History of The Mill

The mill was a working flour mill from the early 17th Century. Later in January 1922 it was sold to John Alyn Morris as part of the sale of Coed Du Estate. At that time the Mill itself was a working farm and General Grocery Store [Shop]. It has been owned by the Morris family ever since then. [ 5 generations] The Mill is located in an area known as Nant Alyn in the Alyn Valley and is surrounded by trees, of which the colours look fabulous in the autumn.

In the 1930’s campers started arriving from Liverpool, who came across on the Mersey ferries. Then they either took the F11 Crosville Bus from Woodside Birkenhead which took them to the village of Pantymwyn and then they walked down through the woods to “Morris’s Field/Nant Alyn Camp as it was called then. Others took the train to Rhydymwyn Station and walked up the lane to Nant Alyn.

Mary Morris, John’s wife used to serve teas on the lawn and there was holidaymaker’s staying in the chalets in her garden. The campers had their own tents to stay in, which they stored in an old Tram. Campers used to bring pieces of wood on the bus to build their own chalets which they stayed in on one of the two fields which also had three double decker bus’s, three single decker bus’s, a gypsy caravan and an old railway carriage. This was Glamping as we know it now in the 1930’s. The shop or Morris’s General Store used to sell picture postcards for campers and tourists who were mainly walkers and cyclists to send home to their family and friends.

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The Mill, Nant Alyn Rhydymwyn has been greatly photographed over the years, as the Entrance to the Leete Walk which goes through to Loggerheads, which many people remember from their school day visits to Colomendy Camp.

In 1960, all the vehicles were ordered to be removed as The Caravan Sites Act came into force and the camp became a caravan site. Later being named as Leete Valley Caravan Park. The shop continued until 1986 when it was closed.

The Mill and camp site are mentioned in many local history books, one of which is: – Liverpool to Loggerheads by Lorna Jenna (Alyn Books Ltd 2009)

We have many people returning to reminisce on their childhood memories who have lots of stories to tell. We still have families on the caravan park, whose grandparents came here in the old days and young parents who are bringing their children back here, so they can share their memories with them.

The Mill Now

The Mill wheel and workings were removed at some point in the past but there is still evidence of the mill stream as it passes under the road into the top of the garden. The Mill comprised of the main house and the mill which years ago at Mrs Mary Morris’s time accommodated bedrooms upstairs for her sons and a workshop on the ground floor which has since deteriorated. We had a conservatory constructed at the front of the building and renovated the Mill retaining  its original features  in as much as what had been retained over the years.

Address

Nant Alyn Mill
Nant Alyn Road
Rhydymwyn
Flintshire CH75HD

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