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BBC Homepage Holywell and Greenfield Home Valley Circular Walk through time in the Greenfield Valley. Explore the ruins of old mills and factories and discover the history of a once important BBC Local site of industry. More ... North East Wales Forest sculpture at the Greenfield To start the walk click 'next' below Things to do Valley trail entrance the table. People & Places Nature & Outdoors Walk details History Religion & Ethics Start point: Bankplace car park, B5121, Arts & Culture Holywell town centre © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Music BBC licence number 100019855, 2004. Greenfield Valley Heritage 01352 714172 TV & Radio Click to enlarge Park Local BBC Sites News Ordnance Survey: Explorer 265, Landranger Print map Print this page Sport 116 - SJ186760 Print the entire walk Weather Distance: 5 km walking Travel Time: approx. 1.5 hours Neighbouring Sites Nature Liverpool Holywell town Extra info: Mid Wales Walks To see what the symbols mean, please North West Wales visit the key More walks through time Related BBC Sites More on nature in Wales Wales Cymru Gogledd Ddwyrain 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Greenfield Valley Heritage Park Next Walk about Walk Your Way to Health More info Countryside Council for Wales Take in the waters at St Winefride's Well and enjoy the ruins of Basingwerke . Along the way look out for The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites buzzards, peregrine and sparrowhawk as you pass through the oak and beech woods. There are a wealth of birds to be found in the valley - listen out for their song.

Getting there By Bus: From the bus station make your way to Bank Place car park which is the start of the walk and the old More walks & places to visit in the British Isles and amazing wildlife. Holywell railway line. For bus times to and from Holywell Find another walk through time call 08706 082608 or click here for online information - Explore wildlife habitats with 360 www.traveline-cymru.org.uk. panoramas The TV series: By Car: Park in Bank Place car park, just off B5121 in British Isles, a Natural History Holywell town centre, walk down the hill and under the old bride.

Directions to Bank Place car park: From A55 take the Holywell turnoff (Junction 32a) and follow A5026 into Holywell ( Road). At the traffic lights turn right and Get more from your walk, with the follow the road north. The road sweeps round Holywell Open University. town centre, passes a sign for the hospital and you turn Get active - right into Bank Place car park under the barrier. join the Great Snail Hunt What does that mean? - From Denbighshire: Follow A548 (coast road) through a natural history glossary and turn right up Greenfields Road (B5121) Get into nature - the science you need to know signposted for Holywell. Pass St Winefride's Well on the How do they know that? - left and continue to the top of the hill. Turn left and then explore nature's secrets take the 2nd left into Bank Place car park under the Become a Landscape Detective - barrier. Free Leaflets!

From Flint: Follow A548 (coast road) turning left at sign for Holywell (A5026) and go up Coleshill Street. At the top of the road turn right, pass the sign for the hospital and then take the next right into Bank Place car park under the barrier.

Walk conditions The disused railway line is now an all terrain path. There are a couple of steep muddy paths down to the mills and weirs, and a number of detours suitable for buggies and wheelchair users. The return route has a slow but steady incline and wheelchair users may need assistance.

Health & safety information

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BBC Homepage History around Holywell Wales Home Starting from the car park just off B5121 in Holywell town centre, head down along the path of the old railway track towards the double archway which bridges BBC Local the parkland. North East Wales Head under the archways Things to do People & Places 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nature & Outdoors Previous Next History The geology of Holywell and Greenfield Valley was formed in Religion & Ethics the last Ice Age. The spring that rises at St Winefride's Well Arts & Culture that has been a place of religious significance since the 8th © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Music century, and the water from the spring has contributed to BBC licence number 100019855, 2004. TV & Radio the area's rich industrial past. Click to enlarge Local BBC Sites News Large scale activity began in Print map Print this page Sport the late 16th century, when Print the entire walk Weather early industrialists attempted Travel to utilise lead and other ore deposits found within the Neighbouring Sites surrounding limestone rock. Nature Liverpool Holywell town Mid Wales Their efforts were not wholly Walks North West Wales successful however, and Brian Shropshire Taylor, Chairman of the Friends of the Greenfield Valley Related BBC Sites Association, explains what happened: Wales Cymru "In 1590, Samuel Flete smelted lead with charcoal, causing Gogledd Ddwyrain fumes which de-nuded trees, killed fish and animals and More walks & places to visit in the caused a local nuisance. Local landowners and tradesmen British Isles and amazing wildlife. demolished these buildings. A similar event took place in Find another walk through time 1733 when Madam Kaye used a similar process but was Explore wildlife habitats with 360 closed down as a result of law suits brought principally by panoramas the Mostyns." The TV series: British Isles, a Natural History The height of prosperity for Holywell Town and the Greenfield Valley was around 1800. Holywell was the largest town in Flintshire with over 5,500 people living in the parish. There were over 60 shops, 20 inns and beer houses, and a post office. Get more from your walk, with the By the later part of 18th Open University. century the valley had Get active - join the Great Snail Hunt factories running from St What does that mean? - Winefride's Well down to the a natural history glossary wharf at Greenfield, including Get into nature - corn, paper and cotton mills, the science you need to know copper-rolling and wire mills, How do they know that? - and a brass-making works. explore nature's secrets Become a Landscape Detective - Water power Free Leaflets!

