Parc Meurig Rock Cannon
The rock cannon is on the top of this outcrop
| Date | 11 March 2012 | ||
| Location | Parc Meurig, Bethesda | SH 62336 66435; 53.17714°N, 4.06126°W | |
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This 100-hole rock cannon tucked away in Parc Meurig is being reclaimed by nature, with its bored holes and carved-out interconnecting grooves almost all covered over by a layer of moss and grass. Rock Cannon — history and method of operation; Other rock-cannon posts
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Rock cannon, with Moel Faban lurking in the background behind the trees (top left)
A couple of the interconnecting grooves uncovered
With the carpet of moss peeled back, one of the drilled holes and its carved channel is revealed
Wow, you really had to know what you were looking for on this one! A fascinating relic and all the more so for being clothed in moss.
Iain Robinson
March 15, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Not unexpectedly it was some distance away from the location indicated by Griff Jones’s grid ref, and I only found it through a combination of deduction and luck!
Graham Stephen
March 16, 2012 at 6:22 pm
What a fascinating concept….rock cannons. I bet they were impressive and exciting when they were used. Is there any place in Wales where they continue this tradition? Even if it is for historical reasons?
Dezra Despain
March 16, 2012 at 3:24 pm
By all accounts they did provide an impressive spectacle and the cannonades could be heard resonating between the mountains for miles. In his book The Rock Cannon of Gwynedd, Griff R Jones mentions some experimental firings of cannon in more recent times for his research, but as far as I am aware the tradition has now completely died out. He also mentioned the use in one of the quarries of a more modern equivalent (involving tramway rails and cut-down sticks of gelignite rather than black powder and holes drilled in rock) to celebrate a visit from the then Princess Elizabeth (now the Queen) – that must have been 60 or more years ago.
Graham Stephen
March 16, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Wow, that’s amazing, Graham. I have never heard of such a thing. And great photos. Luck and deduction indeed!
KatiesCameraBlog
March 20, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Thanks Katie
Graham Stephen
March 20, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Color! At first glance, a lovely walk in the woods, but canons in the rocks – great camouflage .
lynnwiles
March 22, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Haha, yeah, I do seem to be shooting in colour less and less these days
Graham Stephen
March 22, 2012 at 8:13 pm