National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
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Welsh Model Village Rhyl
Diminutive Denbighshire ‘des reses’ - the Land of Song scaled-down, slate-roofed and spotless
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Overview
The clipped voice on this advert for Rhyl’s mini village is at odds with its aim of enticing visitors – being more barking than beckoning. But the village itself is charming, with olde worlde stone cottages, shops and church – there is even a stream and a waterwheel. Scale is shown by a Welsh-hatted lady, sat with three kids among the dwarf houses and trees – and some very un-Welsh paddock fencing.
Pentre Bach Welsh Model Village was an outdoor attraction in West Parade, Rhyl, from 1970-1975. Colin Jones’s ‘Rhyl Life’ blog states that it was created by Rhyl Amusements Ltd. (who owned the funfair) and designed by their structural draughtsman Ronald Towler, who later worked as a technical assistant for Trusthouse Forte and at Alton Towers. Among Pentre Bach’s miniature attractions were a castle, a pub, a school, a slate quarry and a farm called T_ Gwyn. All the roofing, according to Colin Jones, was of Welsh slate.
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