The water power in Greenfield Valley comes from the Holywell Stream; this was first harnessed by the monks at - using it firstly for fuelling mills and the grinding of corn.

The Industrial Revolution brought great advances in engineering, producing machinery that could harness water energy which greatly increased productivity and profits.

Water was the cheapest and most consistent form of power known at the time and could be used and reused as it passed down the valley. The Holywell stream provided water at a constant flow and temperature throughout the year.

The water from Holywell stream, the distance to the coast and the proximity of the port of Liverpool were major factors in the success of the milling and processing industries in the area.

The railway

This walk follows the old route of the standard gauge railway that ran down the valley. It was built in 1869 to revive industry in the area.

In 1912 it became a full passenger service known as the 'Little Train' and was the steepest conventional passenger railway in Great Britain. The line was eventually closed in 1954.

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BBC Homepage St Winefride's Well Wales Home At the fork in the path, turn back towards the left and go through the kissing gate. Continue along the path though the yard, and turn left on to the road to St BBC Local Winefride's Well. North East Wales The Chapel complex at St Winefride's Things to do Well People & Places Nature & Outdoors 1 2 3 4 5 6 History Previous Next Religion & Ethics Brian Taylor, Chairman of The Friends of the Greenfield Arts & Culture Valley Association, explains some of the well's history: © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Music BBC licence number 100019855, 2004. TV & Radio "St. Winefrides Well is a 7th century religious site. This being Click to enlarge continuously a place of pilgrimage with royal connections to Local BBC Sites News today and is known as the Lourdes of Wales." Print map Print this page Sport "The castle that was built above the Holy Well - a small Print the entire walk Weather motte and bailey, not much more than a guard post - was Travel built by Ranulf III, 1210c and lasted only a Neighbouring Sites year or two and was intended for the protection of pilgrims. Nature Liverpool Henry II rebuilt Basingwerk Castle 1157 and stayed there Holywell town Mid Wales whilst visiting the well." Walks North West Wales Shropshire Through the ages

Related BBC Sites The well remained popular Wales throughout skirmishes Cymru between the Welsh and Gogledd Ddwyrain More walks & places to visit in the English, and pilgrims British Isles and amazing wildlife. continued to visit the waters Find another walk through time during Protestant and Catholic Explore wildlife habitats with 360 monarchies alike. Various panoramas attempts were made to discourage visitors, including the The TV series: closing of all lodging houses and inns during 1636 but these British Isles, a Natural History were largely unsuccessful.

The chapel complex was built around 1490, with many parts surviving today. In 1686 James II visited the well, and ordered that repairs were made after the complex was vandalised during the Civil War. It was subject to neglect Get more from your walk, with the again during the early 18th century, but regained popularity Open University. during the latter part of the century as a tourist attraction. Get active - join the Great Snail Hunt What does that mean? - 1 2 3 4 5 6 a natural history glossary Previous Next Get into nature - the science you need to know How do they know that? - explore nature's secrets Become a Landscape Detective - Free Leaflets! 2 April 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Mills and ponds Wales Home Return to the kissing gate, and rejoin the path to the left. From here you can see the first view of the mill ponds and works.

