Dyserth Curiosities
A medieval stone Stoop for Holy Water It came from Elwy Villa over 60 years ago. Elwy Villa (later known as Colomendy) was where Alfred Wigley had his hairdressing salon on the High Street. Its origins are unknown
Cannonball This cannonball was discovered when digging the foundations for a house on Bryn-y-Felin many years ago. Diameter: 2.75” (70mm) Weight: 3lbs 1.5oz (1.4kg) It has been presented to Dyserth Environmental Group
Opposite the entrance to Dyserth Hall is this stone wall with a small doorway. This was one of the wells that once supplied water to the villagers. I am told that the road level was raised when it was re-routed several years ago and that the doorway was originally much taller.
Boundary Stone
Near the end of Lower Foel Road, where it meets Cwm Road, there is a (Grade 2 listed) ancient boundary stone set into the wall marked with the letters RM, the initials of Sir Roger Mostyn (c1569-1642) who acquired much land here in the 1590s.
Roger Mostyn was an ancestor of William Mostyn who built the 17th century house, Pentre Cwm, on the road from Dyserth out to Cwm.
Pentre Cwm
Wartime map of Dyserth including references to “Rifles & Bombers”, dated 1942
On the bank of the Afon (River) Ffyddion opposite the New Inn car park, close to a small brick-built building, stands an old stone, almost being covered by a tree. This marks the grave of a dog, owned by the Rev. John Owen, Vicar in the early 1900s. The inscription was recorded in 1963 by the late Mrs Barbara Manwell and reproduced in “Dyserth an Historic Village” by Ronald & Lucy Davies. It read:- Blame not the tribute of a passing tear. here lies poor AddyTo us so dear. Of dogs the noblest, gentlest and the best. Gone now forever to his last long rest. (The date was illegible)
Gravestone for a beloved pet
A single piece of track, perhaps from a tramway, found by Dyserth Environmental Group at the the piece of Common Land on Carreg Heilin Lane in 2015
Marian Mills, sent to me by Iris Jones in Australia
Pandy, sent to me by Iris Jones in Australia
St Bridget’s Church, sent to me by Iris Jones in Australia
Cottage at Penisa, Stone cottage near Penisa Crossroads. Variously called - Fern Bank; Cerryg Llwyd; Penny Pot Cottage. Sent to me by Mervyn Price in Texas
Pointillism? These pictures are the work of Robert Leonard Hughes, who was born in March 1910 and died in October 2006. They are done with a series of dots. I have included them here because I didn’t want them just to be lost in with the old photos.
This wooden box was given to Trefor Thompson – Author of The Prestatyn and Dyserth Railway and other books – by Miss Gwyneth Kermode of Meliden many years ago. Trefor presented the box to Dyserth Environmental Group in July 2024 and we have no idea what it would have been used for. It is about 9 inches (23 cm) tall. Externally the base is 6.75 inches (17cm) and the top it is 5.25 inches (13.5cm). Miss Kermode’s grandfather was John Lean who became Manager of Talargoch Lead Mine in 1876. He was always known by his honorary title of Captain Lean, or just Captain John and lived in a big company house called Buarth Isaf in Meliden. In 1884 when the mines closed he bought the house and renamed it Brookdale. Brookdale was home to four generations of Miss Kermode’s family; she died in May 1989. She had told Trefor that the engraving on the box stood for Talargoch Mining Co. The Talargoch Mining Company was registered 1857 and was dissolved in 1874. A new company, The Talargoch Mining Co Ltd, was incorporated in 1875 and one of their first acts was to appoint the aforementioned John Lean (apparently a Cornishman who spoke fluent Welsh). The mines closed in 1884, so this box has to be at least 140 years old.
Dyserth & District Field Club badge from 1932 The field club was founded in 1911 and sadly closed following the 110th AGM which was held on January 22nd 2022. The closure was because the Club was unable to recruit enough officers and committee members to run it.
