Llandudno Advertiser and List of Visitors

1 LLANDUDNO FIELD CLUB. -"C"='JflJ!¥,r5'<> VI$IT'TQI PLAS, MAWR, CONWAY. Twenty-two members of this Club journeyed in the rain to Con- way on Saturday, November 28th, to accept the invitation of the Royal Cam- brian Academy of Arts. The preisl* dent of the Academy, Mr H. Clarence Whaite, P.R.O.A., R.W.S., had, unfortunately, been called away to London, so the duty of conducting the party over the old Man- sion House devolved upon Mr W. J. Slater, the hon. secretary, and Mr J. R. Furness, Curator. The writer, at the wish of the President, explained some of the architectural details. The hist.ory of architectural development through the planning, construction, materials and principles of the design of buildings is too lengthy a subject to tract; nere, but it should be remembered that the history of architecture is the history of evolution, and all work, whether in Wales or else- where, has been evolved from preceding efforts. Neither can we ignore the in- fluences which from time to time have combined to give to the buildings of our Principality theirdist;i ncti vecharacter- the relations between the English and the Welsh (witness the Edwardian Castles), climate, tradition, geographical situation, the materials available; the wealth or poverty of the people, their life, character and requirements. Some of these factors have stamped themselves on our Welsh buildings with great power. But we must rapidly pass over the early history of Conway, merely mentioning the comple- tion of the Castle in 1284 A.D. by Edward I., and the building of the walls surrounding the town—the land within the gates, with a charter of liberties, being given to his faithful English followers, who thus became the first, burghers and were required to defend Conway against the Welsh. There were the Salisburys, Bulkeleys, Hooke,s, Hollands, and Robin- sons. These were the, families who gain- ed for themselves the epithet, the "Gentlemen of Conway," like the pro- minent men living in the other two. Eng- lish towns in North Wales, were called the "Lawyers of Carnarvon" and the "Mer- chants of Beaumaris." Conway is no ex- ception to the rule, and has been badly cared for in the past with the result that there is nothing now to be seen of the dwellings within the town walls which existed in the warlike days of the 13th century, so we must skip over another long period-200 years or more. With the unifying of the rival houses of York and Lancaster in the person of Henry VII., there commenced a great change in the life of the people, with the natural corollary, a change in their dwellings. During the Tudor period we see the transition from F'eudal customs to the more modern way of living, and it is from such Elizabethan houses as Plas Mawr that we can learn of the develop- ment of the domestic aspect of national civilization. It was, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth that Robert Wynne, the third son of John Wynne, of Gwydyr, came into possession of a large piece of ground withijn the walls of the town of Conway, and on it built the house now known as Plas Mawr, or the Great Hall, "Thei pro- perty remained in his family until late in the 17th century, when Ellen Wynne, the heiress, married Robert Wynne, of Berth- ddu and Bodysgallen." Robert Wynne died without issue. Plas Mawr passed to his brother, Hugh Wynnes, D.D., and later, by marriage, into the Mostyn family. It now belongs to Lord Mostyn, who has let it, at a nominal rent, for the home of the Royal Clambrian Academy of Arts. The house consists of a south block and a north block—detached:—so placed and shaped as to comprise a south or lower court and a north or upper court. There are signs of the other buildings having existed on the west, side and evidences ob- tained from: time to time in the taking down of old properties Warrant one in asserting that the window in the east facade overlooked gairdens. Owing to ex- cessive rain the members of the Club had to hasten for cover, and were thus pre- vented from inspecting the exterior of the buildings which is full of character—the leading features being the ornamental doorways; mullioned windows, many of them with horizontal and raking cornices enclosing a low tympanum, and stepped gables and chimneys. Over the principal entrance from the High Street are the Royal Arms of Eng- land while other arms and badges are seen in the sp and nils of the three-centred doorway-opening and on the key stone. Across the porch is the inner doorway, above which is the motto, "AnexS: Attex8" with its Latin rendering, "Sustine: Abst,ine" ("Bear: Forbear"). It is stated that the date 1585 appeared on the south front, but it, is not, to be seen now. Passing through the heavy oak door-with its wicket, heavy hinges and nail-studded planks-brings us into the south block. The four rooms on the ground and first floor are considered to have been the resi- dence of the porter and otiher retainers, while the attij'c, or upper floor, was used as a store room. The, door in the east gable has a hole in the pediment, suitable for a beam to be used in hoisting goods from the ground level. Passing into the south court, there are the vaults, on. the left 4and the stone steps immediately op- posite leading up to the terrace, which extends nearly the whole width of the north Mock, and continued, at right, angles, giving access