Generating History - Llanuwchllyn
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Lighting up Llanuwchllyn - Car Park very close by.
The first hydroelectric system was built in the village in 1910, after budding local engineer Richard Edwards saw an opportunity to try and create electricity through hydro power.
The village of Llanuwchllyn is situated near to the southern end of Bala Lake (otherwise known as Llyn Tegid), the largest natural lake in Wales. The River Dwfrdwy, a tributary of the River Dee, runs through the village. The name Llanuwchllyn translates as the village above the lake.
Lighting up Llanuwchllyn
WITH more and more councils across Wales considering switching off their streetlights at night to save energy, a 100-year-old hydroelectricity system in a village in Meirionnydd could represent the answer to their problems.
Even before large cities were able to switch on the lights at night, street lights and some houses in the village of Llanuwchllyn were able to do just that in 1910, thanks to a micro hydro-power plant run by an old watermill.
The first hydroelectric system was built in the village in 1910, after budding local engineer Richard Edwards saw an opportunity to try and create electricity through hydro power.
Plans to build a hydro-powered sawmill in the village fell through at the beginning of the century, and that’s when Richard had the idea.
“My great-grandfather was a bit of an engineer, apparently,” said Huw Antur Edwards, great-grandson of Richard.
“The then landlord of the Glanllyn Estate at the start of the last century, Sir Watkin Williams Wyn, said that he wanted a sawmill of some kind, using hydro power. The plans had been made and everything, but for some reason the project never materialised.”
“My great-grandfather kept the plans for the hydro system, and after he went to see an exhibition about this wonderful thing called ‘electricity’ in Birkenhead, at the turn of the century, that’s when he had the idea to use the hydro system to create electricity.”
Mr Edwards added that the original system used an old watermill near his great-grandfather’s workshop, near Mr Edwards current home in Llanuwchllyn, and that system was in place from 1910 until 1920, giving light to some homes in the village and the street lights.
The village is home to the Bala Railway which runs for 7-kilometres (4.5 miles) along the lake's south east shore. The popular gauge line has three steam locomotives, two of which worked in the slate quarries of North Wales. The 2ft narrow gauge steam trains give excellent views of the lake amid its surrounding wooded scenery, and of the nearby mountains, Arenig Fawr, Aran Benllyn and Aran Fawddwy. The village of Llanuwchllyn is the headquarters of the Railway and regular trains link the village with the town of Bala. At Llanuwchllyn, visitors can see the steam locomotives being serviced prior to coupling onto the train, can view the 1896-built Signal Box in operation and can enjoy light refreshments in the Station Buffet. There is adequate car parking at Llanuwchllyn Station.
The village church is dedicated to St. Deiniol and dates to 1872, it occupies the site of an earlier medieval church. St. Deniol (died circa 584), was the son of Dunawd, son of Pabo Post Prydain and is reported to have been the first Bishop of Bangor. The church contains an interesting old communion plate showing the story of the Temptation in relief and there is also a recumbent effigy of a mail-clad knight of the fourtenth century.
Sir Ifan ap Owen Edwards, who in 1922 founded the Welsh Youth Movement, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, was born in Llanuwchllyn, a nearby nineteenth century mansion is now used by the Urdd Gobaith Cymru as a centre for its activities.
Llanuwchllyn itself has a long history. Close by is the site of the Roman fort of Caer Gai, occupied from 75-150 AD. It was positioned on an important strategic route near sources of gold and lead. Tradition has it that it was later the home of Sir Hector of the Arthurian legends and the name commemorates his son Cai Hir (Long Kay)– the Sir Kay of the legends.
Llanuwchllyn Church, now unfortunately abandoned by the Church in Wales, is a very old foundation that was rebuilt in 1872. It contained a 14th Century recumbent effigy of a mail-clad knight and an interesting old communion plate that is believed to have once belonged to Cymmer Abbey. Just a few miles along the lane there is another now abandoned church. The atmospheric church of Llangower sits alongside the lake among interesting gravestones and an ancient Yew tree.
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(Decrypt)
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