September 15, 2026 - 216 views
The Victorian Society is returning to Llandudno for its national AGM, 20 years after it last held the event in the town.
The conservation charity will bring members from across England and Wales to North Wales from 25 to 27 September for a weekend celebrating Llandudno's Victorian and Edwardian heritage.
The three-day programme will include talks, architectural walks and visits to some of the area's historic landmarks.
The Society says the event is also an opportunity to strengthen its links with communities and conservation campaigners across Wales.
Llandudno is regarded as one of Britain's best-preserved Victorian seaside resorts, with its grand hotels, churches, chapels, public buildings and historic transport all forming part of the town's architectural character.
The weekend will begin at Venue Cymru on Friday, where historian and seaside heritage expert Dr Kathryn Ferry will give a talk on the development and architecture of Llandudno.
A reception and dinner will then be held at the Grade II-listed St George's Hotel on the seafront.
On Saturday, members will take part in guided walks exploring the town's architectural and social history before travelling on the Great Orme Tramway, which opened in 1902 and is Britain's only surviving cable-operated street tramway.
The programme continues on Sunday with a visit to Penrhyn Castle and a trip to Llanfairfechan, where there is a notable collection of work by Arts and Crafts architect Herbert Luck North.
The Society has a long history of campaigning to protect Victorian and Edwardian buildings in Wales.
Among those highlighted through its endangered buildings campaign is Kinmel Hall near Abergele, while Plas Alltran in Holyhead has been brought back into use as affordable homes following decades of dereliction.
However, the charity says other important buildings remain at risk, including the Grade II-listed Faenol Mausoleum near Bangor, which was designed by North Wales architect Henry Kennedy in the late 19th Century.
James Hughes, Director of the Victorian Society, said Llandudno was "one of Britain's great Victorian towns" and that the Society was looking forward to returning 20 years after its previous AGM there.
He said the organisation also wanted to use the visit to build stronger connections with people across Wales and encourage more people to become involved in protecting the country's historic buildings.
The Society says it is particularly keen to hear from people in Wales interested in Victorian and Edwardian architecture who would like to get involved with its events, campaigns and conservation work.
Visit their website at www.victoriansociety.org.uk.
