Flintshire, maritime county of N. Wales; is bounded N. by the Irish Sea, NE. by the estuary of the Dee, E. by Cheshire, and S. and SW. by Denbighshire; is 26 miles long, and from 10 to 12 miles broad; the detached hundred of Maelor (8 miles to the SE. of the rest of the county, and surrounded by Cheshire, Shropshire, and Denbighshire) is 9 miles long and 5 miles broad; area, 161,807 acres, population 80,587. Flintshire is the smallest county of Wales, and, next to Glamorgan, the most populous in proportion to its extent. Agriculture is advancing. Wheat and oats are grown in the plains and valleys; the uplands afford excellent pasture, and considerable quantities of butter and cheese are made. Flintshire is situated chiefly on the Coal Measures and other members of the Carboniferous rocks group, and is rich in minerals. There are numerous collieries, and the lead mines are the most productive in Britain. Copper, zinc, calamine, and limestone are also worked, and there are some coarse clay potteries. The Chester and Holyhead Railway runs all along the coast, which is lined by works for coal, iron, copper, lead-smelting, chemicals, shipbuilding, &c. Flintshire comprises 5 hundreds, 37 parishes, and parts of 4 others, and the Flint Boroughs (Caergwrle, Caerwys, Flint, Holywell, Mold, Overton, Rhuddlan, and St Asaph), and the municipal borough of Flint. It is mostly in the diocese of St Asaph.
– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)
Buckley Library, Museum & Gallery
The Precinct
Buckley CH7 2EF
01244 549210
The museum, located on the first floor of the public library, tells the story of Buckley’s place as a major centre for the pottery and brick industries from medieval times through to the 20th century. Extensive local history reference resources.
Flintshire County Council Museum Service
County Hall
Mold CH7 6NB
01352 752121
The museums Service aims to assist Flintshire residents and visitors in enjoying and exploring the history of the county. On our website you will find information about the museums in Buckley, Mold and the Greenfield Valley Heritage Park.
Flintshire Record Office
The Old Rectory, Rectory Lane
Hawarden CH5 3NR
01244 532364
Discover your local and family history records at Flintshire Record Office.
Gladstone’s Library
Gladstone
Hawarden CH5 3DF
01244 532350
Gladstone’s Library is a unique institution. Founded by the great Victorian statesman, William Gladstone, following his death in 1898, it became the nation’s tribute to his life and work and is today Britain’s finest residential library and its only Prime Ministerial library. It has a unique collection of more than 250,000 printed items.
Greenfield Valley Museum & Farm
Greenfield Valley Heritage Park
Holywell CH8 7QB
01352 715 159
An attractive collection of original and reconstructed local buildings which provide a fascinating insight into times past. Situated in the beautiful 70 acre Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, the Greenfield Valley Museum offers a glimpse of how we used to live.
Mold Museum
Museum & Gallery, Earl Road
Mold CH7 1AP
01352 754791
The museum traces the fascinating history of Mold. You can see Bronze Age treasures including axes, jewellery and a replica of the famous gold cape.
St Winefride’s Well Museum
Holywell CH8 7PN
The museum is housed in Well House which is part of a pilgrimage site that attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is open every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday during the season April to October and at other times on request.