to the south block at the first floor level. The steps and the terrace are the natural outcome of the site, the rapid slope necessitating a differ- ence in the floor levels of the two blocks. There is a handsome doorway from the ter- race into the banqueting hall. On the pedimented doorway are the initial letters R. and W., each in a shield. The. remains of other carving is undecipherable. This hall was the: common dining hall and the most important room in the house. It has been well lighted, and while the old wall tapestry has gone, there remains the rich geometrical plaster ceiling;, some of ] the oak benches, a, solidly moulded screen J.. I dividing off the Buttery and an elaborately I decorated ifrepl&ca. The. latter feature de- serves special attention; The stone jambs, lintel and cornice are moulded. Note the lii'.tel with its five joggled voussoirs and the Suted thrust-block at each side. From the stone cornice up to the ceiling, the space is treated with elaborate plaster modelling. The central feature is the shield containing the arms of Robert Wynne, who bore quarterly: 1st and 4th —Owen Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, "Vert three eagles displayed in fesse or" 2nd and 3rd—Collwyn-an-Tangno, "Sable a chevron inter three fleur-de-lys argent." The initials R.W. and the 1580 are pro- minent. Beyond the oak screen is the Buttery-a large room with staircase down to cellar below the hall and a, door leading into the north court.. The fireplace is modern. North of the hall is a circ ilar staircase leading to the first floor and be- yond, on the right, is the Kitchen with its notable features, i.e., very wide arched fireplace, spilt-irons, and window seat. A second door communicates with a passage way from the eastern entrance to the north court. The inner doorwav of this entrance was inspected, and we may here draw attention to the construction of the old oak doors with their vertical planks on the outside, nail-studded and horizontal boards facing the inside, curiously dove- tailed. North of the passage is an un- deoorated room—by some called the 'Still Room'—then the lobby of the north wing, giving access, to Queen Elizabeth's Par- lour, the 'Bolting Room' (where flour was sifted), the Bakehouse and another cir- cular staircase up to the first, floor. The Queen Elizabeth room is one of the most, complete apartments, and has a modelled plaster ceiling of geometrical de- sign, most of the panels bearing some badge; walls partially panelled in oak and the upper parts richly ornamented in plaster, and a stone fireplace. A carved oak partition of heavy but appropriate design forms one end of the room. On the breasting above the fireplace are the Royal Arms (Lion and Dragon support- ers) the initials E.R., the Portcullis (Badge of the House of Tudor) and the Rose (representing both the houses of York and Lancaster). On other parts of the walls are the Arms of Dorothy Griffith and Dorothy Wynne (the wife of Robert Wynne) and the initials R.W. and Arms of Robert Wynne, with the date 1577. The Bakehouse is a large room with wide fireplace and a circular 'wen at eacn side, in the solid wall. Going up the nearest circular staircase, with its solid oak newel and steps, we reach the 1st floor,, which is fairly symmetrical in plan—the 'With- drawing Room' occupying the central por- tion of the U-shape, and the north and south wing each containing a. suite of three rooms. The 'With dr am,i ng, Room' is a specially handsome apartment with its ceiling of modelled plaster; oak-panelled walls and doors (the latter with fluted pilasters and moulded cornice); open fireplace of stone, and oak seating. Two of the other rooms on this floor are ornamented, but the remainder are plain. The attics were no doubt used for the servants. Among the features that should be specially noticed are: the oriel win- dows yi the stepped gables of north block; the tower carried up above one of the circular staircases, evidently as a look-out; the quaint diminutive oriel, or lantern window, overlooking the terrace and south court; the secret, chamber and the wattled partitions. To those interest- ed in Heraldry there is much to glean by an examination of the modelled plaster. There is a free use of the Royal Arms, with the Lion of England and Dragon of Wales as supporters; the Arms of Owain Gwynedd, Prince of Wa,les (died 1169 A.D) who bore "Vert three eagles displayed in fesse or"; the Arms of Eidnyfed Vychan (Chief Councillor of Llewelyn the Great) reminding us of Llys Euryn, viz., "Gules a chevron ermine inter three, English- men's heads coupled in profile proper"; Stags' heads from the Arms of larddur of Penrhyn; the Royal Badge (lion passant Gardant); the Fleur-de-Lys of France; the badge of Queen Elizabeth, a Lion Rampant the Rose of York and Lancaster (combined) and a cluster of three roses shewing the union of York, Lancaster and Tudor; the Portcullis, Badge of the House of Tudor; the Lion's Face; the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr; the White Swan, a badge adopted by Henry IV. after his marriage with Lady Mary de Bohun, daughter of Humphrey de, Bohun, Earl of Northampton; the White Boar, a badge of Richard III.; the, White Hart of Richard II., the Unicorn of Scotland, th.e Owl, the Stork, and many other de- vices. Space forbids anything approach- ing an adequate description of this old Town