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0:00:00 > 0:00:03- People flock to this town - every year.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06- Some come to enjoy - the beauty of the mountain.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10- Some come for the beaches - and the entertainment.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15- Llandudno's motto Hardd Hafan Hedd - - Beautiful Haven of Peace...
0:00:15 > 0:00:16- ..says it all.
0:00:17 > 0:00:18- Welcome to Y Dref Gymreig.
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0:00:40 > 0:00:43- We'll look at the development...
0:00:43 > 0:00:46- ..of this lovely - Victorian seaside town.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49- We'll visit our oldest ever house.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- We'll also visit - the chief architect's house...
0:00:53 > 0:00:57- ..a hotel which was the home - of the founder of Llandudno...
0:00:57 > 0:01:01- ..and a modern house - which capitalises on the elements.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34- You can put Llandudno in its - geographical context from here.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- You can also see why it was built.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- Yes, this is a fantastic view.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41- This town was built for tourism.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- This must be - one of the best views in Wales...
0:01:45 > 0:01:47- ..if not in the whole of Britain.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51- Llandudno helps you - understand seaside towns.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55- It's a fine example - of Victorian architecture.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58- It looks like one man built it - in one year!
0:01:58 > 0:02:00- It's uniform.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04- It was built by one estate - in one decade!
0:02:06 > 0:02:11- Llandudno was built on a unique - grid pattern on old common land.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16- It grew from being - a fishing and mining village...
0:02:16 > 0:02:20- ..to the glorious holiday town - we now know and love.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26- It's hard to believe the future - of Llandudno was mapped out...
0:02:27 > 0:02:30- ..over a few pints at the Kings Head - many years ago.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33- Yes, this truly is a historic pub.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- The town planning meeting - was held here in the 1840s.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44- There was nothing here other than - the beach and a few cottages.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- It was a small community.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51- Mostyn Estate secured permission - to clear the area...
0:02:51 > 0:02:53- ..and build a new town.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- Did they build it as a holiday town?
0:02:56 > 0:02:58- Did they build it as a holiday town?- - There were several ideas.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03- Lord Mostyn was keen to build a - big dock to export Flintshire coal.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07- They were going to call it - Port Wrexham...
0:03:08 > 0:03:12- ..but the old name of Llandudno - was eventually chosen.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16- The railway must have - boosted tourism in this area.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20- Yes, because we're not far from - Liverpool and Manchester.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- I'm interested in the old tram.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28- This is Britain's last remaining - cable-operated street tramway.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33- Let's catch the next one.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44- This is now a tourist attraction.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49- There has been industry - on the Orme over the centuries...
0:03:50 > 0:03:53- ..so what was - the tram's original purpose?
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- The tramway - has only been open since 1902.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02- One of its original purposes was - to take corpses up the mountain...
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- ..to Saint Tudno's cemetery.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11- It's quite steep, isn't it?
0:04:11 > 0:04:13- It's quite steep, isn't it?- - That's why they used it for corpses.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- Well, Greg, where are we now?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42- We're in a cave.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45- A relatively large cave - at the foot of the Orme.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- People lived in this cave 13,000 - years ago.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54- It's the oldest house, or dwelling, - we've ever seen on this programme.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00- If you didn't have a torch, I'd be - the first presenter to die here!
0:05:00 > 0:05:02- That's a deep hole!
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- A man called Kendrick - found human remains in here.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- There was also a painting in here...
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- ..which makes it - the earliest piece of Welsh art.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- Is that what brought people here?
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- It was - some sort of tourist attraction.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27- Yes, it attracted lots of visitors - in late Victorian times.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31- Kendrick extended the cave, - as you can see behind me.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35- This may look like a natural wall, - but it isn't.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40- Kendrick built it - to make the tour more interesting.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44- It was used during World War II.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49- Yes, the Humphreys family lived - next door and they owned this cave.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- They used it - as some sort of summer house.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58- They used it as an air-raid shelter - during the War years.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- Next, we'll see the main house.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- Let's go!
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- Careful where you tread.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- We saw Ardwy Orme from afar.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39- It's almost impossible to see it - from its own garden!
0:06:39 > 0:06:41- The land is really steep.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45- Yes. This is one of the best plots - in Llandudno.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48- You feel like the king of the town!
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- The man who built this house - was the king of the town, in a way.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57- He was Alfred Humphreys, the agent - and architect of the Mostyn estate.
0:06:57 > 0:07:03- Alfred Humphreys was responsible for - many of the town's public buildings.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05- This is a big house.
0:07:05 > 0:07:11- Yes, it's a house of real status and - the architectural details are great.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16- Things like the terracotta and the - red sandstone around the windows.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21- The main gable looks like - a Dutch Renaissance style.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24- It looks like - something in Amsterdam.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- They teamed that style - with modern bricks.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32- It's a variety of styles - which was a common trend.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34- Let's see inside.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59- Well! This is wonderful.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- Yes, it's a fine hallway.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04- Interestingly, - the furniture is all original.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09- This house - is still in the Humphreys family...
