High Street in the 1890s

Prestatyn was still only a village in the 1890’s with a population of one thousand. In those days horse – drawn vehicles relied on the blacksmiths who were an industrious and valued part of community life. Once blacksmiths was situate in Nant Hall Road, later to become site of the town’s first Police Station in 1903.

Prior to the premises n the High Street and the village acquiring piper water in 1881, Prestatyn’s water supply was obtained from number of wells. The most noted ones were in the grounds of Penisarde Farm (today the shopping precinct) and another one in the grounds of the Manor House know as “Plas” on the corner of High Street and Gronant Road.

Before 1875 the High Street and remainder of Prestatyn was a dark and daunting village at nights as the roads were unlit. However, in 1894 gas was used for the purpose of shop lighting. Paraffin lamps had been used up until then which must have given a rather gloomy atmosphere to shopping in those days.

An account in the Prestatyn Weekly for 1906 stated: The council has placed a lamp opposite the Post Office, it will therefore be no longer necessary to grope one’s way to the letter box as until now one has been compelled to do so”.

Also during this time the High Street was unsurfaced, very muddy in the winter and chokingly dusty in the summer, with an open stone gutter seen down one side of the road that flowed with s stream of water during torrential rain. This gutter was intermittently bridged by with flagstones enabling people to cross into shops and homes.

Shoppers were also confronted with a High Street lacking in pavements to avoid the hazards of cyclists and horse – drawn vehicles careering down the street. There were complaints also of the street filled with smoke and soot discharged from the chimneys of the cottages that once line the High Street.

Extracts  From Harry Thomas' Memory Lane Volume 2
A collection of Harry's Pictures and Stories from the Rhyl and Prestatyn Visitor Newspaper Column, Memory Lane.
©2003 Gwasg Helygain Ltd