The North Wales seaside resort dream that 'never quite came true'

North Wales Live

12 hours ago

North Wales has its fair share of wonderful seaside resorts - from the eternally popular Llandudno to watersports hotspot Rhosneigr. When it came to Llandudno it evolved from a small fishing and mining village into a prominent Victorian seaside resort in the mid-19th century.
The town's development was significantly influenced by the arrival of the railway in 1858 and big dreams from Victorian entrepreneurs.
But not every grand plan comes to fruition for various reasons. For example Porthdinllaen never became the port to link North Wales to Ireland despite the ambitions of some.
People were reminded of another scheme that never reached the potential imagined for it by a picture taken this week by local photographer Dominic Vachar.
Solomon Andrews - head of the Solomon Andrews and Son bus and tram-operating company, based in Cardiff - had high hopes for a slice of farmland near Arthog, next to Afon Mawddach.
The nearby Barmouth was already thriving and he hoped to develop another holiday resort on the other side of the estuary.
He developed three terraces of houses, including St Mary's Terrace, Arthog Terrace, and Mawddach Crescent, which overlooked the Mawddach estuary.
The Crescent was connected to Barmouth Junction railway station by the short-lived Barmouth Junction and Arthog Tramway which he constructed.
But the surrounding land proved unsuitable for further construction and the tramway closed.
In 1941, during the Second World War, the Crescent was commandeered by the Royal Marines. It was renamed Camp Iceland and used as a training facility.
The homes remain - with a private road serving the small terrace with spectacular views.
Dominic Vachar said: "Tucked away on the edge of the Mawddach Estuary, Mawddach Crescent is a striking reminder of a Victorian dream that never quite came true.
"Built in the late 1800s as part of plans for a grand resort linked to the railway boom, it was meant to attract wealthy visitors to this quiet stretch of Snowdonia (Eryri). But with no road access at the time the rest of the development was never completed, the Crescent stood in isolation for decades.
"Even today, the Crescent is still quite isolated. It's tucked away at the end of a narrow lane, with no through road and for most visitors, it's easiest to reach by walking or cycling the Mawddach Trail , the old railway line that runs between Dolgellau and Barmouth."