Mansion House. The darkness of its rooms on a wet winter afternoon was soon to be contrasted with the brightness of the Oastle, Hotel, where tea was served. In a neat little speech, Mr James Marks, M.A., proposed a vote of thanks to those who had endeavoured to explain to the members of the Field Club the 1nterestling points of Plas Mawr. This was seconded ■by Mr Bezant, Lowe, M.A., 'carried' by the meeting and duly acknowledged. G. A. Humphreys, Llandudno, Nov. 30th, 1908. Mr Eldmund Gillart and Mr IT Meredith Roberts, solicitors, Machynlleth, have been appointed clerks to the Machynlleth Urban District Council and local, govern- ing body respectively, in place of Mr John Rowlands. Mrs Boardem "How do you find the chicken soup, Mr Boarder?" Mr Boarder: "I have no difficulty in finding the soup, madam; but I am in- clined to think the, chicken will prove an alibi." A Want Ad. will sell anything or buy anything.

LOOKING BACKWARDS. I Under the above title we purpose giving weekly in the "Advertiser" extracts from our files of a quarter of a century ago, relating to interesting local events which many of our readers will recall, and these will not be without interest to the younger generation who will know many of those who took an active part in the various events dealt with, On Monday last the "Lister's Memorial Lifeboat" was launched for practice. A stiff breeze was blowing at the time, and on the alarm bell having! been rung' a large number of spectators were attracted to the beach. A capital launch was effected, and all sails were speedily set. When opposite the pier-head some of the crew and mem bers of the swimming club- dropped the sea when the boat was speeding: along under canvas. The sails and masts weac lowered, and the hands got into their places with their oars and the men taken on board again with commendable rapidity. The crew then landed at the pier-head, and four or five- idiots took a hoaltl and de- liberately pulled out to sea, and when half-a-mile out exhibited, "signals of dis- tress" when no danger existed. The signals attracted the attention of the life- boat crew who went in pursuit and picked them up. On returning a sudden squall caught, the lifeboat, causing; her to capsize and some of the occupants were pre- cipitated into the sea. She righted her- self again pretty soon and proceeded with- out, further acicjident. The conduct of the maniacs already re- ferred to was most reprehensible, and they may consider themselves fortunate that they were not placed in the custody of the police on landing. The game of "Wolf" must not be played with the lifeboat. We understand that, an inspector from the lifeboat institution will hold an inquiry into the cause of the accident.-—Llan- dudno Advertiser" August 15th, 1885. THE LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION. It will be remembered that the lifeboat stationed here at the practice held the beginning of last, month, was caught. in a sudden squall of wind that swept down the Happy Valley and capsized. Several of the occupants were precipitated into the water, including two young fel'lows who were without life-belts, and one of them was seen by John Roberts, of the pier- head (the present piermaster) drifting away with the; tide. Roberts called out, to him, but obtaining no reply he saw that he was in peril and plunged in after him, and succeeded in bringtng him back to the lifeboat in a much exhausted state. The next day the young man waited upon Roberts and expressed his gratitude to him for having rescued him from his dan- gerous position. At the last meeting of the lifeboat tinstitution Roberts was voted the thanks of the Society on vellum for his services. We understand that the inspector who attended to investigate the cause of the accident was perfectly satisfied that no blame whatever was attached to the cox- swain or anyone else on board; and the crew were handsomely rewarded for their day's practice.—Llandudno Advertiser" September 12th, 188,5. WINTER AMUSEMENTS. To the Editor of the "Advertiser." Sir,-What is going to be done this win- ter wiith regard to amusements? After the apathy with which the townspeople regarded the concerts last winter and the consequent deficit,, we scarcely expect the same persons to put their hand in their pockets again. But surely we do not in- tend to iallow the town to sink back into its former state of drowsiness and dark- ness. It will be a crying shame if we do. —Yours, etc., Resident.—Sept. 18th, 1885. In the same issue the follo,wing edi torialappe:ars An esteemed correspondent reminds us that winter, with iits long and dreary nights, is fast approaching, and suggests that some steps should be taken to pro- vide the town with amusements similar to those that were so well conducted in the Pier Pavilion last winter, and it would be well if the residents formed themselves into a, -committe,e and resolved to continue them. The winter concerts were an at- traction in many ways, and they should not be allowed to fall through. The pavilion was built to afford amusement to visitors and residents an the year round, and the opinion was freely expressed that Llandudno would become a more popular resort in winter by the attractions which the pavilion would afford. It rests with the residents whether the predictions will be realised. To the Editor Dear Sir,—Your "Looking Backwards" column is of great interest to old resi- dents and ex-residents. Thils week I see my late father's name figures in the list of singers in records of the performances of "The Pirates," and "David, the Shepherd Boy." I can recall vividly such incidents in the performance of "The Pirates" as appeal to the childish mind. Alas; I have completely forgotten "David, the Shepherd Boy."—Yours, etc., El. Ei. WINTER, 3, Spa Road, Gloucester. I SMALL BEGINNINGS MAKE BIG ENDINGS. The biggest undertakings depend for their success upon the perfection in which the details are carried out. The small things make up the big ones. The little Want Ad., which costs but little, has built up many a big business. Try one yourself, if you have anything to sell.

