Holywell branch line

A station named Holywell was opened on the eastern part of the line on 1 May 1848; however, the town it served was 1+1⁄2 miles away, at an elevation of 550 feet.

On 29 July 1864, the Holywell Railway was authorised by Parliament; it was to be two miles in length, running from the town to a new harbour and crossing the Chester to Holyhead line (now transferred to the ownership of the London and North Western Railway) by a bridge, instead of the former level crossing.

The new line conveyed minerals only and operated for a decade before falling into disuse in the 1870s, when cheaper ores became available in South Wales and elsewhere; this made the local industry uneconomic.

Whatever the motivation was for the purchase, nothing was done with the acquired railway for some time, although conversion to an electric tramway in the twentieth century was considered.

[4] After 1945, the competition from road transport led to the rapid decline of the usage of the branch; it was closed on 6 September 1954, except for a stub to Crescent Textile Mills which continued in use until 11 August 1957.

Holywell Junction station, on the main line, remained in use under that name until its closure in February 1966.