Lloyd George and the Ceiriog Valley

After endless weeks of scorching, record-breaking high temperatures across the UK, Lake Vyrnwy is one of many rivers and reservoirs to have shrunk. Remnants of the village are again visible the last time being during the drought of 1976.

The village of Llanwddyn in Powys was sunk in the 1880’s as authorities constructed a new reservoir to supply the city of Liverpool with water. The villages homes were knocked down, including its old church, and the once lived-in spaces sank under the water as Lake Vyrnwy and its dam were constructed.

DD/G/3815 – ‘Eunant’, Llanwddyn

In 1923 it seemed that three villages in the Ceiriog Valley would suffer the same fate. A proposal by the Warrington Corporation was put before parliament to flood 13,600 acres and create two reservoirs, in effect obliterating the villages of Tregeiriog, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog and Pentre.

In total, one church, five chapels, two burial grounds, two public elementary schools, two post offices, two inns, six shops, and 82 other dwelling houses (of which 45 were farmhouses with farm buildings) were destined for demolition/flooding, with around 400 people affected.

QSD/DG/65 – Plans and sections: Warrington Corporation Water

Fortunately for the people of the Ceiriog Valley, former Liberal Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, was having none of it, pointing out that there was not one single Welsh MP who did not oppose the bill.

Describing the Ceiriog Valley as ‘a beautiful valley ‘he reminded his fellow MPs of other Welsh communities which had disappeared in the relentless demand for water. ‘The Elland Valley has gone, the Vyrnwy Valley has gone, the valley which has been taken by Birkenhead, and now comes this exquisite valley which is to be taken by Warrington. One after another all our valleys are disappearing ‘.

His intervention must have helped to sway the vote, as the Act of Parliament was never passed and happily the communities of the Ceiriog Valley are still thriving today.

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National Eisteddfod 2022

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is now well underway in Tregaron, Ceredigion. This is when the ‘Gorsedd Cymru’ come together and are an integral part of the Eisteddfod Ceremonies.

PPD/101/216 – Gorsedd Ceremony, Wrexham 1911

Tuesday’s main ceremony is the Daniel Owen Memorial Award, which has been awarded at the National Eisteddfod since 1978 (Daniel Owen was a noteable novelist, from Mold, Flintshire, considered the foremost Welsh-language novelist of the 19th century, and the first significant novelist to write in Welsh).

‘Gorsedd Cymru’ or ‘Yr Orsedd’ is an association of poets, writers, musicians and other notable people from the Welsh cultural world. It was established as Gorsedd Beirdd of the Isle of Britain by Iolo Morganwg in London in 1792.

PPD/105/15 – Gorsedd proclamation, Corwen Square 1901

There are three groups of members belonging to the throne and each group has its colour (White, Blue and Green). You can become a member by passing an exam, being selected to become a member or by winning the Chair, the Crown or the Prose Medal at a National Eisteddfod.

https://www.newa.wales/