The North Wales seaside resort dream that 'never quite came true'
North Wales has its fair share of wonderful seaside resorts - from the eternally popular Llandudno to watersports hotspot Rhosneigr. When it came to Llandudno it evolved from a small fishing and mining village into a prominent Victorian seaside resort in the mid-19th century.
The town's development was significantly influenced by the arrival of the railway in 1858 and big dreams from Victorian entrepreneurs.
But not every grand plan comes to fruition for various reasons. For example Porthdinllaen never became the port to link North Wales to Ireland despite the ambitions of some.
People were reminded of another scheme that never reached the potential imagined for it by a picture taken this week by local photographer Dominic Vachar.
Solomon Andrews - head of the Solomon Andrews and Son bus and tram-operating company, based in Cardiff - had high hopes for a slice of farmland near Arthog, next to Afon Mawddach.
The nearby Barmouth was already thriving and he hoped to develop another holiday resort on the other side of the estuary.
He developed three terraces of houses, including St Mary's Terrace, Arthog Terrace, and Mawddach Crescent, which overlooked the Mawddach estuary.
The Crescent was connected to Barmouth Junction railway station by the short-lived Barmouth Junction and Arthog Tramway which he constructed.
But the surrounding land proved unsuitable for further construction and the tramway closed.
In 1941, during the Second World War, the Crescent was commandeered by the Royal Marines. It was renamed Camp Iceland and used as a training facility.
The homes remain - with a private road serving the small terrace with spectacular views.
Dominic Vachar said: "Tucked away on the edge of the Mawddach Estuary, Mawddach Crescent is a striking reminder of a Victorian dream that never quite came true.
"Built in the late 1800s as part of plans for a grand resort linked to the railway boom, it was meant to attract wealthy visitors to this quiet stretch of Snowdonia (Eryri). But with no road access at the time the rest of the development was never completed, the Crescent stood in isolation for decades.
"Even today, the Crescent is still quite isolated. It's tucked away at the end of a narrow lane, with no through road and for most visitors, it's easiest to reach by walking or cycling the Mawddach Trail , the old railway line that runs between Dolgellau and Barmouth."
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Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Wales Online
It should have been huge holiday resort but is now home to a small, lucky few
It should have been huge holiday resort but is now home to a small, lucky few They've got to be among the luckiest homeowners in the country Mawddach Crescent near Barmouth (Image: Dominic Vacher ) Overlooking the Mawddach Estuary near the quiet village of Arthog in Gwynedd is a row of eight exclusive terrace homes, the owners of which probably can't believe their luck. The terraces were built to kick off plans for what should have been a grand holiday resort which mirrored the resorts on the opposite side of the estuary at Barmouth. The plans were thought up by Cardiff businessman Solomon Andrews who operated a bus and tram company based in the capital and had high hopes for the south side of the estuary. The entrepreneur began in part by building a very small row of terrace homes at Mawddach Crescent in 1899. He picked the village of Arthog because of the views of the mountains and the water - and even built a tramway ready to transport thousands of expected visitors from across Britain. Mawddach Crescent was in the most prime of locations overlooking the estuary and connected to Barmouth Junction railway station by the short-lived Barmouth Junction and Arthog Tramway which Mr Andrews constructed. But Mr Andrews' dream hit the buffers later when the surrounding land proved unsuitable for further construction and the tramway closed. Yet the homes at Mawddach Crescent still remain, surrounded by very little other than bliss peace. A private road now serves the small terrace properties with stunning views and which are now valued up to half a million pounds, NorthWalesLive reports. Local photographer Dominic Vachar described the beauty of the place. Article continues below "Tucked away on the edge of the Mawddach Estuary, Mawddach Crescent is a striking reminder of a Victorian dream that never quite came true,' he explained. "Built in the late 1800s as part of plans for a grand resort linked to the railway boom, it was meant to attract wealthy visitors to this quiet stretch of Snowdonia (Eryri). But with no road access at the time the rest of the development was never completed, the Crescent stood in isolation for decades. "Even today the Crescent is still quite isolated. It's tucked away at the end of a narrow lane with no through road and for most visitors, it's easiest to reach by walking or cycling the Mawddach Trail, the old railway line that runs between Dolgellau and Barmouth." It's not complete peace for the folk of Mawddach Crescent though. They have over the years had to contend with members of the public walking along the front of their homes despite clear signs informing walkers the road is private. In 2014, campaigners – led by retired council official Huw Roberts - argued there had been 'unhindered access' for decades along the road in front of the properties. 'Past generations of owners have acknowledged the public's right to walk this path, some even providing walkers with refreshments as they stopped to sit on the tidal wall,' he said. Article continues below The local authority's planning committee decided to allow the walkers free access, but after the homeowners appealed a decision by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales overturned the ruling in 2023. Welcoming the ruling one resident said: "We just want to get on with our lives in peace without strangers wandering past our front windows and gawping inside. It is a unique place and we just want it to stay that way."
