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Point of Ayr also gives its name to a lighthouse, built in 1776, though inactive since 1883. It stands on Talacre beach, at the entrance to the River Dee estuary. The lighthouse once displayed two lights. The main beam, at 63 feet, shone seaward towards Llandudno. A secondary beam shone up the River Dee, towards the hamlet of Dawpool, in Cheshire, on the English side of the estuary. Whilst in service, the lighthouse was painted with red and white stripes, and had a red lantern housing. It was replaced in 1844 with a metal pile lighthouse, bearing a white light, put up by order of the Corporation of Trinity House This new structure was itself replaced in 1883 with a Lightship.

Below are Pictures of Talacre W.W.2 Day held on the 27th and 28th of JULY 2019

To the right is the Gunnery range during W.W.2 Below are pictures of Talacre. the bakery that was on the warren. thanks to June Tynan pictured below for loaning me the pictures for our web site.

POINT OF AYR LIFEBOAT DISASTER

A brutal storm raged off the north coast of Wales on the morning of Sunday, January 4, 1857 and three ships were floundering in the roiling sea. At 10 am, the Point of Ayr lifeboat was launched to go to the aid of the ship Temperance.

In the 1800s, lifeboat stations had been formed at Liverpool and Hoylake, staffed with men who could reach a wreck regardless of the direction of wind or sea. At Point of Ayr, however, there was a lack of skilled rescue men. Their crew was composed mainly of local tradesmen, gardeners and miners. To complement this group of volunteers, two fishermen were sent over from Hoylake — Robert Beck as captain, and John Sherlock as mate. They were provided with housing and an allowance that could be supplemented by the sale of any fishing catch. It was a meagre life.The lifeboats supplied to the crew at Point of Ayr were 42 ft. clinker built boats similar to a ship’s boat intended for either rowing or sailing. When rowing, they pulled 10 oars. Under sail, they had two fixed sails and a foresail. Buoyancy was provided by air cases under the thwarts and a large cork fender around the outside of the boat. Total crew was 13 men. As the lifeboat launched that morning on Jan 4, onlookers watched from the shore. Off the coast of Rhyl, the stormy sea caught and overturned the lifeboat. None of the men on board were wearing lifejackets as they were made of cork at the time and the men found they hampered their movement in times of rescue. Three men were seen clinging to the overturned keel of the Point of Ayr lifeboat. After half an hour, though, the raging sea took them under.

The crew on this unfortunate occasion was composed of three miners, three labourers, two gardeners, a shopkeeper, coachman, and sawyer in addition to Robert Beck and John Sherlock. All 13 men perished that day.

A public subscription was opened for the dependents of the lost men. It was liberally subscribed to, reaching the total of £3,025.19s. This was more than enough to meet the demands and the balance was held to meet the needs of other sufferers. The Dock Board held an inquiry into the matter. The boat was recovered and carefully examined but found to be in good condition. One thing that did come out of the tragedy was a tightening of the rules about wearing lifejackets. A fine was imposed for not wearing them. In addition, fixed sails on lifeboats were no longer permitted.

THE GRASSMERIANS CLUB MEETS AT 7.0pm ON A MONDAY AND THURSDAYS AT THE TALACRE COMMUNITY CENTER TO PLAY BINGO, DOMINOES OR SNOOKER. WE HAD SOME GOOD OUTINGS FROM THE GRASSMERIANS CLUB. IN MAY 2007 WE WENT TO EDEN CAMP IN MALTON YORKSHIRE, IT WAS AN OLD PRISONER OF WAR CAMP ABOUT 30 HUTS ALL WITH DIFFERENT WAR THEMES IT WAS A VERY GOOD DAY OUT AND ONLY COSTS £4.50 TO GET IN, THEN IN JUNE 2007 WE SAILED FROM MOSTYN DOCKS ON THE BALMORAL AND SAILED ALL AROUND ANGLESEY. THAT WAS A VERY GOOD TRIP WE HAD GOOD WEATHER AS WELL. THEN IN AUGUST 2007 WE SAILED FROM SALFORD QUAYS UP THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL TO LIVERPOOL, THAT WAS ANOTHER GOOD DAY OUT IN SEPTEMBER 2007 WE GOT THE COACH FROM TALACRE TO CAERNATHON, THERE WE GOT ON THE WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY STEAM ENGINE TO RHYD DDU THAT’S HALF WAY BETWEEN CAERNATHON AND PORTHMADOG. AT RHYD DDU OUR COACH PICKED US UP AND TOOK US TO PORTHMADOG.WHERE WE SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS AND THEN BOARDED THE BLAENAU FFESTINIOG STEAM TRAIN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND VIEWS WERE OUTSTANDING. AT BLAENAU OUR COACH PICKED US UP AND TOOK US BACK TO TALACRE. ANOTHER VERY GOOD DAY OUT. WAS HAD BY ALL. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING ON THE TRIPS THIS YEAR.

ON THE 19th OF SEPTEMBER 2009 WE WENT ON A CRUISE ON THE RIVER WEAVER ABOARD THE M.V. RIVER PRINCESS AFTER THE CRUISE WE WENT INTO THE RIVERSIDE PUB AND HAD A MEAL 2 FOR 1. IT WAS A VERY GOOD MEAL AND A GREAT TRIP UP AND DOWN THE CANAL A GREAT DAY WAS HAD BY ALL.

IF YOU WANT A AERIAL VIEW OF TALACRE AND PRESTAVON SANDS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW SOME GREAT SHOTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X5CIOMvs_U

WHERE WEAVER VALLEY CRUISES ARE SITUATED

M56 - JUNCTION 10

TAKE A49 TO WHITCHURCH

AFTER ABOUT 4 MILES GO OVER ACTON SWING BRIDGE

ROAD BEARS ROUND TO THE LEFT

AFTER 150 METRES TURN LEFT IN TO THE CAR PARK

ABOVE IS THE M.V.RIVER PRINCESS

ABOVE THE BAR

ABOVE THE BAR FACING FORWARDS

ABOVE THE LOCK KEEPERS COTTAGE


Cath and Helen	Dell and Dot

Jo, Joyce and Pat	June and her sister

Marie, Bernard and Mavis	Norma and Fred

Phylis	Ron and Dot

Jean, Carol and Kenny	Roy, Alan and Ron

Ted and Olive	One of the wrecks on the canal