Llandudno at Work

The popular north Wales seaside resort of Llandudno has a surprisingly long and intriguing history that predates the development of the present town, though its influence is still very apparent today. In the mid-nineteenth century major changes saw a new town emerging, one dominated by services for holidaymakers and visitors. Founded by Lord Mostyn and his family, this multifaceted industry embraced hotels, stagecoaches, traditional Punch and Judy, postcard kings, museums, the lifeboat, Bronze Age copper mines and colourful characters such as the famous ‘birdman’ of the early 1900s, to name but a few of those people who have worked – and continue to work – in many and varied ways to serve the tourist industry and the town. Illustrated with a fascinating series of contemporary and rare historical photographs, local author Peter Johnson explores the life of the ‘Queen of the Welsh Resorts’ from its earliest days, through two world wars and into the twenty-first century as Llandudno continues to evolve and thrive as a popular holiday destination.