Edinburgh Reporter
9 hours ago
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Rescue heroine Grace will inspire coastal rower Adam
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The National
10 hours ago
- The National
Edinburgh's Orthodox school adds new chapter to Greek-Scottish story
Scottish education earlier this month added St Andrew's Orthodox Church School to the official register of independent establishments. Based at Craigmillar Park Church in the south of the city, it offers a traditional style of education. Many Cypriots originally made their way over to Scotland in search of work and a better way of life, and there were also war brides who married Scottish soldiers after the Second World War. READ MORE: 'Their love for Scotland made my heart sing': George Ezra hails Scottish folk group Today, Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews universities are popular studying spots for Cypriots, and many have their own societies to embrace their culture. There have been Greek schools in Glasgow and Edinburgh since the 1950s, along with the Edinburgh Hellenic School of St Andrew which teaches Greek to all ages, and the community has a real warmth to it. Low-cost flights mean it is also relatively easy to fly back to Cyprus and enjoy the likes of seaside beauty Paphos. One of the most luxurious and secluded places to stay is the five-star Constantinou Bros Athena Beach hotel, just yards away from the sands of Kato Paphos and a 15-minute stroll from the beautiful harbour, archaeological sites, shops and restaurants. The old town of Paphos is great for soaking up the traditions of Cyprus and at the heart of it is The Place, a converted warehouse where craftsmen continue to use ancient methods to create wonderful arts and handicrafts. This oasis of joy is full of talented people selling their work and also providing valuable classes to allow others to learn the same skills. Visitors can try their hand at everything from pottery painting to creating mosaic magnets, and The Place also has a lovely café. Full of history, Paphos is officially a Unesco World Heritage site, with the Archaeological Park one of the most important in Cyprus. It dates back to the fourth century BC when King Nicocles moved it to its current home by the harbour. It features sites and monuments from the time up to the Middle Ages, with most of the remains dating back to the Roman times. The most impressive are the intricate mosaic floors of the houses of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion and Orpheus, which show various scenes from Greek mythology. Other important monuments including the Asklepieion, a theatre known as the Odeon, and the Agora. The Limeniotissa, the ruins of an early Christian basilica, and the Tomb of the Kings are also in this fascinating and huge park. The big underground tombs are carved out of solid rock and, despite the name, it was actually high-ranking officials and aristocracy who were buried in the cavern, with some decorated with Doric pillars. Sitting grandly at the west end of the city's harbour, Paphos Castle was originally a Byzantine fort, which was built to protect the water. It was renovated by the Lusignans in the 13th century, only to be dismantled by the Venetians who did not want to fall into the hands of the Ottomans. What survives today was restored by the Ottomans in the 16th century and features a big square tower and central hall. The castle was handed over to the British in 1878 and it was used as a salt store until 1935, when it was declared an ancient monument. It really makes for an impressive site in the harbour, alongside the rows of fishing boats, and yachts which moor so people can enjoy this lively area. Seafood is very much on the menu in Paphos and two of the best restaurants are Ta Mpania, which is slap bang by the water and, in the old town, the very popular Christos Grill and Seafood Restaurant has al fresco dining to allow gorgeous views of the city, while feasting on the finest of local dishes. Enjoying the simple pleasures in life is very much the mantra in Cyprus and repeated in the adopted home of Scotland. Factfile
