Looking back at life and business in Flintshire in the 1950s

But for Flintshire, it was a year of so much more. Here the Leader brings part two of a compilation of articles, by local historian, the late Elvet Pierce...

AS we look at the advertisements for goods and services available in 1953, it is surprising just how up-to-date some are, and how old-fashioned others seem. For anyone who despairs of the misspelling of words for advertising effect, take a look at the Kwiksnax ad - it has everything today’s have proving that there is nothing new under the sun.

Kwiksnax ad ad, from the 1950s.

For those who don’t remember, this café was on the bottom cross in Mold, on the left under the overhang. Its early claim to fame is that it had the first Rock-Ola jukebox locally, which as I recall played the then comparatively rare 45rpm singles (and so you had to play American releases).

Halls of Holywell advert from the 1950s.

Moving on to Halls of Holywell, here we have a company still in existence, and still selling the same products, and from the appearance of the advertisement from 1953 who could still use the same ad.

Ad in the 1950s for Shotton Steam Laundry.

Not so the Shotton Steam Laundry however which, despite having been running since 1911 and despite “special cleaning processes” eventually gave way to modernity.

Richardson coach advertisement of the 1950s.

The Richardson coach advertisement surprised me, as although I remember them I don’t recall the “Royal Tiger” 41 seater coach with its centre entrance. As they say though, and it is quite believable, it was the last word in travel comfort. Knowing the Crosville equivalents of the time this would “knock spots”off them.

Halkyn and Hendre Lime company ad from the 1950s.

And so to the last advertisement that should actually belong to a farming topic, that for Halkyn and Hendre Lime company, which offered a choice of limes, depending on requirements.

Did you miss? 10 questions to test your historical knowledge of Flintshire

Not all of these would be crushed as today, as for a time into the 50s lime burning took place in the big kiln close to the Mold to Denbigh road. The product would not have left the works entirely be road either, as the ad refers to Hendre Sidings and the company had at that time their own shunting engine, a small tank by the name of Gwen.

Flint Town Hall.

Looking at photographs from the time, the striking impression of 1953 is one of an absence of haste - minimal traffic, people with time to talk - and the picture of Flint Town Hall has it all.

Although only early afternoon, the photographer can stand across the junction to take the picture with no cars spoiling the view, a policeman in his old-style uniform, has the time to chat with a passerby and two more pedestrians discuss last week’s match. To me, this epitomises the 1950s.

Flintshire county buildings in Mold.

From Mold, meanwhile, we have the King Street entrance to the Hall Fields, with the seat of Flintshire government framed.

What a contrast this building was to what we have today and what a shame that it was destroyed.

Hanmer mere.

For another aspect of Flintshire lost, as it now falls outside our current county, look at the picture of the tranquil beauty of Hanmer mere, one of the many jewels of scenery that 1953 Flintshire could boast.

Despite its distance, Hanmer was in a detached part of Flintshire called Maelor Saesneg until 1974.

This next picture, however, is of one of our current jewels in a very sad state of decoration before its complete refurbishment in the 1960s.

The WhiteGates of Leeswood Hall.

It is, of course, one of Davies Brothers of Bersham’s masterpieces, the White Gates, offering a view into Leeswood Hall grounds, but devoid of a vehicle access.

This serves as a reminder that all had not yet recovered from the relative poverty of the 1930s, followed by a debilitating war.

To anyone who has not seen the gates, which are now Grade 1 listed, I would recommend a trip over the little Terrig Bridge to have a look and marvel at the skills of the old ironworking.

As we take a look back at 1953 and the emergence of our county, along with the rest of the UK some of the forecasts seem strange in retrospect, while others are to become warped by events and politics.

Label from a Holytex quilt, a product of Holywell Textile Mills.

First though, a couple of pictures to further illustrate earlier articles, beginning with Holytex, a product of Holywell Textile Mills seen as the photographed label from one of my late mother’s carefully stored quilts.

An ad for Vipond’s in Mold, of the 1950s.

Moving on we have an advertisement for Vipond’s in Mold, at this time in New Street, but later to move into High Street, where I used to spend many pleasant hours browsing and discussing motor sport with Mr Vipond, one of nature’s gentlemen.

The third advertisement is a pointer to the thinking of the time as the county council saw agriculture as the business of the future, although not in the form into which it has now evolved.

Vale of Clwyd Farmers Lyd advertisement from the 1950s.

The plans for the Celyn in Northop were well advanced, with a projected cost of £60,000 and recent approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and this fitted well with the council intentions arising from the 1947 Agriculture Act.

Since 1908 the county had been a minor landowner of farm property under the Smallholding and Allotments Act and by 1953 owned 4,546 acres with houses and buildings on 146 smallholdings. These were set aside for genuine agricultural workers to gain a foothold in farming and under the 1947 Act were to be of suitable size and productivity to ensure a living could be made from them.

The intention was that this scheme would continue and expand and so increase the number of farmers over the years. With hindsight this was stargazing.

Did you miss? Part one of looking back at Flintshire in 1953

The future would also be bound up in the then major employers and the infrastructure needed to meet their needs, and to a large extent this is what happened for the next quarter century. The reduction in coal and lead production was already factored into the future, which proved immensely far-seeing. But the most notable forecast was for the future of the aircraft industry, seen as one of the main employers in time to come .

The Tunnel and Portland Cement Company had just completed and brought on line their new cement works, seen as vitally necessary to supply a rapidly growing building industry which was widely tipped as what would now be called a “growth sector”.

Finally tourism was noted as being a potential area for growth in the future.

So we leave a county that in 1953 was still large enough to encompass a range of activities that can only be reminisced about today, and with enough confidence in its future to make forecasts well into the future.