Dyserth Curiosities
A medieval stone Stoop for Holy Water It came from Elwy Villa over 60 years ago. Elwy Villa (later known as Colomendy) was where Alfred Wigley had his hairdressing salon on the High Street. Its origins are unknown
Cannonball This cannonball was discovered when digging the foundations for a house on Bryn-y-Felin many years ago. Diameter: 2.75” (70mm) Weight: 3lbs 1.5oz (1.4kg) It has been presented to Dyserth Environmental Group
Opposite the entrance to Dyserth Hall is this stone wall with a small doorway. This was one of the wells that once supplied water to the villagers. I am told that the road level was raised when it was re-routed several years ago and that the doorway was originally much taller.
Boundary Stone
Near the end of Lower Foel Road, where it meets Cwm Road, there is a (Grade 2 listed) ancient boundary stone set into the wall marked with the letters RM, the initials of Sir Roger Mostyn (c1569-1642) who acquired much land here in the 1590s.
Pentre Cwm
Roger Mostyn was an ancestor of William Mostyn who built the 17th century house, Pentre Cwm, on the road from Dyserth out to Cwm.
Wartime map of Dyserth including references to “Rifles & Bombers”, dated 1942
Gravestone for a beloved pet
On the bank of the Afon (River) Ffyddion opposite the New Inn car park, close to a small brick-built building, stands an old stone, almost being covered by a tree. This marks the grave of a dog, owned by the Rev. John Owen, Vicar in the early 1900s. The inscription was recorded in 1963 by the late Mrs Barbara Manwell and reproduced in “Dyserth an Historic Village” by Ronald & Lucy Davies.
It read:- Blame not the tribute of a passing tear. here lies poor Addy To us so dear. Of dogs the noblest, gentlest and the best. Gone now forever to his last long rest. (The date was illegible)
A single piece of track, perhaps from a tramway, found by Dyserth Environmental Group at the the piece of Common Land on Carreg Heilin Lane in 2015
Pointillism? These pictures are the work of Robert Leonard Hughes, who was born in March 1910 and died in October 2006. They are done with a series of dots. I have included them here because I didn’t want them just to be lost in with the old photos.
Marian Mills, sent to me by Iris Jones in Australia
Pandy, sent to me by Iris Jones in Australia
St Bridget’s Church, sent to me by Iris Jones in Australia
Cottage at Penisa, Stone cottage near Penisa Crossroads. Variously called - Fern Bank; Cerryg Llwyd; Penny Pot Cottage. Sent to me by Mervyn Price in Texas
This wooden box was given to Trefor Thompson – Author of The Prestatyn and Dyserth Railway and other books – by Miss Gwyneth Kermode of Meliden many years ago. Trefor presented the box to Dyserth Environmental Group in July 2024 and we have no idea what it would have been used for. It is about 9 inches (23 cm) tall. Externally the base is 6.75 inches (17cm) and the top it is 5.25 inches (13.5cm). Miss Kermode’s grandfather was John Lean who became Manager of Talargoch Lead Mine in 1876. He was always known by his honorary title of Captain Lean, or just Captain John and lived in a big company house called Buarth Isaf in Meliden. In 1884 when the mines closed he bought the house and renamed it Brookdale. Brookdale was home to four generations of Miss Kermode’s family; she died in May 1989. She had told Trefor that the engraving on the box stood for Talargoch Mining Co. The Talargoch Mining Company was registered 1857 and was dissolved in 1874. A new company, The Talargoch Mining Co Ltd, was incorporated in 1875 and one of their first acts was to appoint the aforementioned John Lean (apparently a Cornishman who spoke fluent Welsh). The mines closed in 1884, so this box has to be at least 140 years old.
Dyserth & District Field Club badge from 1932 The field club was founded in 1911 and sadly closed following the 110th AGM which was held on January 22nd 2022. The closure was because the Club was unable to recruit enough officers and committee members to run it.