Viewing this BBC photo of old Rhyl, the Westminster Hotel is along the terrace to the left of the pier. The Westminster opened in 1878 and nearly 150 years later, it is still in business today (doubles/twins from £70 to £90.) The old place was "rescued from dereliction" a few years ago. It receives middling reviews from Trip Advisor, etc. But in 1892, the hotel was one of the finest in North Wales, celebrated for its elegant public rooms, dining and sea views. In September of that year, Rhyl was hosting, for the first time ever, the Eisteddfod, the annual festival of Welsh song and story. The Rev. Joseph Weedow of East Morton in Yorkshire loved choral music and he and his wife had taken room 42 at the Westminster for the event. Given the vagaries of the seaside weather, the Weedows eagerly seized those fleeting sunny spells for carriage rides along the wide parade. Thus, the shock was overwhelming when, on Friday, 19 September, the Rev. Mr. Weedow shot himself in a hallway WC at the hotel. It was soon made clear that "Mrs. Weedow" was not his wife at all but his cook from the vicarage.
The full story of the "Scandalous Tragedy at Rhyl" is told for the first time in the new E-Book: CLERICAL ERRORS - A VICTORIAN SERIES, Volume 1.
Available NOW at Amazon.com ($5.49)
Available NOW at Amazon.co.uk (£3.86)
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