Greenfield, Flintshire
Encyclopedia
Greenfield 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.
. 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 of a new wave of heavy industries in the 1960s by becoming home to Courtaulds
the rayon
and nylon
factory.
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. Many of the museum's buildings were moved stone by stone from the surrounding area, including an old school house.
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 over 100 years old, was demolished in 2003. A new school was built to replace it, but in a different part of Greenfield. Both the old and new schools were named Ysgol Maesglas.
Holywell
Holywell is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.-History:The market town of Holywell takes its name from the St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, north-east Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, located on the edge of the River Dee
River Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
estuary. At the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, it had a population of 2,741.
History
Greenfield is best known for its history of papermakingPapermaking
Papermaking is the process of making paper, a substance which is used universally today for writing and packaging.In papermaking a dilute suspension of fibres in water is drained through a screen, so that a mat of randomly interwoven fibres is laid down. Water is removed from this mat of fibres by...
. A paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
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
St Winefride's Well
St Winefride's Well is a holy well located in Holywell, in Flintshire in North Wales. It is the oldest continually visited pilgrimage site in Great Britain....
. The speed this site developed was one of the reasons that Greenfield is still linked with the start of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
. 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
Industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology, like other branches of archaeology, is the study of material culture from the past, but with a focus on industry. Strictly speaking, industrial archaeology includes sites from the earliest times to the most recent...
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 of a new wave of heavy industries in the 1960s by becoming home to Courtaulds
Courtaulds
Courtaulds was a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of fabric, clothing, artificial fibres, and chemicals.-Foundation:The Company was founded by George Courtauld and his cousin Peter Taylor in 1794 as a silk, crepe and textile business at Pebmarsh in north Essex trading as George Courtauld & Co...
the rayon
Rayon
Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic or artificial fiber. Rayon is known by the names viscose rayon and art silk in the textile industry...
and nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
factory.
Greenfield's oldest building is Basingwerk Abbey
Basingwerk Abbey
Basingwerk Abbey is the ruin of an abbey near Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, in the care of Cadw .The abbey was founded in 1132 by Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester, who brought Benedictine monks from Savigny Abbey in southern Normandy. In 1147, the abbey became part of the Cistercian Order and...
, founded circa 1132 by Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester
Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester
Ranulf II was an Anglo-Norman potentate who inherited the honour of the palatine county of Chester upon the death of his father Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester...
. It was an important monastic centre in north Wales; both Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and Dafydd ap Llywelyn
Dafydd ap Llywelyn
Dafydd ap Llywelyn was Prince of Gwynedd from 1240 to 1246. He was for a time recognised as Prince of Wales.- Descent :...
were patrons. In 1536, abbey life came to an end with the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. In ruins since the time of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, it is in the care of Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
(Welsh Heritage). The ruins are now part of Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, with the adjacent grounds home to an agricultural museum. Many of the museum's buildings were moved stone by stone from the surrounding area, including an old school house.
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
Gatso
Gatso is the brand that Gatsometer BV use on their traffic enforcement cameras, most notably their speed cameras and red light cameras. The most commonly encountered Gatso speed cameras emit radar beams to measure the speed of a passing vehicle...
speed camera, on the A548 road leading to Bagillt
Bagillt
Bagillt is a small town near Holywell in Flintshire, North Wales. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 3,918.-History:http://stmarysbagillt.co.uk/...
, near the old disused railway bridge. It was voted the worst-placed speed camera in the UK by the Association of British Drivers
Association of British Drivers
The Association of British Drivers , founded in 1992, is a British motorists' advocacy group."The Association of British Drivers" is the sole operating name of "Pro-Motor", a company limited by guarantee and registered in the United Kingdom....
, despite the fact that until 2009 Arrive Alive
Arrive Alive
Arrive Alive is the title of an unfinished comedy film starring Willem Dafoe and Joan Cusack, directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and produced by Art Linson.The story concerns a hotel manager and his girlfriend involved in various scams...
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 over 100 years old, was demolished in 2003. A new school was built to replace it, but in a different part of Greenfield. Both the old and new schools were named Ysgol Maesglas.