Greenfield, Flintshire

Greenfield
Welsh: Maes-glas
Old cotton mill, Greenfield
Greenfield Greenfield shown within Flintshire
Population	2,741 (2001 Census)^[1]
OS grid reference	SJ185755
Principal area	Flintshire
Ceremonial county	Clwyd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HOLYWELL
Postcode district	CH8
Dialling code	01352
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Delyn
Welsh Assembly	Delyn
List of places UK Wales Flintshire

Coordinates: 53°17′20″N 3°12′36″W / 53.289°N 3.210°W / 53.289; -3.210

Greenfield (Welsh: Maes-glas) is a village on the outskirts of Holywell, Flintshire, north-east Wales, located on the edge of the River Dee estuary. At the 2001 Census, it had a population of 2,741.^[1] Subsequently all the Greenfield population was listed under Holywell and only the electoral ward remained. The population of this ward remained unchanged from 2001. Greenfield used to be called Bluefield.

History

Greenfield is best known for its history of papermaking. A paper mill has been on this site since 1770. The site was chosen due to the constant water flow from the stream which comes from the St Winefride's Well. The speed this site developed was one of the reasons that Greenfield is still linked with the start of the Industrial Revolution. In the mid 19th century up to 80 businesses had set up in the mile stretch between Holywell and Greenfield The remains of some can now be seen as conservation and industrial archeological projects have been undertaken in recent years. Among the businesses were a copper mill, a flannel mill, a flour mill, shirt-makers and soft drink works, W Hall & Son (which still exists today). Greenfield was also home to two Courtaulds rayon factories and a sulphuric acid plant from 1936 to 1985.^[2]

In 1842 William Crockford, of London gambling club fame, built the Zinc Smelting Works on the northern side of the coast road adjacent to the gas works. The factory was said at the time to be the most modern in Britain with its own dedicated railway to the nearby Crockford Wharf. Crockford died in 1844 and his widow Sarah continued running the factory with the assistance of a daughter and two sons - Fanny, Henry and Charles Crockford, the latter of whom patented several zinc speltering inventions. The family also laid a mineral railway from Pantasaph to the factory, converted Parys Mine works into a limestone crushing plant and ran a cement factory at Bryn Celyn. With industrial changes and periodic managerial problems output from the zinc works ceased by the turn of the century and derelict buildings were largely removed by 1928.

Greenfield's oldest building is Basingwerk Abbey, founded circa 1132 by Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester. It was an important monastic centre in north Wales; both Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and Dafydd ap Llywelyn were patrons. In 1536, abbey life came to an end with the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In ruins since the time of Oliver Cromwell, it is in the care of Cadw (Welsh Heritage). The ruins are now part of Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, with the adjacent grounds home to an agricultural museum.^[3] Many of the museum's buildings were moved stone by stone from the surrounding area, including an old school house.

Holywell Junction Railway Station

The North Wales Coast Line runs though Holywell Junction with trains running fast through the station.

Holywell Junction station

The station was opened on 1 May 1848 as part of the Chester and Holyhead Railway (now the North Wales Coast Line) and was named simply Holywell.^[4] A brick built signal box was opened in 1902 to replace an earlier wooden one. The station initially had two platforms but as the line grew busier the number of tracks doubled from one each way to two and the number of platforms followed suit. The main station building was positioned on the down platform and a subway connected them all. In 1912 Holywell Branch Line was opened just east of the station which linked the mainline to the centre of Holywell.^[5] Therefore Holywell station was renamed Holywell Junction on 1 May and the new station called Holywell Town.

The branch line lasted 42 years before being closed and Holywell Junction was closed to passengers on 14 February 1966.^[6] as part of the Beeching Axe, although it was open to freight until 1970. The Italianate station building designed by Francis Thompson^[7] was listed Grade II* in 1970^[8] and is a private dwelling. The signal box was listed Grade II in 1991.^[9]

Description

The B5121 road from Greenfield to Holywell is the road which passes the St Winefride's Well, which Holywell is known for.

