who wished to catch up with its prisoner found that he has apparently been deemed a flight risk, as he now sports a weighty ball-and-chain.

The Old Lock-up will again take part in Denbighshire's Open Doors heritage weekend, 13 and 14 September, from 12-4pm, and anyone willing to volunteer to help for even a portion of those hours will be most welcome. The Lock-up is also seeking longer-term interest in the form of a Friends of the Old Lock-up, who will receive training in how to guide visitors and interpret this fine heritage asset for them.

 

In both cases, please contact Sue Hargreaves and Rachel Morris at armouryconservationtrust@gmail.com.

Woman hurt in weekend cycling race

The BBC is reporting this evening how a woman was injured while taking part in a cycling race near Llangollen yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-29018316

Sun shines without paws on dog show

SCORES of proud owners brought along their animals to a pet dog show staged at Llangollen Cricket Club in Tower Road on a sunny Sunday afternoon yesterday.

Organised in conjuction with Angel Watch Rescue and Rehome, the event featured a number of classes including Best Rescue, Best Condition, Waggiest Tail, Best Trick and Best Biscuit Catcher.

There were also a number of stalls and sideshows and the event was held in aid of the cricket club.   

* Judging goes ahead in one of the classes.

* A golden Labrador is walked around the parade ring.   

* A pat dog makes an appearance at the show.

County residents urged to support Tour of Britain

Denbighshire residents are urged to support the Tour of Britain as it races through the county for the second year running.

The race, taking place on Monday, 8 September, enters Denbighshire on the A541 at the county boundary with Flintshire and will go through Trefnant towards Henllan before turning right to join the Lower Denbigh Road near the location known locally as the 'S' bends.

The race will then travel to the junction on the outskirts of St Asph before turning right onto Glascoed Road, through the St Asaph Business Park and then head towards the county boundary with Conwy county.

The race is expected to arrive in Denbighshire shortly after 1pm and is expected to have left the county by 2pm. These timings are approximates and people wanting to support the race are being asked to allow plenty of time to arrive at their location.

There will be rolling road closures which mean that roads will be closed  a short time before the first cyclists are due. Roads will be open as soon as the main group of cyclists have passed through.

Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for major events and leisure, said: "We a\re delighted that the race is coming back to North Wales and to Denbighshire. The support last year was tremendous and we hope to emulate that kind of support this year and give the cyclists a warm welcome.

"Cycling events are becoming ever more popular and Denbighshire has demonstrated that it is a great location for large events of this nature.  The support of crowds is extremely important so I would ask you to get out on the route and get involved in the excitement and buzz of this great event."

* For further information about the race, please visit: www.tourofbritain.co.uk

Valley Girls WI next meets on September 2

Valley Girls WI has its first meeting back after the summer holidays next week.

It will be held in the Hand Hotel, Llangollen, on Tuesday, September 2, starting at 8pm and the subject of the meeting will be cocktail mixing.  It's free for WI members visitors and newcomers £4.

The branch also now has its own dedicated website at www.valleygirlswi.co.uk and a community Facebook page - search under Valley Girls WI.

Spokeswoman Gail Ellson said: "Both of these sites have details about our events."

* Members of Valley Girls WI on a recent evening walk.

Work starts on police station facelift

Today (Friday 29^th August) sees the start of an extensive refurbishment of Llangollen Police Station.

 

The Police Station, itself a listed building, has been the base of policing in the town for many years, but the time has come for it to be brought up to modern standards.

 

Work will take place on both the interior and exterior of the building and is scheduled for completion in April 2015

 

District Inspector Gareth Jones explains “We’re pleased to have secured the funding to make this investment in Llangollen Police Station, making it fit to serve this historic town for many years to come.

 

“With the support of Llangollen Town Council, we have been able to maintain a base in the town with officers being based in the Town Hall whilst the works are completed.

 

He added: “We look forward to it re-opening and will be holding an open day for people to come and see the results.”

 

 

 

Steam stars head for railway's gala weekend

* Black Five No.45337 departing Llangollen station.

Llangollen Railway's popular gala event this weekend marks the end of summer and sees a visiting locomotive making a return to Wales.

 

The Ivatt Class 2 mixed traffic engine, No.46521, was once allocated to Machynlleth shed and was hauling trains on the Cambrian Coast line and round to Dolgellau in the 1960s.

 

During that period it also pulled the Royal Train on a visit to the Cambrian Coast. 

 

At the gala event, on Friday and Saturday, it will be joined by three members of the Llangollen home-based fleet, with the British Rail Standard Tank engine No.80072 and the Black Five No.45337 making a welcome return to service and the Great Western Heavy Freight engine No.3802.

 

They will be joined by one of the British Rail Class 26 heritage diesel locomotives No.D5310 as the railway sets out to imitate railway operations down the line to Barmouth on the Western Region before Dr Beeching took his axe to the network in 1964.

 

The special timetable, entitled "Along Western Lines" for the gala, will see trains departing Llangollen at frequent intervals throughout each day, from 0900 onwards, for the run along the Dee Valley to Carrog and through to Plas Bonwm on the extension of the line.

 

A demonstration freight train is included in the sequence of departures and on Saturday an evening service will operate.

 

During the gala there will be a photographic and railwayana display in the tearoom at Berwyn station covering the course of the railway between Ruabon and Barmouth.

 

This will include maps, original engineering drawings and historical paperwork, as well as a photographic record of the stations along the line.

 

For thirsty rail fans there will be a real ale bar in the Henry Robertson suite at Llangollen station, as well as real ale served on trains.

 

George Jones for Llangollen Railway said: "We have another spectacular occasion when visitors will see how the railway might have operated at full capacity in the years prior to the infamous Dr Beeching's Report 'The Reshaping of British Railways.”

 

On an historic note, he added: "This year is when we mark the 50th anniversary, in December, of the last through train running between Ruabon and Barmouth due to flooding which washed away the track near Llandderfel. 

 

“Only the sections between Ruabon and Llangollen and Barmouth and Bala retained shuttle train services prior to formal closure of the line in January 1965.

 

"No one thought then that the railway at Llangollen would make a comeback, but it has, and it will shortly achieve its aim of reconnecting to Corwen once the extension work is completed and the line has passed its official inspection."

 

Details of the timetable and fares are to be found on the Railway's website at:

http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/steam-gala/