GeoTopoi

Places and photographs

Rhiwddolion

with 10 comments

Rhiwddolion

Date

26 May 2012
Location

Gwydyr Forest, Betws-y-coed

SH 76946 55728; 53.08453°N, 3.83868°W

Information

The ‘forgotten village’ of Rhiwddolion is a remote settlement which once housed the workers of the nearby East Arvon Quarry. Situated on the route of the Roman road Sarn Helen above Betws-y-coed, its population at the end of the 19th century was 150. But when the East Arvon and the neighbouring quarries closed in the early 20th century the workers moved away abandoning their cottages.

Today four properties in the village, including the former chapel-cum-school, are let as holiday accommodation, the rest of the buildings are in ruins, slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Bryn Derw; The Landmark Trust – Rhiwddolion

Rhiwddolion

Rhiwddolion

Rhiwddolion

Rhiwddolion

Rhiwddolion

Rhiwddolion

Rhiwddolion

Privy or ‘ty bach’ (little house)

Rhiwddolion

Ty Capel – former village chapel and school, now one of the three holiday properties let by The Landmark Trust

Ty Coch – one of the three holiday properties let by The Landmark Trust

Ty Uchaf, dating back to 1685 – one of the three holiday properties let by The Landmark Trust

Bryn Derw – the fourth holiday rental property in Rhiwddolion and the only one accessible by vehicle

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Written by Graham Stephen

May 29, 2012 at 6:55 pm

10 Responses

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  1. [...] waste tips are now very overgrown, once supported a community of 150 in the nearby settlement of Rhiwddolion. The quarry produced mainly slate slabs and closed in the early 20th [...]

  2. Interesting to see a different aspect of the slate quarrying industry.

    andy

    May 29, 2012 at 7:42 pm

  3. I,ve never been to this one Graham , i shall try and get there in the next few weeks and have a wander around looks great

    • I think you’d like it – it would certainly make a very peaceful place to stay for a holiday.

      Graham Stephen

      May 30, 2012 at 7:25 pm

  4. Is a holiday property the same as a vacation property? If so, I would definitely want to lease one then just wander about the grounds. Not that I can afford it, mind you, but I like the thought of it. Wonderful area and a little sad that it has been deserted.

    Dezra Despain

    May 29, 2012 at 11:18 pm

    • Yes, I think it will be. If you like tranquility and isolation then I think it would make an ideal location for a stay. Not so sure about staying there in the middle of winter though ;-)

      Graham Stephen

      May 30, 2012 at 7:28 pm

  5. Very nice set of photos.

    ShimonZ

    May 30, 2012 at 2:48 pm

  6. Nice images and info. We own Bryn Derw. It’s the one place on earth where we can truly get away from things. brynderw.co.uk shows a few more images and info. We are in the process of trying to put together a compact and comprehensive history of Rhiwddolion…

    Chris

    November 26, 2012 at 10:55 am


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