Gwesbyr

Overlooking the approaches to the mouths of the Dee and Mersey estuaries, the station was primarily used in a surface and coastal watching role, plotting ship movements, and keeping a close watch for enemy submarines. The station was one of only four other stations, all of which were in northern Scotland, and was only operational for a short time between December 1942 and October 1944. It was equipped with a type T273 Coastal Defence centimetric radar using a rotating parabolic dish antenna. Some of the buildings associated with the station still survive, albeit as ruins. The base of what was the guard picket post can be seen here in the foreground at the entrance to the site. SJ1083 : WWII defences of North Wales: Gwespyr Royal Naval Radar Station (2)

Two buildings, the one on the left housed the T273 naval CD transmitter/receiver equipment, and on the right, the radar plinth that contained turning gear for a rotating antenna on the roof within the circular brick parapet. SJ1083 : WWII defences of North Wales: Gwespyr Royal Naval Radar Station (3)

The Tx/Rx building. SJ1083 : WWII defences of North Wales: Gwespyr Royal Naval Radar Station (4)

Radar plinth, the building that housed the turning gear for a roof mounted parabolic antenna. SJ1083 : WWII defences of North Wales: Gwespyr Royal Naval Radar Station (5)

Standby power generator building. SJ1083 : WWII defences of North Wales: Gwespyr Royal Naval Radar Station (6)

Remains of the Army guard accommodation. START: SJ1083 : WWII defences of North Wales: Gwespyr Royal Naval Radar Station (1)

CH8 29. Royal Mail list this box as 'Tan Y Coed'.

Mike Owens' sculpture of a coalminer and pit pony is pulling a real truck of nutty slack (presumably decent-sized lumps of coal would be too liable to theft). Unveiled in 1997, the work commemorates the last deep pit in the Flint and Denbigh coalfield, closed in 1996. I'm not convinced that the red bow tie is a wholly authentic bit of history - perhaps it has been added later by someone other than the original creator?

Esso, Gwespyr. This photograph is part of a series taken in homage to the American artist Ed Ruscha's 1963 publication of 'Twentysix Gasoline Stations'. More properly known as filling stations in the UK, I am attempting to photograph as many as possible to mark the sixty year anniversary.

Set in a strong fence tipped with sharp prongs, we had to scale this gate to escape from the industrial and scrapyard area behind. This is a new barrier, and has appeared in the last year or two. The area north of here used to be the derelict railway sidings of the old Point of Ayr Colliery.

Gronant Dunes SSSI is home to animals such as Natterjack Toads, sand lizards and Little Terns. Gronant Link

Wood sculpture of a sand lizard by Mike Owens.

Sign in Presthaven Sands Holiday Park showing four steps to caravan ownership.