Prestatyn’s Coronation Gardens and Pendre Gardens along with the Hillside shelter are integral to the town’s history, heritage and character and the undisturbed serenity of the gardens and the shelter during the summer have been enjoyed for many years by visitors and locals alike.

On a warm, sunny, summer’s day, the gardens and shelter have a peace and quiet quality that makes that makes an ideal retreat to relax and spend a few hours indulging in the reading of a book with a sandwich and a flask of coffee or to reflect upon your thoughts while watching the world go by.

Coronation Gardens in Station Road was at one time land that belonged to the poor of the parish and was to be used as allotment, but due to the unsuitability of the ground to grow anything, was bought by thee Council who developed the site and subsequently opened as Coronation Gardens in 1911 to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Mary and George V.

Pendre Gardens on the corner of Fforddlas and Gronant Road were opened in 1951; a corner of the gardens is dedicated to those men who fell in the tow world wards. A useful shelter once stood in the gardens, presented to the Town Council in 1953 by Councillor Eleanor Evans, who become Prestatyn’s first lady mayor in 1939.

When the town was filled with summer visitors, their enjoyment was enhanced with a walk up to the hillside shelter to relish the jaw dropping and breathtaking panoramic view from the shelter’s balcony.

The shelter was donated to the town by wealthy local businessman JF King of Stoneby Drive and was opened in 1929 by Prestatyn’s oldest resident, 79 year old Joseph Lloyd who cut a ribbon across the entrance to the shelter.

Extracts from Harry Thomas' Memory Lane Volume 3
A collection of Harry's Pictures and Stories from the Rhyl and Prestatyn Visitor Newspaper Column, Memory Lane.
©2005 Gwasg Helygain Ltd