Greenfield's main claim to fame in recent history is possibly the hidden Gatso speed camera, on the A548 road leading to Bagillt, near the old disused railway bridge. It was voted the worst-placed speed camera in the UK by the Association of British Drivers, despite the fact that until 2009 Arrive Alive conducted their Speed Awareness courses at the Greenfield Business Centre, based in the original paper mill building 200 yards away.

The old village primary school, which was just under 100 years old, was controversially demolished in 2005, after much opposition from local residents. A covenant in the deeds of the land on which the old school was built, stated how the land was sold by the Mostyn Family on the condition it was only to be used solely for educational purposes. Although this point was expressed to Flintshire County Council, they proceeded with the demolition. A new school was built to replace it, but in a different part of Greenfield. Both schools were named Ysgol Maesglas (Greenfield School).

References

1 2 Ward Profile: Greenfield (PDF), Flintshire County Council, retrieved 14 November 2007
↑ http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1985/jun/17/courtaulds-greenfield-plant
↑ Map & visitor information, Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, retrieved 4 February 2009
↑ disused-stations.org.uk page
↑ Rhyl & District Model Railway Club website
↑ Transport Heritage website
↑ Transport Heritage website page
↑ The stations entry on britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
↑ The signal box's entry on britishlistedbuildings.co.uk

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greenfield, Flintshire.

Flintshire

Principal settlements	Afonwen Bagillt Buckley Caerwys Connah's Quay Ewloe Flint Holywell Mold Queensferry Saltney Shotton

Towns and villages	Abermorddu Alltami Aston Park Bretton Broughton Bryn-y-Baal Brynford Cadole Caergwrle Calcoed Carmel Cefn-y-Bedd Cilcain Coed Talon Cymau Deeside Drury Ffrith Flint Mountain Ffynnongroew Greenfield Gronant Glyncorrwg Gwernaffield Gwernymynydd Halkyn Hawarden Holway Higher Kinnerton Hope Leeswood Llanfynydd Llanasa Leadmill Mancot Mostyn Mynydd Isa Nannerch Nercwys Northop Northop Hall Oakenholt Pantasaph Pantymwyn Pentre Halkyn Penyffordd (Buckley) Pen-y-Ffordd (Holywell) Penymynydd Pontblyddyn Rhosesmor Rhes-y-Cae Rhydymwyn Sealand Soughton/Sychdyn Saltney Ferry Talacre Trelawnyd Trelogan Treuddyn Whitford Ysceifiog

Geography	Alyn Gorge Bretton Bridge Caerwys Rectory Clwydian Range Dee Estuary Flintshire Bridge The Gop Greenfield Valley Heritage Park Moel Famau Moel y Gaer Moel y Parc Mostyn Colliery Nant-y-Ffrith Ogof Nadolig Point of Ayr Point of Ayr Gas Terminal River Alyn River Cegidog River Dee River Terrig Talacre Beach Wepre Park

Parliamentary Representation	List of Parliamentary constituencies in Clwyd Flintshire East Flintshire West Flintshire

Community councils	Argoed Bagillt Broughton and Bretton Brynford Buckley Caerwys Cilcain Connah's Quay Flint Gwernaffield Gwernymynydd Halkyn Hawarden Higher Kinnerton Holywell Hope Leeswood Llanasa Llanfynydd Mold Mostyn Nannerch Nercwys Northop Northop Hall Penyffordd Queensferry Saltney Sealand Shotton Trelawnyd and Gwaenysgor Treuddyn Whitford Ysceifiog

Topics	The historic county Alyn and Deeside Broughton Shopping Park Delyn Flintshire County Council Holywell Rural District Maelor Saesneg Maelor Rural District Mold cape Point of Ayr Colliery Company Prestatyn Coal Company RAF Sealand Borough of Rhuddlan Western Mostyn Colliery Company SSSIs Country houses Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums Schools History Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Notable people Sport Visitor attractions

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