Mum had visited Pensarn on the North Wales coast in 1933, and then the Isle of Man, where they met the Burton family, with whom they took the next holiday to Prestatyn. Mum’s account is brief but lively:-
One of the best holidays that I spent was when we went to a boarding house in Prestatyn along with the Burtons that we had met on the holiday at Port Erin. The boarding house, Carr Holm, was a big red brick three storey house, which is still standing on the road leading to the promenade at Prestatyn, although whether it is still a boarding house I am afraid I have not managed to ascertain. Carr Holm was a typical holiday home of the thirties and it was lovely because everyone mixed with everyone else and the holidaymakers worked out a programme of events I can still see, in my mind’s eye, the very big horses standing outside for the communal horse riding session – I must admit, that I did not mount one of the horses nor did my sister, and my brother Tony was too young to participate. But Michael Burton – the Burtons son – rode off with some of the other children. I can long remember the wonderful fancy dress party and the hours of trying to think of an interesting award-winning outfit – none of us won but it was all good fun. If I remember rightly, we also had a sand drawing competition.
Carr Holm was in Bastion Road, which links the station and the Beach at Prestatyn. Mum was correct that Carr Holm was still standing, and still bearing that name. However, since 1951 it has been a care home; at first owned by Flintshire County Council, and later Clwyd Council, but it passed into private ownership some time after 1979. After the war, it was advertised from February 1948 as “under new Management” – a Mrs Weaver from Leeds – and “nearest hotel to beach”.
It had first been advertised in March 1930, as “Modern; elec; cen htg; nr sea, stn., golf, tennis, etc; soft wtr. installed – tariff Miss Collis”. By 1935 it was advertised as “excellent cuisine. Near sea, Golf, Tennis, Bowls, Riding”. One wonders how the “riding” was arranged. Golf was provided beyond the tennis courts, by Prestatyn Golf Club, which continues.
Miss Collis was still running Carr Holm as a “Private Hotel” in August 1939, but in May 1940 the Liverpool Echo advertised it as “Br-Res or Apts ‘ and “home comforts”.
When it was sold in 2020, the agents stated that “It has previously been a hotel, with the care home retaining many of the 1930s features, including a dining room with decorative coving.” This would be something that Mum would have recognised.
Since the mid-1930s much has changed in the Bastion Road area. The tennis courts were at the end of a small park, which has now been redeveloped as housing. There has been extensive development of caravan parks west of Carr Holm. Two major holiday camps were built nearby at the end of the 1930s; one of these survives. Carr Holm was indeed the nearest hotel to the beach – there was little development between it and the beach, but much has been built since.
4 Sep 2021
Joan Boughey Recalled 