'Piece of Liverpool in north Wales' to be sold off

13 hours ago

Jonny HumphriesNorth West

Generations of Liverpool children have made the trip to Colomendy since World War Two

Liverpool Council Rows of dormitary style buildings with slate rooves and green window frames sit in a green space in front of a gentle slope lined with trees. — Generations of Liverpool children have made the trip to Colomendy since World War Two

An outdoor education centre in north Wales which welcomed generations of Liverpool children is being put on the market.

Liverpool City Council, which owns the property, took it back over in June 2025 after its tenant Kingswood Colomendy Ltd went into liquidation.

The 106-acre former manor house site, near Ruthin in Denbighshire, has hosted thousands of Liverpool schoolchildren since 1940.

Nick Small, cabinet member for growth and economy, said the council's focus was on "finding a long-term use that reflects local ambitions and delivers real, lasting benefits".

Small said Liverpool and Colomendy had a "deep-rooted connection" going back to World War Two, when it was built as an evacuation facility for the city's children.

After the war, it was opened as an outdoor education centre, becoming a feature of school life for Merseyside children and offering many inner-city youngsters their first ever experience of the countryside.

The council bought the site, which includes a Grade II-listed manor house, in 1957 and over time, it has leased it to various operators.

For many Liverpool children Colomendy was their first experience of the countryside

Five boys, with clothing and hairstyles indicating the picture was likely taken in the 1970s, stand in front of a barbed wire fence behind which two red and white coloured cows are grazing — For many Liverpool children Colomendy was their first experience of the countryside

At the beginning of 2025, Kingswood said it would close with immediate effect after its parent company Inspiring Learning Ltd collapsed.

Now the council has decided to put the properties, set within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape, on the market.

It said it would work with Denbighshire County Council to find a suitable buyer.

"We are determined to see that heritage respected," Small said.

"The right proposal will not only protect that legacy, but create a positive and enduring impact for generations to come."

Alan James, local development and planning lead at Denbighshire Council, said the site had "welcomed generations of young people from Liverpool who have built a lifelong connection with this part of north Wales and its communities".

"Ensuring the long-term viability of this site for future generations is important to us here at Denbighshire and we will work with Liverpool City Council and partners to make sure that this happens," he added.

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