BBC Local North East Wales The pond at Greenfield Mills Things to do People & Places 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nature & Outdoors Previous Next History At the path junction, take the steps to the left hand side Religion & Ethics down to the Meadow millpond and weir. Continue down the Arts & Culture steps past the Old Meadow Mill remains to the gates below. © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Music BBC licence number 100019855, 2004. TV & Radio Chair and buggy users can avoid the steps by taking the Click to enlarge Local BBC Sites smaller path to the left and rejoining the walk at the gates. News Print map Print this page Sport Copper processing Print the entire walk Weather Brian Taylor, Chairman of the Greenfield Valley Association, Travel explains the significance of copper to the Greenfield Valley: Neighbouring Sites Nature Liverpool "The copper process during the 17th - Holywell town Mid Wales 18th centuries had a profound influence Walks North West Wales on Britain's trade and was mainly the Shropshire result of one man - Thomas Williams - The Copper King. As a result of copper Related BBC Sites Wales being found and mined at Anglesey in 1768, he founded the Parys Mine Co. in Cymru 1774, taking the ore to St Helens or Gogledd Ddwyrain More walks & places to visit in the Swansea for smelting." British Isles and amazing wildlife. Find another walk through time "The copper ingots then came to Explore wildlife habitats with 360 Greenfield Valley to be made into panoramas Neptunes or saltpans and items for the The TV series: slave trade, and more importantly, into copper bolts and British Isles, a Natural History sheets. The bolts were made to a secret formula, which many countries, including Holland, France and Germany tried to steal, held copper sheets to the hulls of wooden ships. "

"The sheets prevented the torada worm from eating into the hull and causing the bottom to fall out of the ship. Both the Get more from your walk, with the Royal and merchant navies had copper bottomed ships and Open University. it is credited that due to this practice the ships were faster Get active - and more manoeuvrable at Trafalgar, giving Nelson his join the Great Snail Hunt victory." What does that mean? - a natural history glossary "Copper sheets from the hull of HMS Victory can be seen at Get into nature - the science you need to know the museum in the Heritage Park. The sheets, pots and pans How do they know that? - etc. were produced at both the Greenfield (Battery) Mill and explore nature's secrets Meadow Mill, Meadow Mill also later produced a patented Become a Landscape Detective - printing roller for printing onto muslin and other cloths. The Free Leaflets! copper industry of Greenfield Valley certainly put GREAT into Great Britain."

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BBC Homepage Greenfield Valley Wales Home Continue along past the second mill pond joining the tarmac road, past Lower Cotton Mill, Abbey Mill Pond and Wire Mill. Turn right at the Environment Centre BBC Local through an open gateway North East Wales Abbey Mill Pond onto the track leading though Things to do to the Greenfield Valley Site. People & Places Nature & Outdoors 1 2 3 4 5 6 History Previous Next Religion & Ethics The Greenfield Valley has seven national heritage Arts & Culture monuments - more than any other area of its size. Today, © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Music priorities in valley have changed; industry is no longer the BBC licence number 100019855, 2004. TV & Radio driving force and the area has become a place of recreation. Click to enlarge

Local BBC Sites A museum, environmental News Print map centre, and farm provide Print this page Sport opportunities for visitors to Print the entire walk Weather learn about the industrial Travel heritage of the area. An old Neighbouring Sites village school has been Nature Liverpool reconstructed on the site, and Holywell town Mid Wales information boards along the Walks North West Wales valley walk give details of the Shropshire various mills and manufacturing processes.

Related BBC Sites The valley is managed by the Greenfield Valley Trust under Wales and agreement with Flintshire County Council, providing the Cymru locals as well visitors with a unique glimpse into the past. Gogledd Ddwyrain More walks & places to visit in the British Isles and amazing wildlife. The old millponds and buildings of the Find another walk through time Greenfield Valley create a haven for Explore wildlife habitats with 360 wildlife, and the valley sides support a panoramas semi-natural woodland of mostly oak The TV series: and beech, with a host of flora and British Isles, a Natural History fauna.

