Video tour of early 20th century Buckley released as part of Lottery project

Earlier this year The Leader reported how the Buckley Society launched a digital trail around the town after receiving National Lottery heritage funding.

Its was part of the ‘Explore North East Wales’ tourism initiative to encourage people to explore the area.

The last remaining elements of the project were to create a short animated film containing computer generated images of Buckley’s past industries and to gather information, images and fashions from the colourful history of the Tivoli Cinema and Nightclub.

Paul Davies, secretary at The Buckley Society, said: "The short animated film of Buckley industry in the early 20th century is now complete and available online to view at Vimeo or via the Buckley Society Website and Facebook page.

"Many hours of work have gone into its compilation and Martin Moss of Dextra Visual (Historic Illustration Animation and Interpretive Media Service) is to be congratulated on the lengths he has gone to in recreating the scenes in such detail.

"For anyone unfamiliar with the locations of the industries featured; Hancock’s Brickworks, established 1792, were situated in Church Road, the entrance to the Redrow housing estate i.e Lon Butterley was the entrance to the works. The last brick was made there on March 7, 2003.

"Mountain Colliery, which operated between 1897 and 1929, was situated on the common opposite Mountain Lane C.P School, Knowle Lane where Mountain Close now stands.

"Hayes’ Old Ewloe Pottery was situated in Etna Road where Etna Court now stands. It was established in 1760 and closed circa 1942.

"Wilkinson’s Smelt was situated in an area that has since been developed for housing between Wilkinson Court and Pemba Drive. It was built in the early 1790’ s and demolished in the mid 1960s.

"The three and a half minute film is one element of the ‘Revealing Buckley’s Heritage’ project, additional funding for which was provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Buckley Town Council, Flintshire Museum service - Aura, Flintshire County Council Countryside Services and Tourism Departments for which we are extremely grateful."

The Tivoli element of the project was hampered by lockdown.

It was The Buckley Society's intention to hold a memories day and exhibition of fashions through the eras in the Heritage Centre but covid-19 prevented it.

However as a means of achieving information and photographs in late October the society launched a new Facebook group entitled ‘Buckley Tivoli Memories’ which has attracted almost 600 members and is packed with memorabilia.

Mr Davied added: "Photographs of fashions worn are in short supply so we are still appealing for people to send photos to our e mail address at bucksoc@uwclub.net or post them direct on to the Facebook site."