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SANDBOX

Early History of Llandudno

The town of Llandudno developed from stone-age, bronze-age and iron-age settlements over many hundreds of years on the slopes of the limestone headland, known to seafarers as the Great Orme and to landsmen as the Creuddyn peninsular. The origins in recorded history are with the Manor of Gogarth conveyed by King Edward I to Annan, Bishop of Bangor in 1284. The manor comprised three townships, Y Gogarth in the south-west, Y Cyngreawdr in the north (with the parish church of St. Tudno) and Yn Wyddfid in the south-east. By 1847 the town had grown to a thousand persons served by the new church of St. George, built in 1840, the great majority of the men working in the copper mines with others employed in fishing and subsistence agriculture.

In 1848, Owen Williams, an architect and surveyor from Liverpool, presented Lord Mostyn with plans to develop the marsh lands behind Llandudno Bay as a holiday resort. These were enthusiasticly persued by Lord Mostyn. The influence of the Mostyn Estate and its agents over the years was to become paramount in the development of Llandudno and especially after the appointment of George Felton as surveyor and architect in 1857. During the years 1857 to 1877 much of central Llandudno had been developed under Felton's supervision. George Felton also undertook architectural design work including the design and execution of Holy Trinity Church in Mostyn Street.

Venu Cymru

Venue Cymru is a large arts venue in Llandudno North Wales incorporating a 1,500 seat theatre, restauraunt, conference centre and arena. The venue was previously known as the North Wales Theatre and the North Wales Conference Centre.

There has been a theatre on the Venue Cymru site since 1894. Originally named the Victoria Palace, it was built by Jules Rivière (then aged 75) who for many years had been the celebrated resident conductor of the Llandudno Pier Orchestra and a pioneer of the summer promenade concert. He established his own 42 piece orchestra at the 1'015 seat Victoria Palace, which attracted emminent visiting soloists including Sir Charles and Lady Hallé who in 1895 gave a piano and violin recital with the Orchestra.

The building was only intended to be a temporary structure but became a landmark on the promenade for over 100 years. It changed its name several times, firstly to Rivière's Concert Hall, then in 1900 it became the Llandudno Opera House and the venue for the Carl Rosa Opera Company. Later it was called the Hippodrome.

In 1915 the theatre was bought by Will Catlin and renamed the Arcadia. The Arcadia provided 1,147 seats in the auditorium and was the last of Llandudno’s many theatres and cinemas to offer traditional seaside entertainments. It was the home of Will Catlin's Pierrots, which eventually became presented as "Catlin's Follies with an all star cast". Catlin's Follies survived the sudden death in 1953 (aged 82) of Will Catlin and continued until the theatre was bought by Llandudno Urban Council in 1968. The Arcadia continued as a theatre under local authority ownership until 1994.

The Aberconwy Centre was officially opened by the Prince of Wales on October 27th 1981 The Aberconwy Centre built on the ajoining site to the Arcadia provided conference space for over 1,000 delegates as well as a squash centre, sun beds and badminton facilities!

On June 22nd 1994 the curtain dropped for the final time on the Arcadia, the Aberconwy Centre had been redeveloped and re-named as the North Wales Conference Centre and the North Wales Theatre and Conference Centre was born. The North Wales Theatre consisted of a 1,505 seat auditorium in a fully equipped receiving house theatre able to stage the largest of West End touring productions. It had a prescenium 15 meters wide and 8 meters high with a stage depth of 14 metres. The theatre opened on June 28th with a performance of Jesus Christ, Superstar and the formal opening was just a few days later on July 3rd 1994 by the Prince of Wales at a Royal Gala Concert. The ajoining North Wales Conference Centre provided a host of conference facilities including the 700 square metre Hall capable of seating 800 delegates theatre style and hosting standing concerts for over 1,000.

The original Arcadia theatre was abandoned and lay derelict until July 2005 when it was demolished to make way for a £10.7 million project to enhance and re-develop the facilities at the North Wales Theatre and Conference Centre. Where the Arcadia once stood, to the East of the complex, a new conference atrium and suite of meeting and conference rooms was built including a new 1,550 square metre Arena providing space for 1,800 seats theatre style or more than 2,500 people standing. The total capacitiy of the conference centre rose dramatically to over 5,000 delegates.

To the west of the existing building another new extension was added providing a café bar, restaurant, office space and improved box office facilities. The enhancement was funded by Conwy County Borough Council and its funding partners. The largest contribution came from the European Union’s Objective One Fund Programme, with further significant grants coming from the Arts Council of Wales (£1million lottery funding), Visit Wales (now part of the Welsh Assembly Government), the Welsh Development Agency (also part of the Welsh Assembly) and the Local Regeneration Fund.