0:08:09 > 0:08:13- ..and you know this is how it looked - in Alfred's time...
0:08:13 > 0:08:15- ..back in 1895.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- There's a special ambience here.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26- The wallpaper has been changed - but everything else is original.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- The oil paintings - have always been here.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- The newel post - has never been painted white!
0:08:34 > 0:08:39- The lovely staircase is original, - as is the pitch pine floor.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- That is a wonderful, - but relatively simple, window...
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- ..compared to what we saw - 20 years earlier.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- This was built - in the late Victorian age...
0:08:53 > 0:08:57- ..so you wouldn't see stained glass - here, only patterned glass.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- This is splendid, isn't it?
0:09:00 > 0:09:03- It's almost like a gentry house.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- Not gentry, - but certainly middle class.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10- That bell was used to call the maid - to make the tea, and so on.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13- There's a large servants' wing - at the rear.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17- Yes, it's a large property.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19- What's on this side of the hallway?
0:09:19 > 0:09:21- What's on this side of the hallway?- - This house is split in two.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- The rear was for the staff - and the front was for the family.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30- What was the dining room - and the drawing room are here.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- They called it the drawing room, - which is an echo of gentry houses.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50- This is the dining room.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52- It was once the drawing room.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57- The collection of furniture - recreates the original ambience.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- There are some beautiful pieces - in here.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- What a magnificent table!
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- What a magnificent table!- - Yes, indeed.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09- Humphreys designed - some of the furniture himself.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13- In what is now the lounge - but which was the dining room...
0:10:13 > 0:10:16- ..is the bookcase he made - in around 1901.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- This must have been one of - the first houses in the area...
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- ..to have - gas and electricity supplies.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- There are - some old gas fittings next door.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- The electric fittings may not - be original but they are old.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- This little pendant light - still moves.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40- It may come from the early - 20th century rather than 1895.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- That would explain the need - for gas and electric lights.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- There's no gas next door - which was built a few years later.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54- This was built on the cusp between - the time of gas and electric lights.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- We're not talking about - the National Grid.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00- Llandudno produced - its own electricity.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05- This would also be a novelty - for the Humphreys' dinner guests.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10- Yes, this is a modern house which - even has a downstairs cloakroom...
0:11:10 > 0:11:12- ..and a first floor bathroom.
0:11:13 > 0:11:14- It was a new way of life.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- The house also has central heating.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- Yes, and the radiators still work.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25- It's great to see the old pattern - with a marble shelf above it.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30- It works like a storage radiator - as the stone retains heat overnight.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- It's a great idea.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- The idea was to dine next door, - then withdraw to this room...
0:11:39 > 0:11:41- ..to sit down and relax.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43- Yes, and listen to the pianola.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44- Yes, and listen to the pianola.- - Yes, of course.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45- Yes, and listen to the pianola.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47- They would then ring the bell...
0:11:48 > 0:11:53- ..and tell the maid to bring - the cocktails out to the balcony.
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0:12:49 > 0:12:50- This is Llandudno Pier.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- This is now - Wales's most substantial pier.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- CADW says this is the finest - Victorian pleasure pier in Wales.
0:13:00 > 0:13:01- It's fantastic!
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- You can see the layout and - uniformity of Llandudno from here.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09- Is that the whole point of a pier?
0:13:09 > 0:13:14- This is the only spot from which you - can see the town in all its glory.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15- Yes.
0:13:16 > 0:13:17- Visitors flocked here.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20- People love to - walk up and down the pier.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22- That's what people did.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- Let's head out of town - to Bodysgallen.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- When I was 12, I sailed from - Llandudno pier to the Isle of Man.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54- We've ventured up the hill, - away from Llandudno town centre.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- This hill is between two seas.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01- Yes, and we're here to see - Bodysgallen country house.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- The front part - is the original house.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- It dates back to the Wynn period.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- The Wynn family is famous - in north Wales.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16- Robert Wynn and Katherine, his wife - built this house in 1620.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18- That's the date stone.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- Most of this house - was built by the Mostyn family.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- The Mostyns - have strong links with Llandudno.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- Augusta Mostyn - was a great benefactor of Llandudno.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35- She contributed a lot of money to - its rebuilding in the 19th century.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- When we usually see houses like this - which have been extended...
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- ..we see - they're a bit of a mishmash.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48- That's usually because - they're influenced by many styles.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50- That's not the case here.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55- Augusta Mostyn took a keen interest - in the house's history.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- They built the extensions - and fitted new windows...
0:15:00 > 0:15:01- ..in the original style.
0:15:02 > 0:15:03- It's consistent.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06- Let's take a look inside.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27- This is the main room.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30- It's the solar - from the original house.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36- It's a 17th century room - dressed as a Victorian drawing room.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38- Was this a public room?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40- Was this a public room?- - Yes, as was the ground floor solar.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- The first floor solar - had greater status.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49- This was the Wynn family's - main room in the 17th century.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53- Does everything we see here - date back to 1620?
