Memory Lane

Gittins & Beech (usually just known as Beech's) on the corner of Well Street & Market Street hasn't really changed much. Beech's sold and repaired bicycles and, towards the rear, was an ironmonger. Before Cavendish Ikin, the shop was the infamous Great Western Carpets

Deg allan o ddeg to Ian Lewney for his presentations today entitled "Ruthin: Down Memory Lane". In spite of some technical issues during the first showing, his pictures were well received. A number of them remain readily accessible on Facebook but not everyone is able to see them. There was even some open debate during the afternoon session about the exact location of Rhoda's sweetshop on Clwyd Street. And John Jones of Denbigh Road who himself takes a keen interest in Rhuthun/Ruthin's history was able to enlighten the audience with his memories of working on various civil engineering projects, including the construction of the roundabout on St Peter's Square in 1963 (or was than 1962? More debate). The first session was packed and the second healthy. Over 150 people benefitted from Lewney's presentations. The Civic Association will have raise over £500 towards the September heritage weekend.

Looking towards Rhuthun from the corner of Green field Road & Wernfechan, with the old gasometer and gas works black & white timbered building clearly visible. To the gasometer's left are the "temporary" buildings that till the early 2000s used to adorn the rear of the council office site. Commenters on the Facebook site couldn't agree when the gasometer came down. Some said 1989, 1991, 1992... when in fact Chris Birchall was right with 1986/7. Wern Vets had not extended (the white two-storey building came in 1988, adjoining the single storey brick building behind the white-roofed garage)
 

The presentation reminded us that Rhuthun/Ruthin up to the mid-1960s was a fairly self-contained economy, without the need for people to travel too far in order to purchase their wants and needs. And, as a reminder of modernisation, one of the best shots was of the bottom of Clwyd Street in the 1960s. It was jammed full of parked cars including one double-parked. Check out Finn's on a Friday or Saturday or bank holiday evening and it's pretty much the same, today.

Again, there were some wild guesses on Facebook as s to the year this was taken. Lo -cost opened in 1992

The depiction of the Ellis Table Water factory (off Mwrog Street, at Maes Fynnon) was also interesting, with people agreeing that it was something of an artist's impression that successfully tried to create a better impression of the site than was the reality. If, however, you compare the representation with the ubiquitous 1874 map of Rhuthun then the footprint on the image at least corresponds to the map's plan.