Renovate or Rebuild: What's better for Llandudno?

(Photo Credit)

Whilst walking past the sorry remains of the Tudno Castle Hotel in Llandudno a few days ago, I got to thinking...what's better - renovating an existing Victorian building or rebuilding it to create an exact replica?

In an ideal world, of course, the question would not need to be asked - it would be renovation every time. However, the world in which we live dictates that a more pragmatic approach must be taken if anything is to be achieved. So, to a large extent, I believe the answer must depend upon the particular building and whether it has significant historical importance. In the case of the Tudno Castle Hotel, its contribution to the townscape is significant but only really in terms of its architecture. The plans mooted for the conversion of the building into a 70 bedroom Travelodge stalled because the Planning Authorities dictated that the building's façade must be retained and incorporated into the new development, a condition that would have added considerably to construction costs. By the time the plans were eventually approved, Travelodge had lost interest and pulled out of the deal.

As a result of the stalling, we are left with a derelict, eyesore building in the centre of town, when we could have had an £8m investment from Travelodge that would have created 35 new jobs. What if the Planning Authorities had instead said that the entire building can be demolished (after any significant architectural elements, such as the decorative iron porch, are removed for reuse in the new building) but the new building must be, externally, an exact copy of the old building? Personally, I would say that would be acceptable (and far preferable to the current situation) - what do you think?

Llandudno Welcomes You?

(Photo Credit)

The sight in the photo above has been a welcoming one for visitors to Llandudno since the 1950s. The illuminated sign at the top of Penrhyn Hill gives visitors and residents alike the feeling that they have nearly reached their destination.

So...why hasn't it worked for weeks? I've been past it several times at night over the last month or so and it's in darkness every time. Surely Town Councillors (for I believe it is the responsibility of the Town Council) go past it at night - because it's dark at about 4.30pm now remember. How about the Town Clerk or one of the staff? Why does it always have to be members of the public that make the effort to report things like this?

Update: I went past last Friday (27th November) and the sign was lit up again. At long last!

Night Photography (Part 1)

Night photography has always been an interest of mine, it's fascinating how different the world can look once dusk falls. Here's a photo of the Gresham pub in Upper Mostyn Street, Llandudno that I took the other day:

(Photo Credit)

Llandudno Town Hall

(Photo Credit)

Llandudno Town Hall was designed in 1894 and won a £50 prize for the architect, Mr. T. B. Silcock, of Bath, in a competition judged by a Mr. Lockwood, of Chester (who I presume was another Architect). It had been the wish of Llandudno Urban District Council (1895-1974)and its predecessors the Llandudno Improvement Commissioners (1854-1894), for the town to have a grand Town Hall, but the process of obtaining one was not to be smooth.

The design was intended to be in the English Renaissance style but ended up as a Baroque form of Classicism, based on E. W. Mountford's design for Battersea Town Hall. Construction was of Portland stone, lined by red brick.

The budgeted cost was £10,000 but problems started almost immediately when the lowest tender for construction received was for £13,300, from a Mr. Warburton of Miles Platting (a district in Manchester). This caused consternation amongst the Councillors and the debate about a revised design and cost rumbled on for many months. Eventually, a revised design and budget for £13,023 was accepted and Mr. Warburton was awarded the contract.

The land it was to be built on was a gift from Lord Mostyn to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in June 1897 - he donated 1,798 Square Yards of land on Lloyd Street, valued at £4,044.

But, another dispute arose and work still did not start. Mr. Warburton's contract was terminated and was awarded to a man called Robert Luther Roberts, who managed to actually get construction underway by 1899. Lord Mostyn laid the Foundation Stone on the October 26th 1899 and the building was completed by early 1902. Unfortunately, by now the total cost had soared to £20,000.

Lord Mostyn laying the Foundation Stone on October 26th 1899

The building featured a large Assembly Hall on the Ground Floor designed for public use, together with associated offices and facilities. The central section of the First Floor was devoted to the Council Chamber, with municipal offices. One wing of the building was designed to be let to private businesses and was completely separated from the municipal part, having its own entrance. The front entrance opened into the Main Hall, complete with grand staircase of Devonshire stone, lined by marble columns.

