Yr Olchfa – The Washery

Until the 1970s, Yr Olchfa was an area of grey mine waste left over from washing the lead ore. In 1928, Lord Mostyn offered the land at a peppercorn rent to the Meliden Parish Council to become playing fields but nothing happened except for the building of a short length of bypass road in front of where the toilet bungalow now stands.

Curiosity turned to disbelief when Yr Olchfa was levelled around 1970 because although it was scheduled for gardens, locals discovered that O.A.P. bungalows were going to be built there instead. The keys to 18 new dwellings were handed over to Mr. A. G. Anderson, Chairman of the Prestatyn Urban District Council early in 1971, with Mrs. Generys Powell as the first Warden. Each dwelling provided a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and utility room with warm air heating at 70°F, but the Prestatyn Weekly received critical letters:

An offence to the eye, they are just as much an eyesore as the lead washed waste.

….. this type of bungalow is a disgrace to a decent area.

….. reduced the value of my property by £800.

….. the backs of the dwellings face the road through Brynllys.

Mrs Tyrer responded and reminded them that Yr Olchfa used to look dreadful and asked if would they prefer factories there instead. Most of the tenants were her friends and they were happy and contented because their new houses were practical. Far better than just putting seats on the land for visitors to admire the view! She was right, of course, they had not considered the fact that it kept local elderly folk feeling safe and valued in a community they had known a long time before the detractors arrived. The houses faced the way they did because it kept traffic away from the bedrooms and sitting rooms—and encouraged meeting the neighbours.

Lawrence Roberts, one-time Verger of St. Melyd’s and his wife Mary were the first people to move in. Margaret Reece who lived there from February 1971 described her experiences:

‘It was cold, with no heating available except from a small oil heater. On March 1st. The North Sea Gas moved in as well as the North Wind and from then on we had troubles. The thermostat enjoyed itself noisily producing lots of boiling water at 2 in the morning and none during the daytime so I nearly froze a lot of the time. The Warden did all she could but even she didn’t have a good time either. Now, five years after, we are snug indeed in our our Yr Olchfa bungalows. The Post Office and shops are quite near, also buses to Prestatyn, Rhyl, Dyserth. The doctors who have a group practice in Meliden are available at any time. Our intercom is handy and we can use the Warden’s ‘phone if necessary.

‘Some of us have hobbies, sewing, embroidery, painting, photography, modelling etc. Meals on Wheels and Home Helps can be had for the housebound. So life goes on and we say “Thank you” to all the people who have helped us. Old age is not what we enjoy but it come whether we like it or not and we have to put up with it. I’s like to think that in the future all elderlies will be made comfortable in the last years of their lives