One of the old Market Street landmarks of Abergele is the Market Hall, where HSBC Bank is situated. I love the pointy-roofed architecture of this old building. It often appears as a backdrop in old photos and postcards of Abergele’s horse and cattle markets. If you’re interested in hearing about the Tunnel that used to run through the Hall, you can read about it here.
I remember it well but struggling to remember the names of the shops. Do you recall ?, also do you remember the little green shed outside the back of the tunnel which, for a time, was a bicycle repair shop
I’ve a vague recollection of a corrugated iron shack painted green. If anyone remembers the name of the shops David refers to, please go ahead and add them here using Comments.
Shops in the Market Hall included
“Dicks” boot & shoe sales and repairs, run by Mr. Hughes, before the closure of the hall he moved to the first shop past the Pen-y-Bont Pub, which is now a hairdressing salon.
Mrs. Millward ran a hardware shop single-handed, which closed upon her retirement in about 1970, I still have the shop ladders which she gave to me on her last day there.
There was also a small sweetshop, and I seem to remember a milliner or wool shop.
Roberts the Butchers (not the same Roberts as on Market St.) was run mainly by one man (name uncertain) who on closure of the hall moved to work in the butchers next to the Gele Bridge which is now a deli.
The green hut was a cycle repair “shop” run by Mr. Clement Hughes (I think the name is right) he was a wizz with sturmey-archer gears, and maintained the Post Office and Police bicycles.
Thanks for such a comprehensive list Brian. It’s great to tap into your encyclopedic knowledge of Abergele. Always happy to hear from you here.
The Green cycle shop was run by Bleddyn Roberts who was also the local rural postman and that is why he had the contract to repair all the post office bikes. He was a Raleigh dealer and they made a sign specially for his ‘shop’ – ‘Raleigh y beisicl gorau yn y byd’
Clement Evans had the bicycle shop at the top end of Peel Street.
Thanks Delyth, I knew there was a connection between the name Clement and push bikes. I forgot the little bike shop at the end of Peel Street. I remember Bleddyn Roberts but not his name. Can you tell me when Peel Street was knocked down, I can remember it but not the year. Think it was about 1964/5 ?
Thank you Brian for the memory jog. It brought it allback to me. I think your right about clement Hughes, it seems to ring a bell and your also right is saying he was a wizz with sturmy-archer gears. the butchers you refer to by the Gele Bridge was Bennet Williams’s but I can’t remeber the guys name either. The little sweet/tobaconist shop was always a stop off point for my Dad when he went shopping. I can’t remember the guys name but seem to think he lived in Pentre Avenue. Thanks for your help.
The butchers name was Hywel unsure of surname maybe Williams, hopefully I will remember and post on info.
The owner of the sweet shop lived in Aysgarth, Pentre Avenue, was his surnamer Hughes?
The Butcher lived opposite yourself on Clwyd Avenue a little further down his name was Hywel unsure of surname – this may jog your memory David.
I think you may be right about the sweetshop owner being called Hughes I’ll try and find out. As to Hywell, I can remember a reference to Hywel “the butcher” but don’t recollect him living on Clwyd Avenue. Probably did, but the little grey cells are struggling to remember. I am wondering if your right about his surname being Williams and am wondering if there was a connection between him and Bennet Williams or just co-incidence.
With reference to Hywel the butcher, he lived next door to me at. 5 llwyn morfa, first lived with his parents, then moved to clwyd ave. he retired after working with Bennet’s the butchers, then lived in st asaph, passed away few years ago.
Just thought of howell the butcher,s surname, it was Jones.
Above the green shed on local lane was a sign for the sign of the cycle shop/repairs belonging to Bleddyn Roberts.
He had special permission from Raleigh who made up the sign for display and it read. ‘Raleigh – y beisicl gorau yn y byd’. I have a picture if the sign which I will display when I am more mobile (just had a knee operation) and also the story that his nephew Vernon Hughes wrote.
That,s a great story Delyth. Would love to see that pic. Hope your knee gets better soon.