Lost lines: Mold to Denbigh by rail pre-1962

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Nannerch Station. Image courtesy of Brian Bennett

Local historian and author Brian Bennett, looks back at the journey from Mold to Denbigh by rail pre-1962...

Let's take a nostalgic train journey from Mold to Denbigh, a popular and picturesque journey of about 16 miles.

It was part of the Chester to Denbigh branch line and closed to passenger traffic in April 1962 (pre-Beeching) when it operated under the LMS (London Midland Scottish) banner.

The line from Chester to Mold was opened in 1849 but the railway did not proceed to Denbigh until 1869.

1. Mold Station c1960. Image courtesy of Brian Bennett

Leaving Mold (image 1) in a north westerly direction the line passed the old Synthite works before the hamlet of Rhyd y Golau is reached (image 2), never a station or halt in evidence, but a line of old railway cottages seen on the left of the image, looking pretty much the same today as was the case when this photograph was taken in c1960.

In days past there apparently existed a public house in the vicinity, by the name of the Royal Oak but this before living memory.

2. Rhydygolau c1960. Image courtesy of Brian Bennett

The route then passed the old Gwysaney Estate school on the nearby hill side, now a modern desirable residence, but was previously an estate primary school for decades.

The line then followed the route of the River Alyn until we reach the old ministry work at Rhydymwyn on its left, where a branch line into the ministry site existed and can still be traced - this together with a platform to enable armaments etc to be loaded and unloaded.

The small rural village of Rhydymwyn is next reached. It is at this point that the line crossed the main A541 Mold to Denbigh highway by railway crossing - the only time it crosses the road by this method - the other times were by bridge.

3. Rhydymwyn 1978. Image courtesy of Brian Bennett

Rhydymwyn station was a popular stop for walkers and hikers in the early to mid 20th century (image 3) especially from the Merseyside area, where they came by train via Chester, then walked the famous Leete footpath - a four-mile distance to Loggerheads before catching the F11 Crosville bus back to Birkenhead Woodside.

Leaving Rhydymwyn, the old Rubery Owen brickworks was next passed. This was the termination of the line for several years until the late 1960s after the discontinuation of the passenger service, remaining open for just minerals.

The line then crossed over two bridges in the hamlet of Hendre, these were soon dismantled after the line closure and very little trace remains today of either structures.

Next the halt at Star Crossing is reached (image 4) - opened in 1912 in no small part as a stopping\alighting place for the nearby villagers of Cilcain and Rhesycae.

4. Star Crossing. Image courtesy of Brian Bennett

Nannerch just one mile distance is next reached (image 5) but not before going through a deep cutting in the landscape which was to hide the train from view of the nearby Penbedw Hall - a stipulation that the landowner Mr Buddicum of the estate insisted upon, who was a noted railway engineer of the period, but as the old saying goes,"not in my back yard".

Nannerch station had a nearby lodge which in early days also acted as Guest House for railway passengers/visitors - still known locally as Station lodge. Over the next four miles the line follows the River Wheeler down the aptly named "Wheeler valley" until Caerwys Station is reached.

5. Nannerch Station. Image courtesy of Brian Bennett

It was always named Caerwys Station, but is actually in the small hamlet of Afonwen, but there being a station on Llyn Peninsula by that same name, and to avoid any confusion the name Caerwys was adopted.

We continue following the River Wheeler until Bodfari is reached just over the Flintshire border. The line passed under a road bridge near the station, but nothing is evident today.

The next three miles takes us into the old Medieval Market town of Denbigh and the fate of the old railway station in Denbigh is similar to what befell Mold station, ie. both now occupied by a retail park site.

Sadly, only small parts of the original 16-mile railway line can be followed by cycling or walking. One section near Mold (Bovril path) and one at Hendre are the only two locations on which the old line can be walked legally. Attempts have been made by various organisations to open up further sections of the line for recreational purposes, but at present without too much success. Happy days.

• Next time - Mold to Chester by rail pre 1962.