Dyserth

Dyserth (Welsh: Diserth) is a village, community and electoral ward in Denbighshire, Wales. Its population at the 2011 United Kingdom census was 2,269 and remained an estimated 2,271 in 2019.[1][2] It lies within the historic county boundaries of Flintshire. Its main features are extensive quarrying remains, waterfalls and a mountain (Moel Hiraddug). Its railway line, formerly part of the London and North Western Railway, closed in 1930 and is now a footpath.

Dyserth

Church of St Brigid
Dyserth
Location within Denbighshire
Population2,269 (2011)
OS grid referenceSJ056789
Community
  • Dyserth
Principal area
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townRHYL
Postcode districtLL18
Dialling code01745
PoliceNorth Wales
FireNorth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
Dyserth Waterfall in the late 19th century

Overview

Dyserth is mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086 as follows, it being at the time listed under Cheshire:[3]

Ad hoc manerium ROELENT jacent hae berewiches, DISSAREN BODUGAN CHILVEN et MAENEVAL. In his est terra i carrucata tantum et silva i leuva longa et dimidia lata. Ibi est francigena et ii villani habent i caracutas. To this manor of Rhuddlan belong these berewicks, DYSERTH BODEGAN (1.5 m ENE of St Asaph) CHILVAN (?) and MAENEFA (?). In these the land is 1 carucate only, and there is a wood 1 league long and a half wide. One foreign woman and 2 villeins have 1 carucate there.

Dyserth also had a nearby castle, which suffered at the hands of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd; destroyed after a six-week siege in 1263. The remains of the castle were quarried away during World War I.

The oldest industry in the village and surrounding area is mining, with lead, copper and limestone just some of the minerals being mined locally in the past. These quarries are still visible and form a major part of the village's geography, though mining ceased when Dyserth Quarry closed in 1981.

Traditionally, there has been a strong Welsh language speaking community in the village and until recent times many families and village folk knew, or knew of, each other. This is typical of a rural community whose life often centred on its many churches and chapels. Many of the village's families have their roots in agriculture, with many notable farms in or around Dyserth, including Hottia, Bryn Cnewyllyn and Ty Newydd.

A recent drive to enhance village pride again has had some success, through village-based events and organisations. Local work has gone into sprucing up the High Street and other parts of the village. It has several community and environmental organisations, some with a long history: Dyserth & District Field Club was founded in 1911. The village recently received an apposite grant from the National Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund to refurbish the community hall.

Places of worship

The village has a Grade II* listed Church in Wales church dedicated to St Brigit of Kildare.[4] It is believed that the Celtic monk Cwyfan founded a place of worship near the Dyserth Waterfall. The church is notable for a Jesse Window dating from the 16th century. The church's sister parishes are the villages of Trelawnyd and Cwm. The Vicar is Canon Robert Rowland.[5]

Dyserth Chapel, in Dyserth High Street, built in 1927, also has stained glass.[6] It houses the English-speaking Horeb United Reformed Church. It has been running a Community Food cooperative since 2007.[7]

Railway
Main article: Dyserth branch line

The Dyserth branch line was opened by the London and North Western Railway in 1869 to tap limestone quarries and a lead mine. A passenger, parcels and goods service was introduced in 1905 to serve local needs and an expanding holiday industry. The company designed and built a single carriage, steam-powered Motor Train for such lines, with the Dyserth Branch using the first example.[8][9] The passenger service was a success before the First World War. Services were doubled and an additional unit provided for the motor trains. After the war the motor trains were replaced by locomotive-propelled push-pull trains.[10] Road competition and the 1926 General Strike ate into profits, leading the London, Midland and Scottish Railway to withdraw the passenger service in 1930.[8]

The line remained open for minerals, parcels and general goods until the end of November 1951, when parcels and general goods traffic ended, leaving just coal to Dyserth and limestone products from a quarry in that village. Coal traffic ended in May 1964, with lime and limestone traffic continuing until the line officially closed completely on 7 September 1973,[11][12] although at least two special trains took stone away in 1974.

The tracks were lifted in 1980,[13] with the former trackbed now converted into a mixed-use footpath and bridleway.

References
  1. "Ward/community population 2011". Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  2. City Population site. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/cheshire3.html
  4. Listed site. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Dyserth. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  7. Chapel site. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  8. Rear 2003, p. 51.
  9. Goodall 2003, pp. 60-64.
  10. Rear 2003, p. 47.
  11. Mitchell & Smith 2011, Plate 120.
  12. "Visit Prestatyn – Railway Line History". Visit Prestatyn.
  13. Rear 2003, p. 48.

Bibliography
  • Goodall, Stephen P. (2003). The Prestatyn and Dyserth Branch Line. Headington: Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-313-8. LP 160.
  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2011). Chester to Rhyl, including the Holywell Town and Dyserth Branches. Midland Main Lines. Midhurst: Middleton Press (MD). ISBN 978-1-906008-93-2.
  • Rear, W. G. (2003). From Chester to Holyhead : The Branch Lines. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-86093-569-8.
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