0:15:54 > 0:15:55- Most of it is original.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01- This room was dressed in Victorian - times, when the Mostyns lived here.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06- The fireplace structure is great - - it's from the Wynn period.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11- Robert Wynn and Katherine Vaughan of - Corsygedol's coats of arms are here.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- The Mostyns added the Latin motto.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- Most of what you see here - is Victorian.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- It's unusual to see another - 17th century fireplace in here.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- Two fireplaces in one room.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28- Why did they do that?
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- Did the second fireplace - have a special function?
0:16:33 > 0:16:34- I have no idea!
0:16:34 > 0:16:38- There's no evidence that this room - was ever subdivided.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44- There's no sign of an old partition, - but they may have used drapes.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- The only guess I have is - that it was a private family area.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- It may have been the Wynns' - private area of this public room.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- We always seem to climb - spiral staircases!
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- We've got to keep you fit, Aled!
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- This is the roof, of course.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- This was once behind the main area - of the original house.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- The main house was down there.
0:17:39 > 0:17:40- What glorious views!
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- Some say the tower - was a lookout for the castle.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- You can see Conwy Castle from here.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53- Yes, some people think - this is a 13th century tower...
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- ..and it was part of Conwy Castle.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- I think it's simply a lookout tower - for this house.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- I'd say this tower was built - by the Wynn family...
0:18:04 > 0:18:06- ..in the early 17th century.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11- Plas Mawr, a fantastic house in - Conwy, was also built by the Wynns.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- It also has a tower - from Tudor times.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52- I happen to know you have - emotional ties with Llandudno, Greg.
0:18:52 > 0:18:53- Or you nearly did!
0:18:53 > 0:18:57- Your parents wanted to buy - that white house at one point.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00- Yes, it's called Villa Marina.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06- It was designed by the architect - who designed 1930s Odeon cinemas.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11- It's fantastic, and my parents came - close to buying it when I was ten.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16- I sulked for a fortnight when - they told me we weren't moving here!
0:19:16 > 0:19:21- I really, really, wanted to live - in that gem of Art Deco design.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- You can see how Llandudno developed - in the 20th century.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- There are grey roofs - on Victorian houses...
0:19:29 > 0:19:34- ..and red roofs on Edwardian times - and the 1920s and 1930s.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40- It's really neat, sandwiched - as it is between these two seas.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- There are still open spaces here.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- Yes, and the town - is still developing.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- Llandudno has a population - of over 20,000.
0:19:50 > 0:19:55- No-one has the right to build on the - agricultural land around the town...
0:19:55 > 0:20:00- ..so people build on fill-in plots, - as we're about to find out.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31- What a stunning view!
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- Yes, you can see across the bay.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39- It's obvious why people were willing - to build on such steep plots.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- It must have been a nightmare - to build this modern house here.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48- The shape of the plot is awkward - and it stands on the bedrock.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- We're just a mile - out of Llandudno...
0:20:51 > 0:20:56- ..but we came over the hill and - we're facing Rhyl and Colwyn Bay.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- Yes, and the views are breathtaking.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02- What makes this such a green design?
0:21:02 > 0:21:04- What makes this such a green design?- - Mainly the way people live in it.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05- What makes this such a green design?
0:21:05 > 0:21:05- From the outside, - we can see the materials.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- From the outside, - we can see the materials.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10- A lot of this wood is reclaimed.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- The new cedarwood - came from a sustainable forest.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- This isn't paint on the plaster - but limewash.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23- We link limewash - with historic houses.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- It's a very sustainable material.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27- How do the owners live?
0:21:47 > 0:21:49- What a fantastic space!
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- Yes, there's a wonderful feel - to this place.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- It's very calm, - with little colour and few details.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- It's all about the view, - so the architecture is simple.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- There are glass doors - down the length of the building.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09- They came from Norway.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12- Norwegians - know how to keep out the cold!
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- This is a really warm house.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- This wood burner - heats the whole house.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- It certainly feels cosy to me.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24- The kitchen is over here.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- Yes, this is a really simple design.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- At the far end of this floor, - we have a study.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32- The owner works from home.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34- That's the office.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- There's also a lounge and a kitchen - on this floor.
0:22:39 > 0:22:40- That's a pantry.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46- There are no windows in there, - so it keeps food cool in the summer.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- It's built against the rock - at the back of the house.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- The bedrooms are above here.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57- This is brilliantly designed - to take advantage of solar gain.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- It's south-facing, - so it lets in heat in the winter.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- The overhang of the roof - prevents overheating in summer.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34- This is really neat!
0:23:34 > 0:23:39- Yes, there are three relatively - small bedrooms in this house.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45- It utilises ceiling height, and is - a great room for one of their sons.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- You can almost use this - as a separate room.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52- Yes, I love this design.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- It's time to go home.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- Yes, let's go home.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43- S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones
0:24:44 > 0:24:44- .