Empire Hotel
The Empire Hotel, Church Walks, Llandudno
This building was erected in 1856 as Llandudno’s first modern department store (pictured right). It had a chemist, a grocer and an Italian warehouse. It was run by a 23-year-old Denbigh man named Thomas Williams, who might be described as Llandudno’s first entrepreneur.
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Osborne House Hotel
Candlelit 3-course menu in the evening. Six sea-facing luxury suites. Opulent and spacious, decorated with antiques
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Llandudno
LL30 2LP
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He published a Visitor’s Handbook in 1855 in which were advertised the commodities that the chemist sold, including Atkinson’s Bear Grease, fresh German leeches, Dr. Erasmus Wilson’s Hair Wash, gunpowder, Oriental Toothpaste and fire insurance.
In summer 1856 he moved across the street from his previous shop to the new premises which had been “built expressly for him for the greater facility of Business”. The old photo below shows the new building at the head of Upper Mostyn Street c.1860 and is reproduced here courtesy of Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – the National Library of Wales.
Thomas’ wares in 1856 included spices, British wines, curd and honey soaps, cigars and “antiseptic tooth powder”. He had even established his own brand of perfume, Williams’ Llandudno Bouquet.
At the rear of the property was the site of the engineering workshops and offices of the Tŷ Gwyn Mining Company, which mined copper from 1835 until 1853. At each side were steam pumping engines, a waterwheel and mineshafts. An abandoned mine tunnel runs beneath Church Walks.
By 1899 the building had become the Regent Hotel. In 1900 proprietor George Goodwin was charged with allowing guests to play billiards after closing hours. Magistrates fined him a token sixpence.
The building was renovated in 1904 and reopened as the Empire Hotel. In 1905 one guest, Sheffield solicitor Henry Barker, landed in court accused of driving recklessly along Mostyn Street at 15mph (24kph) in his 8hp Vulcan motor car, leaving a cloud of dust. A police officer, wiping his eyes as he went, followed the car to the garage of the Empire Hotel. Mr Barker and his wife said there were only about 30 people in the street, as it was a Sunday evening, and magistrates dismissed the case.
The hotel’s present owners, the Maddocks family, extended it considerably to the rear, providing a modern swimming pool. They also created the pillared front porch. The pillars, bought at Sotheby’s auction rooms, were originally given by Queen Victoria to the Winter Gardens at St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.
With thanks to John Lawson-Reay, of the Llandudno & Colwyn Bay History Society, and the National Library of Wales
Postcode: LL30 2HE
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