Newspaper extracts for Holywell

There are many references to this area in the 15 million Welsh and English language articles from Welsh newspapers transcribed by the NLW and viewable on Welsh Newspapers Online
Below are English language articles that have been re-transcribed and extracted randomly to illustrate what is available, there are many that are not extracted here that include names of local people

•  From the Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser… 14th January 1881

THE WORKHOUSE.—We are requested to acknowledge the gift of a large number of oranges, sweet- meats, &c.  for the inmates of the Workhouse, from Mr. and Mrs. Lambert, Kind's Head Hotel.

TREAT TO MINERS. --The whole of the workpeople employed at the Milwr mines were on Saturday entertained to supper at the Black Horse Inn, Holywell. About fifty persons sat down and heartily enjoyed the excellent provision made for them by Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The chair was occupied by Mr. Griffiths, the underground manager of the works.

• from the  Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser… 13th May 1881

HOLYWELL. HOLYWELL CRICKET CLUB.-The first match of the season between the Holywell and Bagillt Clubs will be played at Holywell on Saturday afternoon. Play to commence at 2.45 p.m

•  From the Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser… 16th July 1896

HOLYWELL. HOLYWELL FOOTBALL CLUB.—The annual general meeting will be held next Tuesday evening, at eight o'clock, at the Bell and Antelope Hotel.

• From the  Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser…28th January 1909

HOLYWELL. "BUFFS"' ANNUAL GATHERING. Last Thursday evening, at the Cross Keys Hotel, High-street, the members of the "Glyn Abbot" Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, held their anniversary, when the host and hostess, Mr and Mrs W. Hall, provided a knife and fork tea, as the first and substantial part of the event; the second part was of a convivial character, and was under the chairmanship of Mr Edwin Roberts, manager of the National Provincial Bank. There were between forty and fifty guests present,....(part extract).....

•  From the Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser… 28th October 1897

HOLYWELL. CYCLISTS should light their lamps during the week ending Nov. 4th, as follows:—October 28tb, 6.39 p.m. 29th, 6.37 30th, 5.35; 31st, 5.33 Nov. 1st, 5.31; 2nd, 5.29 3rd, 5.27 4th, 5.25

•  From the Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire…7th December 1895

 HOLYWELL. TOBACCO IN THE WORKHOUSE.—At Holywell Work- house the Visiting Committee has recommended the Board of Guardians to stop the use of tobacco in the workhouse, but the proposal was defeated by twelve votes to four.

THE PLANK BED.—The Visiting Committee of the Holywell Board of Guardians has condemned the women's casual ward as quite unfit for use by the women, who all had to sleep in one bed like pigs in a stye. At the meeting of the Board of Guardians Mr Batters said the women had to sleep on a bed like the Board room table (minus the green baize covering.) He should like to know what the Local Government Board would say, and what the medical officer would say, and how many guardians had ever visited the house to notice such details ?- Mr Prince, Connah's Quay : I hope the reporters will suppress this part of the report. It will corroborate very much what was said a short time ago by a county councillor that the Holywell Workhouse was like the "Black Hole af Calcutta," (Laughter.) We should ask the reporters not to use the phrase that the women were sleeping like pigs in a stye."—Mr Isaac Hughes: I do not approve of the women sleeping like that, but the plans of the vagrant wards were approved by the Local Government Board, and it is a system of accommodation in use in many parts of the country.—The Clerk said the women's ward contained one large bed to hold four, but there was a partition between each sleeping place. The ward was never crowded, and according to the statistics supplied the Local Government Board. the average was not over two.—Mr Kerfoot Evans, Holywell:  If the guardians would compare the present tramp wards with those of a few years back it would be like contrasting a castle with a cottage.—The matter then dropped.

•  From the Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire… 14th December 1895

HOLYWELL, THE STORM.-In a terrific thunderstorm which swept over Holywell and the neighbourhood on Friday night, the Cynfaen Memorial Wesleyan Chapel, situate at Calcot, a mountainous district above Holywell, was struck by lightning and practically wrecked, notwithstanding that it was built of local stone. The greater part of the frontage has been destroyed, some of the large stone of which it was constructed having been hurled a distance of thirty or forty yards, while others fell inside. A large hole has been made in the roof, and a massive wooden beam which supports the roof has been splintered, and will have to be replaced. The whole of the windows, &c- were smashed to atoms.  As an indication of the havoc, it may be stated that I the massive walls have been cracked in several places, while in others they bulge out to the extent of several inches. The damage is covered bv insurance in the Connexional Insurance Fund. The chapel was built six years ago at a cost of £800 as a memorial to the late Rev. Hugh Evans (Cynfaen.)

