Local Councillor R V Williams  and John Dean have co-produced a number of booklets about the events and archive material relating to the Town of Connah's Quay.

These books are available at a modest cost from various outlets

libraries, Deeside Community hospital etc. The monies raised

through his literary efforts are donated to the Deeside

Community Hospital - League of Friends.

List of works to date include:- (Latest update this page 11 Jan 2007)

CONNAH'S QUAY - A CIVIC CENTURY              £4. 50

"The life and times of the town and it people - 1896-1996

(as seen through the minutes and decisions of the Former Urban District

and present Town Council"

KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING    cover                £3.00

"An account of every day events, anxieties and the stoicism of life

 on the Deeside home front."

"A story of blackouts, rationing, evacuees, females engaged in

"men's work", fuel shortages, even G.I. brides and a concentration camp."

A GREAT NUMBER OF STRANGERS     cover             £3.00

"Deeside Stories from the Census 1901 - a revealing of changes to its

 society that are far greater than possibly anywhere else in the country.

A society in sudden transition, a decline in seafaring and the arrival of

 a new steelmaking Community."

The Old Quay House and Riverbank Tales      cover        £3.00

"A history of the Old Quay House, which in many ways is also a history of

 Connah's Quay itself.  A rich tale unfolds of ships and sailors, railways,

 inquests, friendly societies and tragedies.  1731 - 1914."

The Farfield Hall Story         cover                                  £3.00

"Swallows and twilight bats from the still standing stables, the brook (now

 piped in and no longer visible), the wilderness of the once walled flower

 garden, the huge dwindling trees and the neo-gothic Victorian

 extravaganza of the Hall itself have all cast their spell."

"This is the story of the Davidson family, three generations of Deeside

 landowners, brick makers, ship owners, railway builders and personal

 devotions to the church, politics, the army and indeed any cause related

 to  the prosperity of Connah's Quay."

Connah's Quay's Footballing History up to 1914  cover   £3.00

"Connah's Quay's first formal football ground was discovered on an

 Ordnance Survey map of Connah's Quay, dated 1910, with its large

 grandstand at the rear of the Half Way Hotel.  Just as today they suffered

 financial difficulties, professionalism, crowd invasions, violence and bad

 language on the one hand but the excitement of cup victories, star players,

 social occasions and derby matches on the other which readers will find

 fascinating."

Connah's Quay and Shotton's Footballing History 1918 to 1939      cover                                                                               £3.00

"As the title suggests this covers the footballing history of Connah's Quay

 and Shotton and is an intriguing read."

The Quay Collection                                                       £3.00

This is a collection of a number of Short Historial Stories of Connah's Quay

and includes the following:-

The Mormons of Connah's Quay     cover                       

"This book begins with an entry in St. Mark's diary of 1863 where the

 Vicar had written - "Today, John Bennett and family, Mormons, sailed for

 Salt Lake City", and tells the story of their epic journey."

The Dee Tunnel       cover                                              

"A story of how water was brought from the Welsh hills to Birkenhead, the

 Dee Tunnel of 1921 being the final piece in the jigsaw."

Connah's Quay and H.M.S. Tuscan    cover                   

"This a short history of the "Tuscan" and especially its connection with

 Connah's Quay."

Boy's Experience as a German Prisoner of War 1915

Quay Poetry           cover                                                  £2.00

"Poetry is a beautiful way to express our feelings about any subject; this is

 no less with Connah's Quay and its surrounding area.  A selection of

 poems, some by residents and all about Connah's Quay."

Trilogy of Wepre Hall not to be missed

The Great Estate (The Early Years) Wepre Hall                 £3.00

The first part of the trilogy covering the families and activities at Wepre Hall - the GREAT ESTATE. The acreage of the estate dwarfed all the other estates in the township. It reflects the history of the period. Inevitably there are gaps and assumptions as not all the details were chronicled.

The Great Estate (The Middle Years) Wepre Hall                 £3.00

Book 2  covers the years between 1815 - 1888 with the sale of the estate in 1864 when the fortunes of Wepre Hall changed with it's second dynasty - the Freme's of liverpool

The Great Estate (The Final Years) Wepre Hall                   £3.00

Book 3 the final chapter in the trilogy and final demise of Wepre Hall and the various uses.

Kelsterton Hall and the Bate Family                                £3.00

The story begins before the building of the Hall when the area was a settlement (hiding hole)  for - yes the Vikings. The name Kelsterton is believed to be Nordic word Kel- spine of ship, ster men, ton a settlement. Intrigued, then buy the book and read some more fascinating history about Kelsterton Hall.

Let's Go to the Pictures                                                       £3.00

1st published Nov 2006

 The Alhambra, Hippodrome, Picture Palace, Vaughn Hall, The Cosy, Palais de Dans , Ritz and Plaza all names associated with the variety and wealth of entertainment on Deeside. This pre-dates television, DVD CD and videos when the various establishments provided live music hall and films, when literally thousands flocked to Deeside by train and bus to be entertained. This book is part 1 of the history of the "lost cinemas of Deeside"

Let's Go to the Pictures (Part Two)                                            £3.00

If you enjoyed Part 1, then you will thoroughly enjoy Part 2, the final curtain to the demise of the picture houses and the competition they had to encounter - TV, bingo etc.

We'll Meet Again - Deeside 1937 - 1945                                      £3.00

This booklet illustrates the Deeside camaraderie and shows how the local community re-acted to Winston Churchill's statement in the House of Commons

"we must be united, we must be undaunted,

we must be inflexible etc."

This was Deeside's "finest hour"  in response and the booklet tells the tales.

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