The North Wales Theatre, Conference Centre and Arena required a new, shorter and bilingual (Welsh/English) name. In December 2005 a competition was launched in a local newspaper to rename the complex. Almost 300 entries were received and the winning entry Venue Cymru (Cymru is Welsh for Wales) was chosen a few months later. Venue Cymru was officially opened on Monday January 15th 2007 by Andrew Davies AM and has been described as the beginning of a new era for Entertainment, Conferencing and Events in Llandudno.

External links

• Cymru official website

Railways

The Aberdonian was the name of the principal overnight sleeping car express train running on the London and North Eastern Railway between London, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The train ran under that name only from sometime after the amalgamation of 1923 until September 1939 and indeed throughout until the post-war Nationalisation of 1948 (one of only four British named trains to retain its title throughout the war). The name did of course continue to be promoted with renewed vigour by British Rail until at the time of the disruption caused by the electrification of the East Coast Main Line in the mid-1980s the London terminus of all Anglo-Scottish sleeping car trains was established at Euston railway station.

Original Locomotives

Russell restored to its original condition, running in 1995

Two locomotives were inherited from the predecessor companies: Moel Tryfan and Russell. When these proved insufficient, Baldwin 590 was acquired by H.F. Stephens and several Ffestiniog Railway locomotives saw regular use on the WHR during its period of joint ownership.

Name or Number	Wheel arrangement	Builder	Date built	Notes
Moel Tryfan	0-6-4T	Vulcan Foundry	1875	ex-North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
Russell	2-6-2T	Hunslet Engine Company	1906	ex-Portmadoc, Beddgelert & South Snowdon Railway
590	4-6-0T	Baldwin Locomotive Works U.S.A.	1917	ex-War Department Light Railways

Current Locomotives - WHR (Porthmadog)

Beddgelert awaiting restoration at Gelert's Farm in 1995

Karen on shed at Gelert's Farm in 1995

No	Name	Wheel arrangement	Date built	Builder	Notes
	Russell	2-6-2T	1906	Hunslet	The only surviving original WHR engine
	Karen	0-4-2T	1942	Peckett and Sons
	Gelert	0-4-2T	1953	Bagnall
3023		0-4-2T		Bagnall	Sister loco to Gelert. Awaiting restoration (and a name!).
120	Beddgelert	2-8-2	1949	Societe Anglo-Franco-Belge	Ex-SAR NG15 Class
	Lady Madcap	0-4-0ST	1896	Hunslet
590		4-6-0	1917	Baldwin	Baldwin Class 10-12-D imported from India, original number 794 but renumbered 590 to match the original, scrapped WHR locomotive.

See all WHR (Porthmadog) Stock

Current Locomotives - WHR (Caernarfon)

No	Name	Wheel arrangement	Date built	Builder	Notes
K1		0-4-0+0-4-0	1909	Beyer-Peacock	ex-Tasmanian Government Railways K Class, the world's first Garratt. Restored and in service although some further work will be carried out over winter 2006/7, probably including re-conversion to coal firing.
87		2-6-2+2-6-2	1937	Cockerill	ex-SAR NGG16 Class Garratt, Black unlined livery. Stripped and undergoing restoration at Boston Lodge Works, expected in traffic for Spring 2008. It is expected that 87 will be coal-fired when it enters service.
133		2-8-2	1953	Société Anglo-Franco-Belge	ex-SAR NG15 Class Unrestored. Stored at Dinas.
134		2-8-2	1953	Société Anglo-Franco-Belge	ex-SAR NG15 Class Unrestored. Stored at Dinas. Some preparatory works have been carried out on 134, which will be restored before no.133. However, work is currently on hold pending the completion of the restoration of K1 and the work to bring no. 140 into service.
138	Millennium/ Mileniwm	2-6-2+2-6-2	1958	Beyer-Peacock	ex-SAR NGG16 Class Garratt, green livery. In service. 138's boiler will be replaced by that from no.140 by spring 2007 and the original will subsequently be fitted to no.143 in 2008.
140		2-6-2+2-6-2	1958	Beyer-Peacock	ex-SAR NGG16 Class Garratt, red livery. Currently stripped with restoration proceeding at Dinas. 140's boiler is to be overhauled for used in no.138 from Spring 2007. 140 will enter service with the boiler from no.143, presumably in spring 2009 for the opening of Phase 4 to Porthmadog.
143		2-6-2+2-6-2	1958	Beyer-Peacock	ex-SAR NGG16 Class Garratt, black livery. This was the last locomotive built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in Manchester. Currently out of service for overhaul, expected back in service for the start of the 2007 season. 143's boiler will be replaced in Spring 2008 with that from no.138 following its overhaul. The original will subsequently be fitted to no.140.
	Castell Caernarfon	B-B	1967	Funkey	This 335hp diesel hydraulic locomotive was built for work in a diamond mine and was later used for cement traffic at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is one of a pair imported by the Ffestiniog Railway, the other (Vale of Ffestiniog) being re-bodied to fit the FR loading gauge. It was the first locomotive to be moved to Dinas, in January 1997.
	Upnor Castle	4-wheel	1954	F.C. Hibberd	This 180hp Gardiner 6LXB diesel engined locomotive was built for R.N. Chattendon and Upnor Railway. Sold to Welshpool and Llanfair Railway in 1962 and to the Ffestiniog Railway in 1968 and re-gauged. Transferred Dinas, in August 1997 for use on reconstruction work.
	Castell Conwy/Conway Castle	4-wheel	1958	F.C. Hibberd	This 180hp Gardiner 6LXB diesel engined locomotive was built for R.N.A.D. Ernesettle, Plymouth. Bought by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1981 and re-gauged, it was re-bodied and overhauled at Boston Lodge in 1986 and frequently used on 'pull and push' trains. After several years on light duties a new engine was fitted in October 1999. Transferred to Dinas, in April 2000 for use as a stand-by on passenger engine. Used also on civil engineering rosters.

