History of Holywell is back on track thanks to Greenfield Valley exhibition

Greenfield Valley Heritage Park’s experts are delivering a first-class service with the opening of an exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of the last train to pass through the valley.

The display centres on the often forgotten rails around Greenfield, which includes the once popular ‘little train’. 

Opened on 1 July 1912, the station was the southern terminus of the near two-mile branch which connected to the Chester and Holyhead mainline at Holywell Junction.

After closing completely more than 42 years later on 6 September 1954, the station was demolished and the line was lifted, with the site later developed into parkland and the section of track becoming a footpath.

Thanks to a trusted group of volunteers, the station’s history is arriving in style after Greenfield Valley Heritage Park unveiled an exhibition celebrating the area’s forgotten mode of transport.

This activity forms part of the wider Greenfield Valley Heritage Park Improvement project which has received £749,275 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

It’s extra special for Colin Griffiths, a tour guide at the Flintshire visitor attraction, after he was a passenger on the last ever train journey on 4 September 1954.

He said: “I was less than 12 months of age, so I don’t have any specific memories, but I was on the final ride with my family some 70 years ago.

“It’s fantastic to look back at a piece of history and say that you were part of it, even if I have more vivid memories of the track being taken up.

“We lived above the London House shop, which is where Tesco is now, so just over the wall from our garden was the station.”

Ray Bailey, who put the exhibition together along with Sophie Fish, the museums and heritage manager of Gwella, Flintshire’s libraries and leisure team, is thrilled that a forgotten piece of the town is back in the forefront of minds.

Rail enthusiast Ray, 87, said: “It’s brilliant that so much history can be shared with people, some of whom may not even be aware that there is so much railway history in the area, including a station in Holywell.

“The research for the images and information for the display boards was hugely enjoyable, and with the help of Sophie we’ve been able to put together an exhibition to be proud of.

“Looking at pictures of passengers queuing for the trains, it evokes real emotion and provides a small snippet into what life was like in Holywell all those years ago.”

Sophie Fish, Flintshire Libraries and Leisure Ltd’s museums, culture, and heritage manager, added: “It has been wonderful to work in partnership with Greenfield Valley to bring this exhibition to life.”

From February 22, the exhibition will be open seven days a week, between 10am and 3pm.

Councillor Chris Dolphin, Flintshire County Council cabinet member for economy, environment, and climate, said: “It is another fantastic example of the importance of the UKSPF.

“The exhibition’s plans have been accelerated, and the public are now able to soak in the history of the railway.”