Big Wood

The A5119 splits here with the main section continuing northwards to the left. A short spur branches off to the right to meet the A494 Mold Bypass at New Brighton.

Sheep grazing unperturbed by Storm Eunice.

Now a wedding venue, Soughton Hall is a Grade II* Listed country house built in 1720 and remodelled in 1820 by its then incumbent William John Bankes. It was designed by Sir Charles Barry (who later went on to design the Houses of Parliament). SJ2467 : Soughton Hall - Northop (2)

now a hotel

Built as a Bishop's Palace in 1714, Soughton Hall was the home to a succession of heirs in the Wynne-Bankes family line. It is now a luxury hotel see Link

Aerial view taken from light aircraft.

This magnificent example of good 1960's architecture was the old Shire Hall or county hall building for the then new county of Clwyd in the 1974 local governemnt reorganisation. It really must have been something to work here in the late '60's and 1970's. Now it houses Flintshire's local governemnt administration - but the building is massive, this being just the front block, with a further arrangement of wings and attached blocks behind. Furthermore it forms just a part of a complex with the magistrates or law courts and the theatre on the hill, the whole forming a huge civic centre type 'ghetto' - totally detached from the town of Mold. Geographically detached anyway.

A faceless bureaucracy.gov.uk? Part of the massive county hall of Clwyd, now housing Flintshire County Council. I don't think it is a coincidence that you get a good 1960's block housing government. I don't know if this place has 'sick building syndrome' but it looks wonderful from the exterior.

A theatre and arts complex housing two theatres, multi-function rooms, a cinema and previously known as Theatr Clwyd. Built by 1976 and still going strong. Looks like it would grace any major city.

This artwork was in the subway between the theatre car park and the theatre itself. Whilst it wasn't great art, it did brighten up the walk through to the theatre. However, by 2013 it had been removed and is now replaced with mirrors along both walls: SJ2465 : Mirrors in Theatr Clwyd Cymru subway

The infinity mirrors that line the subway between the car park and the theatre are a fairly recent innovation, replacing the previous artworks: SJ2465 : Artwork in Clwyd Theatr Cymru subway

This Ordnance Survey bench mark is on the corner of the house at the acute junction of Main Road and Tan-yr-Ysgol. The mark first appears on the 1961 O.S. map, when the mark on the Cross Keys pub opposite disappears. For details of the mark see: Link

The main entrance to the foyer of Clwyd Theatr Cymru on a beautiful summer's evening. For a wider view of the theatre complex see: SJ2465 : CLWYD THEATR CYMRU Link

The Clwyd Theatr Cymru complex on a beautiful summer's evening. For a closer view of the entrance see: SJ2465 : Entrance to CLWYD THEATR CYMRU Link

Clwyd Theatr Cymru all lit up for an evening performance.