Passenger Coaches and Vans

WHR (Caernarfon)

The principal source of information for this table is the: "Rheilffordd Eryri - Welsh Highland Railway Traveller's Guide" by the Ffestiniog Railway Company circa 2002, supplemented by later information as it becomes available.

Present Number	Date built	Builder	Body Type	number of seats	Image	Notes
23	1894	Ashbury Carriage and Wagon Co Manchester	7 compartment	56		Built for the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways became Welsh Highland Railway property in 1923 and was reduced in height to fit the FR loading gauge. Became Ffestiniog Railway property (in exchange for three bogie wagons) in 1936. Returned to FR service in 1955 and full doors fitted in 1966. Refurbished in 2002 and returned to the WHR.
24	2002	FR Boston Lodge Works	7 compartment	56		A replica of an 1894 "Ashbury" NWNGR "Summer Coach".
2020	1997	Winson Engineering, Daventry	semi-open saloon	36		The first coach built for the Caernarfon service, delivered to Boston Lodge for trials on the FR and transferred to Dinas in September 1997. All the modern coaches run on bogies imported from South Africa.
2021	2002	Alan Keef, Ross-on-Wye	semi-open saloon	36		(design as above)
2022	2002	Alan Keef, Ross-on-Wye	semi-open saloon	36		(design as above)
2040	1997	Winson Engineering, Daventry	saloon	36		Fully upholstered, heated and double glazed coach delivered to Dinas in September 1997 for the start of the Caernarfon service.
2041	1997	Winson Engineering, Daventry	saloon	36		(as above)
2042	1997	Winson Engineering, Daventry	saloon	36		(as above)
2090	1997	Winson Engineering, Daventry	guard/saloon	22		Fully upholstered, heated and double glazed coach with double doors for wheelchair access, sponsored by First Hydro and delivered to Dinas in September 1997 for the start of the Caernarfon service.
2115	1998	Winson Engineering, Daventry	Pullman saloon	20		Heated and double glazed. Fitted with Pullman style armchairs. Finished in U.K. Pullman Car Company livery and named "Bodysgallen". Sponsored by Historic Houses Hotels Ltd, the proprietors of Bodysgallen Hall.

WHR(Porthmadog)

All coaches are bogie vehicles unless otherwise stated.

No.	Date built	Builder	Body Type	seats	Image	Notes
1	1973	WHR Ltd.	saloon/brake	20		Observation and Brake end car with central glazed saloon and part-glazed observation compartment. Coachwork mounted on a modified Hudson bogie chassis.
2	1902	Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. rebuilt GWR Swindon 1938	brake van	0		Ex. G.W.R. Vale of Rheidol Railway four-wheeled van, sold by British Rail 1968.
3	1980	WHR Ltd.	open toast rack	18		Three open unglazed compartments. Bodywork mounted on a modified Hudson bogie chassis.
4	1995	WHR Ltd.	Saloon	12		Bodywork mounted on modified RNAD four-wheeled flat wagon No. 69.
5	1913					Chassis of Deutsche Bundesbahn bogie coach awaiting new body. No. 960 140 imported 1972.
6	1981	WHR Ltd.	semi-open part-glazed toast rack	18		Three compartments. Bodywork mounted on a modified Hudson bogie chassis.
7	1987	WHR Ltd.	Fully glazed saloon with tables	32		'The Eisteddfod Coach' Coachwork mounted on a modified Hudson bogie chassis.
8	1891	Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co.	Central glazed saloon with open balcony at each end	24		'The Gladstone Car' Ex North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways recovered 1988 and restored by WHR Ltd.
10	1893	Ashbury Railway Carriage & Wagon Co.	Fully glazed saloon	30		'The Buffet Car' Ex NWNGR modified to serve as buffet car by WHR in 1927 recovered 1987 and restored by WHR Ltd.
42	1924	Hudson	open toast rack	24		Three open unglazed compartments. One of six original bogie toast racks built by Hudson for use on the WHR and FR. Completely rebuilt by WHR Ltd.