BDHG Visits and Trips

Llangollen Railway

September 2023

On a pleasant afternoon in late September, we enjoyed a relaxing rail journey on the Llangollen Railway, which is the only standard gauge heritage railway in North Wales. After arriving at the recently completed station at Corwen, we paid a brief visit to the town and returned to Llangollen, appreciating the beautiful scenery of the Dee Valley.

World of Glass, St Helens

August 2023

In August, we discovered the story which made the town of St Helens a world leader in the manufacture of glass. The impressive, recently refurbished museum explained the history of glass making, with artefacts dating back to Ancient Egypt from 3000 years BC on display. We stepped back into the Victorian town to see what life in St Helens was like in those days. We explored the underground tunnels and the glass making furnace, where glass was blown in large cylinders before being cut, flattened and polished into sheets. After lunch in the new restaurant, we observed a fascinating demonstration of glass blowing.

Group Visit to Bury

May 2023

For our first trip of the year we visited Bury, where a steam train ride to Rawtenstall from Bury was enjoyed by 43 of our members.

During the morning, some of the party visited the Transport Museum while others spent time in search of the world famous Bury Black Pudding.

A Trip to Welshpool

August 2022

Group members visited Welshpool on a sunny day in late August. A two hour trip on the Llanfaircaereinion heritage steam railway showed us the beautiful Mid Wales countryside at its best. The Zillertal locomotive which had arrived in Wales on hire from the Zillertalbahn in Austria, took us on our two hour journey. The afternoon was spent at Powis Castle, built in the thirteenth century by the Welsh Prince Gruffydd rather than by a Norman baron. Our more energetic members walked in the spectacular Italianate terraced gardens while the Clive Museum, which displays several of the acquisitions of Robert Clive, provided interest to others.

Shrewsbury Gaol and Boat Trip

April 2022

Broughton District History Group members enjoyed an interesting visit to Shrewsbury in April 2022. A walking tour of Shrewsbury Gaol was conducted by a retired prison officer who provided a comprehensive history of the prison, including several amusing anecdotes. A pleasant boat trip on The Sabrina, between the two Severn bridges, completed an enjoyable day trip.