OakwQQd Park Hotelt Conway. /■ > ■ V*' -V The most Daintily equipped in the Principality. Beautifully situated on the Old Coach road half-w&3? Mtweeo Oonway and the bead of the Synhuani Pass. Elevated and loracing position. Mountain air, M* brom from < points of the compass Hotel owns 18-hole Golf Links. one minute from door. Timmin. Dowlisg green and billiards Electric ughtthroughoui Alfresco afternoon Teas on OakwooJ Lawns. Hotel 'Bu. meets Trams Telegrams; Oakwood, Conway Temohono, 21, Mrs C. A. Bailey, Manageress.

CORRESPONDENCE. HALF-DAY ClLOSiINIGI OF SHOPS, IN' LLANDUDNO. To the Editor S £ !r,—In the interest of the workers in shops in Llandudno, I feel I cannot, allow the statements made at the meeting held in the Town Hall on November 24th, and also the "Advertiser's" comments to go unanswered. First of all, the statement about three I visitors arriving unexpectedly at an hotel and the proprietor being short of the necessary articles to provide dinner for these three people and his difficulty in pro- curing; the goods. Comment in this case seems almost, superfluous. One can hardly imagine an hotell of any note being so short, of stores as to be unready or unable to provide a dinner for three unexpected people. Surely this showed lack of enter- prise on the part of the proprietor of such hotel(?) Now as to how the matter affects all hands employed in shops. Take ordinary inland towns where there is a regular half-day closing all the year round. No difficulty is experienced in these cases, notwi-thstanding that the clos- ing day is a, different one in the immediate adjoining districts, one town having Tues- day, another Wednesday, another Thurs- day, another Friday, as their early closing day. In the majority of the inland towns, the hours of business are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on three days of the week, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. "one one day, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 8 a.m. to 10 or 11 pi.m. on Saturdays. In nearly all cases assistants "living out" are allowed 1 to If hours off for meals. 4 Now take the case of Llandudno. For the four summer months—June to end of September-the majority of the business places are open from 8 a,.m. until 9 p.m. in June and July, and from 8 a.m. until 10 or 11 p.m. in August and early Sep- tember. Taking the average allowed off for meals at If hours per day, this means 4 that shop assistants are working an average of twelve hours a day for these four months. Talking August alone the average would be thirteen or fourteen hours per day. Consider for a moment what. it means for young women and young men to be standing and working for all these hours! No wonder that as a class shop assistants are of poor physique. Then the outside porters and errand boys and horses. These are frequently working until 1 a.m. on the Sunday morn- ings in August. The result is they are so fagged out at the end of the week that their only desire is to lie in bed for as long as they possibly can instead of feeling fit to attend a place of worship. Then as to the argument that, it, is easy to arrange for each assistant to be given a half-day off in turns whilst still keeping the shop open. This is not proved by re- sults. In nearly every case. each assistant has his or her own special work to do, and it is. very awkward for an assistant, who. is unused to that part of the work to; take the duty of relieving the1 one whose turn itris to be off for the time being. Also in many cases the work prevents the assistant due for relief getting away at proper time, thus curtailing the hours of rest. Speaking from many years' experience of shop life, I see no remedy other than a compulsory half-day holiday per week, and the hours of closing of shops through- out the whole, country enforced in the same way as the closing of hotels and public-houses is enforced. EixpCtriencet teaches that it is impossible to get every one to voluntarily agree to close at a given time. One or the other will always be open after hours, thus setting up unfair competition. Legal compul- sion alone will prevent this evil. The Shop Hours' Act, of the Unionist Governing is not worth the paper it, is printed on. Nothing will be of any use until an Act of Parliament is passed re- gulating the hours of work in shops, and this is promised by the present Govern- ment. Miners, engineers printers, carpenters, etc., all have t'heir regular hours and half- day weekly, and why not shop assistants? There is* no logical reason against it, but only questions of greed and apathy on the part of the proprietors and general public. Yours faithfully, TRADER.

