Coronation, sugar and economy, Flintshire in the 1950s

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

IT WAS the year rationing ended (sweets in February, sugar in September). The North Sea coast suffered the worst devastation ever recorded caused by high tides and stormy weather; the country had a new monarch, with the Queen being crowned on June 2.

One of the famous Coronation mugs given to every child of school age.

Internationally, the most important event was the death of the Russian dictator Stalin and back home in Flintshire, 1953 was a positive time and there was an air of optimism and hope for the future.

According to a folder of notes and pictures probably intended for a county booklet, the area seemed buoyant and forward looking. As we came slowly out of the dark austerity days of the late 40s, the new Elizabethan age was just what was needed.

Rhyl Promenade.

To celebrate the Coronation, parties were held all over the county and in Rhesycae the chapel organised the distribution of Coronation mugs to all children of school age.

Nor was this the only 'fun' aspect of the county, as Rhyl and Prestatyn were enjoying a boom in visitors, the Eisteddfod was taking place outside Rhyl and our new Queen was coming to visit.

King George had visited Rhyl in 1902 as Prince of Wales and spoken of the "fine, healthy and bracing climate", while Sir Charles Cameron said "the bracing air of Rhyl made one long to live there always".

A tourism advert for Prestatyn.

Elsewhere in Flintshire, new projects were about to come to fruition, most notably the start of building what would become Kelsterton Technical College (later Deeside College, then part of Coleg Cambria), the opening of the new secondary modern school in Buckley built at a cost of £190,000, the secondary modern school in Holywell costing £200,000 and several others.

Most surprising, however, was a stated intention of developing the port of Connah's Quay to give access to ships up to 2,000 tons, rather than the 500-tonners able to use the port at the time.

Coupled with this statement of intent, were details of sailings to Ireland, IOM, France, the Channel Islands, Belgium and Holland.

It also emphasised the rail links existing at the time, which had they only been retained would have had major effect on today's traffic.

A young Elvet Pierce with his trusty dog, Floss, and Hercules bicycle.

On a personal note, however, 1953 was not such a happy time, as this was the year that we had to leave Nannerch following the death of my grandfather. The photograph of myself, Floss the dog and my old Hercules is the last to be taken before my move to Rhesycae.

Notably the folder contained details of farming and smallholding, particularly council property, intended as a low-cost way to keep youngsters in agriculture, and a wealth of detail of industry.

IT has to be remembered that back in 1953 Flintshire was about double the size it is now, although of course the extra areas were mostly agricultural.

John Summers steel plane.

This was also the era of heavy industries, mainly iron and steel, with Mostyn producing ferro-manganese alloys from two furnaces, and John Summers being the largest and most up-to-date supplier of sheet steel in the UK.

This year was in fact to see new investment in Hawarden Bridge sufficient to increase steel production to one million tons per annum.

Publicity material for the Holywell Textile Mills.

Second to Summers in terms of employment were the four rayon works of Courtaulds in Flint and Greenfield, making the area the greatest producer of this fibre in the world.

Increasing demand for rayon for tyre cord as private car ownership grew, as well as the continued use in clothing ensured stability through the 1950s and 60s. In 1952-53, more than 7,000 jobs were directly within Courtaulds.

Mostyn furnaces.

This was not the only textile produced however, as the Holywell Textile Mills were then producing at the highest rate in the company history, using up a third of all Welsh wool.

Coal-mining in the county was almost ended, with only Point of Ayr surviving, and the lead-mining based around Halkyn was depressed due to cheap imports, but chemicals were showing signs of their eventual importance with Graessers in Sandycroft and Synthite in Mold leading the way.

Publicity material for the de Havilland aircaft factory

Quarrying and brick/tile/pipe manufacture were all beginning to pick up as a new wave of building began, led by impressive expenditure by the county on schools and colleges - the Celyn and Kelsterton all had their start in 1953. This was added to by the start of construction at Connah's Quay power station.

Meanwhile, in Broughton, the DeHavilland Aircraft company had in 1951 produced its 1,000th aircraft since the company was formed (in its then current form) in 1948, with a Vampire being handed over to the RAF, and reckoned on an order book spanning five years.

The company was, however, having problems recruiting suitable labour (which seems odd considering the production during the war years) and was setting up its own technical schooling along with apprenticeships to overcome this.

All told, prosperity was building within the county, needing a host of smaller entrepreneurs to satisfy the growing expectations.

• Don't miss part two of Flintshire in 1953 next week.