• From the  Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire… 28th September 1895

HOLYWELL. ST. WINEFRIDE'S WELL—The number of pilgrims who journey to Holywell show no diminution. On Monday, about 500 persons arrived from Stockport, and marched in procession to St. Winefride's Well, and subsequently attended service. On Sunday evening, Father Beauclerc, referring to the proposal to build a large church at Holywell in honour of St. Winefride, suggested that it would be well to wait until the fame of St, Winefride had extended a little further before undertaking so great a work. It might be, he added, that God intended, through Holywell, to effect the conversion of England !

•  From the Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire… 23rd February 1895

HOLYWELL. THE NEW SCHOOL ABANDONED.—At the monthly meeting of the School Board on Monday the question of the erection of a new school was considered. Some time ago the Board decided to erect a new school at Greenfield, and selected a site in the park of Greenfield Hall, but the owner, Dr. Richardson, declined to sell, and the Board petitioned for a compulsory order to acquire the site, and an inquiry on the subject by an inspector of the Education Department had been fixed for the 27lh inst. After discussion, the following resolution was passed :—"That  in consideration of the present unfavourable circumstances of the Greenfield district, and in view of a possible change in the Board's area, under the Local Government Act of 1834, the board do not deem it advisable to press the provision of a. new school at present, and that application be made to the Education Department to postpone the inquiry." Some discussion took place as to the poverty and distress caused by want of work and the severe weather, and it was reported that a number of children were unable to attend school in consequence. The Board,  however, felt that under the circumstances they could do nothing in the matter.

•  From the Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire… 23rd May 1874

HOLYWELL. GOOD NEWS.—We understand that both of the extensive Flannel and Cloth Mills which for some time past have been closed, have been taken by a wealthy and enterprising company, and operations will commence immediately.

• From the  Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South…30th March 1894

HOLYWELL. The fine weather which prevailed had the effect of drawing crowds of people into the town on Monday. The excursion trains from Liverpool and Manchester deposited a large number  of passengers early in the day. The centre of attraction was the show-field in Halkin-street. where there was an extensive gathering of all kinds of shows and amusements.

•  From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South… 4th December 1896

HOLYWELL. PROPOSED LIBERAL CLUB. — At a well-attended meeting of the Liberal Association, on Tuesday, it was definitely decided to rent premises in Bank-place for the purposes of a Liberal club, and a committee was appointed to draw out a scheme for establishing a. club on a proper footing. A letter was read from Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., warmly commending the undertaking, and promising a donation of £10.

•  From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South…18th January 1895

HOLYWELL. URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.-The monthly meeting of the Holywell Urban District Council was held on Monday, Dr James Williams presiding. The town improvement committee reported on certain properties in Penyball-street in a dilapidated condition, and orders were directed to be served upon the owner, the Earl of Denbigh, to demolish them. Other properties were reported to be in a ruinous condition, and the medical officer and inspector were directed to report upon them.—A suggestion was made to give the unemployed of the town work in clearing away the snow. Mr Carman proposed that the board engage the men at 2s per day. Mr Griffith thought they should give 2s 6d a day to different men each day. The chairman and the chairman of the highway committee were allowed £ 5 to do the best they could.

•  From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South… 6th May 1898

HOLYWELL INTERMEDIATE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.—At Holywell, on Saturday afternoon, the Intermediate and Technical Schools were formerly opened by Lady Mostyn. Lord Kenyon (chairman of the Flintshire County Council) presided, and addresses were given by Lady Mostyn, Mr S. K. Muspratt, the Hon. G. T. Kenyon, Messrs J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., S. Smith, M.P., E. K. Muspratt, and others.