TRAM CAR EPISODE, TfHEi WINTER VISITOR. "Good morning, Mlarv Ellen. How are- you?" The inquirer, a lady resident, was seat- ed in a tram-car, and the party addressed was a, lady friend, living, in the same neighhourhoodL the west end of Llan- dudno. The new comer was accompanied by her daughter, a, child of tender years. It took her some time to regain her breath, which she had run short, of, more than usual, owing to the fact that she had been hurry- ing to catch the tram. Eiven at the best of times she suffered from what, is de- scribed, by the unfeeling, as "bellows to mend." Mary Ellen, having at last, by dint of fanning, and the frequenit, use of a bottle of smelling salts, recovered from her ex- haustion thanked her friend for her in- quiries, but "she was only feeling! very middling, been better many a time," she added. Her friend said she'd no doubt, and, "happen many a time worse." References were made to the weather, the storms they had experienced, but both parties were agreed that they were getting towards Christmas very nicely without any frosts and the accompanying burst, pipes, which the landlords, although it was in their agreement, never repaired, and the trouble they had in deducting it from the rent, when they the tenants did find it convenient to pay. Miost of the talking was done by the lady friend. Mary Ellen was somewhat re- ticient, a most unusual thing, and after a while the conversation flagged. This gave, the child of tender years, an opportunity, and she proferred the in- formation, "We have a, visitor, at our- house, a, gentleman." Have you, my dear? When did he come 1 Two days ago, I think, wasn't it. mother 1 Mother was interested in the landscape and did not, hear, and the child, being of" the ordinary type no bettelr and no worse,, y insisted knowing just exactly how long the* gentleman visitor had been at the house. In sheer desperation her mother g, avet up landscape gazing, and answered with some warmth, "Yes, yes, child, how you do pester a body, our visitor has been with us two days, hold you tongue and don',t: worry. Nobody wants to know, and liittle girls should be seen and not heard." Now the lady friend was only human, and she did want to know a lot more. The fact that she and her friend, well, they always had been friends from girls, gener- ally told each other their every day pri- vate affairs when they met, made it all the more reason why she should be told., and womanlike she bluntly put the ques- tion, "Making a long stay?" "Who ?" "Your visitor!" "0, I don't know I am sure, depends." "Is it a good let?" "Well, he's got the best, rooms." "Is he alone?" "Well just, now he is." "Are you boardiing him ?" "Yes," and she added, "I am on my way to buy some, dinner now." "How does your husband get on with him 1". "0, all right they seem to agree to differ on most things, but. my man never was one for making many friends." Miary Ellen, when the car pulled up at Lipton's Corner, was unnecessarily rough, her friend thought, in the way she bundled out her child, and there was no hurry, because the driver had signalled to the conductor by stamping with hiis foot on the "Clear the road bell," that another passenger was coming along. But just a, moment before leaving the c,ar the child of tender years had been discovered, by her mother, to have tightly clenched in one hand a coin, and she ask- ed her: "Have you found it ?" "No," answered the child. "Mister Bay-Leaf gave it, to me." It was when the car had run at least another stage that a smile, which broaden- ed to a grin, lit up the face of Mary Ellen's frÙend, and she muttered to her- self, "Well I shouldn't wonder if the Christian name of Mister Bailiff wasn't "Bom."