Proposed Public Buildings, Assembly Hall etc. Colwyn Bay

COLWYN BAY - It is reported that plans and elevations for a new public building for Colwyn Bay have just been submitted to the UDC. The building is projected by Manchester firms and Messrs Charles Clegg and Son of that city are the architects. The premises are to cover an area of 216 feet by 167 feet and to include a skating rink, billiards hall, swimming baths and a range of shops. [Builder 9 January 1909 page 45]

A NOTEWORTHY PROJECT AT COLWYN BAY, BATHS, SKATING RINK, AND BILLIARD HALL. EXTENSIVE SCHEME TO BE PUSHED FORWARD AT ONCE. Plans relating to a noteworthy undertaking have been submitted for the approval of the Colwyn Bay Urban District Council this week. Tho scheme, in which three Manchester firms are interested, comprises the provision of a largo swimming bath and other baths, a fine skating rink, a billiard hall, shops, restaurants, and a bicycle department, all practically under ono roof. The premises will cover an area of 216 feet by 167 feet, the site chosen being situated in Greenfield-road, a few yards oil Abergele-road, which is, of course, the main thoroughfare. They will, therefore, be within easy reach of the electric cars when the line is extended to Old Colwyn and occupy a position practically midway between Old Colwyn at the one end of the town, and Rhos-on-Sea at the other end. A splendid view of the sea will be obtained from the building, which will be within three minutes' walk of the railway station and the seashore. The accompanying illustration gives the front elevation of the building, photographed from the plan presented to the Council. From this it will be seen that there are four main entrances- one to the baths on the left of the picture, the next to the skating rink, the third to the shops, and the fourth (to the right of the sketch) to the billiard hall. The skating rink will afford actual skating space of 181 feet by 71 feet, and it will be one of the largest in the Principality. The floor will be of maple, and it will be lighted from above. It is proposed to so arrange this spacious hall that it may be easily converted for the purposes of public meetings, concerts, eisteddfodau, etc., and it is estimated that seating accommodation will thus be provided for at least 5000 people. The hall will extend along the whole length of the structure illustrated, while at the rear of it a swimming bath, 110 feet long by 30 feet wide, with shower, slipper and vapour baths, a laundry, and other offices will be provided. It is intended to separate the bathroom and the large pavilion by means of a moveable partition, so that the swimming bathroom may be used to supplement the space in the pavilion-the swimming bath being of course covered up. By so doing it is estimated that ample seating accommodation will be provided for an audience of 8000. The front part of the building will be set apart for shops, restaurants, and offices. The billiard hall will be fitted upon the second floor, and the room will be arranged for no less than eighteen full-size tables. There will also be tea rooms, lounges, dressing, and other rooms, and the whole premises will be equipped in a first- class manner. Messrs Charles Clegg and Sons, of Spring Gardens, Manchester, are the architects. The Council are specially urged by the promoters to facilitate matters, so that building operations may be commenced early in the New Year. Yesterday (Wednesday), Mr Charles Clegg (Messrs Clegg and Sons) attended before one of the Council's committees and explained in detail the whole  scheme. It is understood that, with the exception of a few minor features - which Mr Clegg provisionally undertook to amend—the plans met with the full approval of the committee. [The Welsh Coast Pioneer 30 December 1908 page 5]

NEW PAVILION AND SKATING RINK. Important Colwyn Bay Scheme. We hear it rumoured that a Manchester syndicate has acquired the land of Mr. J. Berth Jones, J.P., and the Rev. W. Hughes, in Greenfield-road, Colwyn Bay, for the purpose of erecting thereon a magnificent building, to include pavilion, skating rink, public baths, billiard hall, and shops. The entire scheme represents a probable outlay of about £40,000. Plans have been prepared by Messrs. Clegg & Co., architects, etc., Manchester, and presumably will be submitted to the District Council for approval during next week. In order to accommodate the whole of the immense building it will be necessary to take down a well-known boarding house and other neighbouring premises. The establishment will have a frontage of 216 feet, and it is noteworthy that the frontage of the pavilion alone will be 181 feet, which is considerably more than that of the spacious Carnarvon Pavilion, where the National Eisteddfod has been held on two or more occasions. We understand that the syndicate selected this particular site because of its convenient position, being within fifty yards of the tram line and near the railway station and seashore and commanding an uninterrupted sea view. The use of salt water in the swimming baths renders it imperative that the building should be as near to the sea as, possible, and in this respect an ideal site for the purpose has been acquired. Further, the hall will stand in the midst of the population of the large district which extends from Old Colwyn to Rhos-on- Sea. In fact, the land they have fixed upon is the only site suitable for the purpose in Colwyn Bay We shall no doubt be in a position to supply more complete information in our next issue. [North Wales Weekly News 1 January 1909 page 10]

Reference    Builder 9 January 1909 page 45
Reference    Builder 27 February 1909 page 252
Reference    The Welsh Coast Pioneer 30 December 1908 page 5
Reference    North Wales Weekly News 1 January 1909 page 10
Reference    The Welsh Coast Pioneer 14 January 1909 page 2 – plans passed by council