•  From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South…27th May 1892

HOLYWELL. BOARD OF GUARDIANS AND THE VAGRANCY QUESTION.—Considerable discussion took place at the last meeting of the board, the Rev T. Z. Davies (chairman) presiding, as to the continued increase in the number of vagrant paupers relieved. Mr William Thomas, Ysceifiog. in the course of some remarks, pointed out that in Wrexham, where the number was much less, the task set was harder, the paupers were detained two nights, and bathed, all of which tended to keep them away. In the course of the discussion which ensued, it was stated that the annual militia camps largely increased the number of vagrants; and the master also stated that several of the tramps who came here were young men who had served seven years in the army and got pensions of Is a day. The Clerk stated that he had had a visit from Mr Bircham, the new poor law inspector for Wales, who told him that he was about to arrange a meeting of representatives of North Wales unions to discuss the vagrant question, with a view to fixing upon a uniform system of dealing with vagrants throughout North Wales.

•  From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South…13th October 1893

HOLYWELL. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD INQUIRY.—On Wednesday, Mr Rienzi Walton attended at the Assembly Hall, to inquire on behalf of the Local Government Board into the application of the Holywell Rural Sanitary Authority for permission to take proceedings against the Welsh Flannel Manufacturing Company and the St Winefride's Brewery Company for polluting St Winefride's stream. The inquiry aroused great local interest, inasmuch as the subject involves the question of the provision of a sewage system for the town. Mr F. H. Roberts, clerk to the sanitary authority, appeared to support the application. Messrs Newton, Keates, and Co., the owners of the Greenfield Copper Mills, were represented by Mr Edmund Keates, barrister; the Welsh Flannel Company were represented by Mr R. Bromley, solicitor; and the St Winefride's Brewery Company by Mr H. A. -Cope. solicitor.

• From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South…1st September 1893

HOLYWELL. WORKINGMEN'S CLUB-ROOM AND TOWN BUILDiNGS.-On Saturday, a meeting of the local board was held for the purpose of accepting tenders for the erection of a workingmen's club-room, local board-room, and town offices. The plans for the proposed buildings were designed by Mr Lloyd Williams, architect, Denbigh. The fund to cover the erection is obtained for the local board portion by a loan from the Public Works Loan Commissioners of £ 700. The workingmen's club-room will be erected with funds at present in the bank of over £300, being the capital and interest of a gift to the town for that purpose by the late Mr P. Ellis, Eyton. There were four tenders received, and that of Mr Abel Jones, Rhyl, for £1195 was accepted.

• From the  Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South…8th September 1893

HOLYWELL. On Tuesday, the annual licensing meeting was held before Richard Sankey, Esq,, chairman, and other magistrates. Supt, Hughes presented his report for past year. He stated that there were in the division 78 fully-licensed houses, 24 beerhouses, and seven other licenses, making a total of 109 licensed houses of all classes.—Two licenses were objected to, namely, Grapes and the Volunteer Arms. Both were renewed.

•  From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South… 20th April 1894

HOLYWELL. DISTRICT HIGHWAY BOARD.-At the monthly meeting of this board, Mr William Thomas, J.P., presiding, the surveyor presented his estimate of expenditure for the ensuing year, amounting to a total of £1156, and it was decided to levy a rate of 4d in the £. The total expenditure on the roads last year :was £1210 12s 3d, and the amount spent by the board on the roads since its formation is £14,375. equal to £I I per mile per annum

• From the  Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South… 31st March 1893

HOLYWELL. SMALLPOX AT THE WORKHOUSE. No less than five cases of smallpox are at present under treatment in the hospital at the workhouse, the disease having been imported by an itinerant musician.

•  From the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South…3rd June 1876

HOLYWELL: LITERARY AND MUSICAL MEETING.—For some months past, the Independent Sunday Schools of the Holywell District had resolve to hold a literary meeting on a large scale in some central part of the district during the early part of the present summer. The district comprises eleven schools, viz., Holywell, Greenfield, Bagillt, Flint, Rhes-y-cae, Nannerch, Mostyn, Pen-y-pyllau, Llynhelyg, Newmarket, Sarn, Seion, and Gwaenysgor. Holywell was the place selected for the holding of the meeting, which was held on Monday, the 22nd inst., in Chapel-street Chapel, under the presidency of Capt John Lloyd, Hersedd. .....(part extract).......