(Photo Credit)

The building was officially opened by Sir Albert Rollitt (Chairman of the Association of Local Government Organisations and one-time Lord Mayor of Hull) on the 10th February 1902. It was a cold Winter's day and snow was falling heavily in Llandudno in the morning for Sir Albert Rollitt's arrival by train. Fortunately, the clouds cleared and the sun came out by late morning. After the official ceremony, several hundred guests attended a luncheon at 2.30pm in the Council Chamber. Catering was provided by a Mr. Alan Sumner of the Grosvenor Restaurant (is he the founder of the much loved Sumners restaurant that stood on Mostyn Street for many years, I wonder?). In the evening, a free concert for members of the public was held in the Assembly Hall, featuring local musicians & performers. The following Sunday, a special concert for the town's children was held.

Ironically enough, one of the first official tasks undertaken in the new Town Hall was a Government inquiry into the cost of the project, which had more than doubled from the original estimate.

Currently, the Town Hall is now owned by Conwy County Borough Council and Llandudno Town Council have to pay rent for their use of it. This seems curious to me - surely it should be owned by Llandudno Town Council, since it was their forerunner organisation that built it?

In terms of design, I think the Town Hall suits its purpose perfectly.

Looks familiar...but it's Battersea Town Hall!

Lost Mansion of Hafodunos

Wandering just a touch further afield than usual, the blog takes a look at the Lost Mansion of Hafodunos.

Hafodunos in 1954

Since I was a child, I'd heard stories about the fabulous Grade I Listed Gothic mansion (designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and built between 1861-1866) high in the hills above Colwyn Bay. In the days before the Internet (remember them?), information about such places was scarce and it was only the odd news story in the North Wales Weekly News that provided any information. Even then, its actual location was a complete mystery and it was more by luck than planning that I caught sight of its high clock tower as I wandered along a back lane by Llangernyw in about 1997.

I took the opportunity to have a little wander around the outside of the mansion and a look through its Grade II Listed (but very overgrown) gardens. The terraced gardens are worth a visit by themselves; believed to contain over 1,200 species of exotic plants, many are said to have been planted by the botanist and horticulturalist Sir William Hooker or his son J. D. Hooker. Back in those days, the mansion was empty and, apart from some minor vandalism, was in fairly good condition. In fact, its condition was such that you could almost imagine that there was someone still living there, shades of Great Expectations!

In fact, the family that had built it (the Sandbachs) had long since departed and it had suffered a succession of institutional owners, culminating in a stint as a nursing home under the notorious ownership of Les Whittingham - a man from the Morecambe area who loved buying unusual buildings but who didn't like spending any money whatsoever on maintenance. The nursing home was eventually closed down by Clwyd County Council in the mid 1990s and it remained empty until Les Whittingham's death in about 1999. It was then put up for sale and was eventually sold to SFJ Limited, a Colwyn Bay property developer, who announced plans to develop the mansion into a luxury country house hotel, with about 90 log cabins in the grounds. The locals were none too keen on this plan and put up a spirited campaign of opposition. The battle between developer and community ended on the night of the 14th October 2004 when two youths broke into the mansion and set fire to it. Despite a determined effort by the Fire Service, the main section of the mansion was completely destroyed....

And there its history almost stops, for the mansion and its 50 acres of gardens were effectively abandoned and have been left to their gentle decline ever since. It's been up for sale for the last couple of years but no sale has been concluded, almost as if the Estate Agent didn't really want to sell it. In the meantime, the mansion itself deteriorates little by little every year and the brambles in the garden grow ever higher.

Update: January 2010: I hear that Hafodunos has finally been sold. I also understand that discussions have taken place with both Conwy Council (who are willing to issue a grant towards stabilisation works for the Hall) and CADW (regarding renovation grants). CADW have issued a grant of £21,000 for emergency stabilisation works.

I viewed the Estate twice in 2008; the full set of photos is on Flickr (see link at bottom of page) but here's a selection to give you a feel for how Hafodunos looks now. I thought it important to document it as fully as possible, before the decline becomes overwhelming:

Main frontage in 2008 (Photo Credit)

Side of the Mansion & Main Entrance in 2008 (Photo Credit)

The Conservatories in 2008 (Photo Credit)

Looking up at the ruined Clocktower in 2008 (Photo Credit)

A bas-relief by John Gibson 'Venus Kissing Cupid' (Photo Credit)

Beautiful hand carved stonework, depicting wild plants found in the gardens (Photo Credit)

A full set of photos taken on my visits to Hafodunos can be found on the Flickr website here.