Llangollen Enterprise
Anturieth Llangollen
Parade Street
Llangollen
Denbighshire
North Wales
LL20 8PW
United Kingdom
Llangollen Enterprise Office
telephone: +44 (0)1978 861345
fax: +44 (0)1978 861345
e-mail: le@llangollen.org.uk
Tourist Information Office
telephone: +44 (0)1978 860828
fax: +44 (0)1978 861563
e-mail: llangollen@nwtic.com
Llangollen News
Murder and Intrigue on the Llangollen Railway
The world’s greatest detective? Or, the World’s greatest murderer?
A famous Detective has been imprisoned, accused of a monstrous crime. His trustworthy assistant is left trying to prove his friend’s innocence in the face of damning evidence. With the clock ticking and without the help of the great Detective his assistant faces a race against time to beat the Hangman’s Noose!
Come and solve the Baker Street Murders !!
8th May 2010
Tickets £23 per person
Please arrive at 7pm
Food served on platform 1 at 7.15pm
The Plot commences at 7.30pm
For more details and booking information please go to www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
Date Added: 8-7-2008
Oldest Caravan in the World at Motor Museum
What could well prove to be the oldest motorised caravan in the world is celebrating its 100th birthday from its current home, ironically in one of the top tourism destinations in the UK.
The small Motor Museum in Llangollen, North Wales, has housed the single berth, wooden construction for over 12 years, not really thinking it to be of any importance until recent research pointed out what a unique piece of the British leisure industry they have on display!
“The caravan has been kindly loaned to us by a gentleman from Bala and has been a part of the museum collection for over the past 12 years or so.
All we knew it was constructed from plans published in the motoring press in 1908 so we thought we’d do a bit of research for its 100th birthday - and that’s when we found out its true significance,” said Llangollen Museum owner Mr Gwilym Owen.
The first horse drawn ‘leisure’ caravan, The Wanderer, was designed by writer Dr W. Gordon-Stables and built by the Bristol Carriage Company in 1880. He used the vehicle as a mobile study from which to write his successful boys books and was probably influenced by the assorted ’caravans’ used by travelling salesmen and Gypsies earlier in the century.
One of his best selling books was a travel-log of a mammoth trip to Scotland in his horse drawn caravan, entitled “The Cruise of the Land Yacht Wanderer.” Many other ‘Gentleman Gypsies’ were inspired to follow this example, resulting in the formation of the Caravan Club in 1907, with Gordon Stables its first President.
Horse powered caravans were still very much in use up until just after WWI, with the motorised versions generally believed to have been introduced around 1915.
“This puts our caravan some 7 years earlier than the current histories believe, which makes it a very important piece of British motoring heritage. It just shows how sophisticated cars had become in a relatively short space of time, with manufacturers such as Rover, Daimler and of course Rolls Royce now in full swing,” said Gwilym.
The caravan itself was built by a Mr A. W. Haslam, an amateur artist from Heanor, Derbyshire and was used solely on his painting expeditions to beauty spots up and down the country.
Mr Haslam would be away for up to two months at a time but unfortunately went blind in 1940 but he was still taken for holidays in it by his family up until the time of his death in 1958, when aged 80.
The last known ‘trip’ for this amazing vehicle was in July 1960, from when it was stored in a barn by his granddaughter until 1988, when it was sold on to a local man who in turn sold it to the present owner.
“It’s had a little bit of modernisation over the years, such as new wheels and axle from a 1930’s Austin and a more modern hitch but everything else is basically the same as it was when constructed.
It’s very much like a garden shed on wheels and I can imagine it was very cosy in its day, especially if you tried to fit more than one person inside it. Still, everything has to start somewhere!”
Date Added: 8-8-2008
£1million Refit of Historic Hotel Cements Commitment to Llangollen
One of North Wales’ most picturesque hotels has just completed a £1million refit to cater for the increased levels of business developed over the past 3 years.
The Chainbridge Hotel, on the outskirts of Llangollen, has seen visitor numbers increase by over 55% since it came into the ownership of the Llangollen Hotels Group, who also own the Wild Pheasant, Bryn Howel and Bodidris Hall Hotels within the region.
“The current investment levels are an indication of our commitment to the tourism product of Llangollen, which we believe can and will get even stronger over the next few years.
The product enables excellent visitor potential throughout the year, with established events, attractions, outdoor pursuits as well as the fascinating history and stunning scenery the town and greater Dee Valley has to offer. We’re here and here to stay,” said Stephanie Booth, Managing Director of the Llangollen Hotels Group.
The plans to take the Llangollen Steam Railway as far as Corwen are another factor in the long term decision making towards the hotel group, especially with the soon to be restored Berwyn Station an ideal dropping off point.
The Chainbridge Hotel itself has seen a programme of improvements which include the fitting of a new flat roof, a complete refurbishment of all 36 bedrooms, new carpeting throughout, the introduction of WiFi to name but a few.
“It’s virtually a new hotel, the nearest work we could have done without knocking it down and starting again, which was actually discussed! The most amazing thing about all the work is it has been done whilst still open and it didn’t affect our visitors at all.
The hotel is now up to the standards of quality we expect from all our properties but it doesn’t mean we’ll be standing still. There are always new ideas and developments and we’ll always be looking to introduce them at the nearest possible opportunity,” continued Stephanie.
“The current plans to restore the actual chain bridge itself should, when completed, create a whole new tourism product, linking the refurbished hotel with the Llangollen Railway and Canal, helping to generate further investment into the local economy.
It’s a long term dream shared by both ourselves and the local community but there’s a lot of water to flow under the bridge before that project reaches fruition,” continued Stephanie.
Date Added: 13-11-2008
Nigel Kennedy Returns to Llangollen
This years International Musical Eisteddfod sees the return of world renowned violinist Nigel Kennedy. His return to the festival will see old and new material of Bach and Ellington, brought to Wales for the first time.
11 July – 7.45pm
Ticket Prices: £55, £40, £25
Date Added: 26-5-2009
2010 Llangollen Gardening Show
Dates for this years Gardening Show are set as 5th & 6th of June and the event will be once again be held at The Royal International Pavilion showground, Llangollen, North Wales.
Expect an even bigger and better show this year with new areas such as Homes and Lifestyle ,Food and Drink and Larger Art Exhibition organised once again by Steve Turner from UK Fine Arts
Go to www.thegardeningshow.co.uk/ for more details
Date Added: 26-5-2009