To date, 107 species of bird and over 20 species of butterfly have been counted in the valley. During the winter months Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Get more from your walk, with the Grebe, Pintail and Mandarin Duck can be Open University. spotted on the ponds. Early morning Get active - visitors can include Common Sandpipers, Cormorants, and join the Great Snail Hunt Heron. What does that mean? - a natural history glossary The woodland areas contain all Get into nature - three British Woodpeckers, the science you need to know and five species of Tit can be How do they know that? - explore nature's secrets seen.. Buzzards, Peregrine, Sparrow Hawk, Merlin, Kestrel, Become a Landscape Detective - Free Leaflets! and Red Kite may be spotted circling the skies, and there is a resident Tawny owl. Along the stream, look for Dipper, Water Rail, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher.

In the summer months the woods are alive with bird song including Grasshopper Warblers, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. In the late summer Swallows, Swifts and Martins can be seen Darting around.

In the ponds there are carp, and eel that are reputedly 3 feet long. In and around the woods are Pipistrelle, Horseshoe and Daubenton's bats, squirrels, stoats, weasels and hedgehog.

The butterflies of the valley are logged weekly during the period March to October as part of the national Butterfly Conservation survey and twenty species have already been seen including:- Purple Hairstreak, Brimstone, Small Copper, Small and Large Skippers, Holly and Common Blue. There are also several species of Dragonfly including Common Darter and Common Blue Damselfly.

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BBC Homepage Basingwerk Abbey Wales Home Continue past the Abbey, and take the right fork as the road bends to the left. Follow the path up over the bridge to rejoin the old railway track path. Continue straight along BBC Local the track, returning to the North East Wales Basingwerk Abbey car park. Things to do People & Places 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nature & Outdoors Previous History Basingwerk Abbey was founded in 1131 as a house of Religion & Ethics Benedictine monks from the Savigny district of France - it Arts & Culture became Cistercian in 1147. The Abbey was a place where © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Music pilgrims were looked after whilst visiting the well, and was BBC licence number 100019855, 2004. TV & Radio protected by Royal Charter. Click to enlarge Local BBC Sites News The building of the Abbey led to the development of the Print map Print this page Sport thriving economic and artistic in Greenfield Print the entire walk Weather Valley. The monks were the first to harness the Holywell Travel stream using it to power mills and grind corn. There were also malt houses, weekly markets and annual fairs. Neighbouring Sites Nature Liverpool When Henry VIII ordered the Holywell town Mid Wales dissolution of the monasteries Walks North West Wales in 1536, large sections of Shropshire Basingwerk Abbey were View a panoramic of the Abbey! Related BBC Sites dismantled. The site was later Wales granted to Henry ap Harry of Cymru Llansana, whose daughter Gogledd Ddwyrain married one of the Mostyns of The Greenfield Valley Heritage Park . During the 18th The BBC is not responsible for the century, the Mostyn family made part of the abbey content of external websites habitable, although it subsequently fell into disuse.

Stone from the abbey was used to build the first cotton mill, after which the site was left undisturbed as industry in the valley developed.

Before walking back along the old railway track take a look More walks & places to visit in the at the wooden sculptured gates - part of the Millennium British Isles and amazing wildlife. Sculpture Trail, and as you return to Holywell enjoy the Find another walk through time tranquillity that the valley affords today! Explore wildlife habitats with 360 panoramas The TV series: Thanks to: Brian Taylor, Chairman of British Isles, a Natural History the Friends of Greenfield Valley Association; Alistair Hemphill, Senior Warden of The Greenfield Valley Heritage Park; and to Ray Cooper, Roy Bennett and Sarah Massey from 'Walk about Flintshire' project. 'Walk about Get more from your walk, with the Flintshire' is part of the national 'Walk Open University. Get active - Your Way to Health' scheme. join the Great Snail Hunt For a more detailed history of the What does that mean? - a natural history glossary Greenfield Valley, read 'The Greenfield Get into nature - Valley - an introduction to the history the science you need to know and industrial archaeology of the Greenfield Valley, Holywell, How do they know that? - North Wales' by K Davies and CJ Williams (1986). explore nature's secrets Become a Landscape Detective - There are regular guided bird-watching and industrial Free Leaflets! heritage tours of the area, which are led by volunteers of The Friends of the Greenfield Valley Association.

To find out more about the birds in the valley visit the Newsletter.

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