Cwm
Elan & Nantgwillt
|
| The Elan Valley, set in the exquisite Cambrian mountains,
was once the site of three buildings of interest to Shelley
scholars: Cwm Elan (pronounced "Coomellen"), the residence
of Shelley's uncle, where Shelley often stayed; |
|
|
|
|
| Nantgwillt, the estate Shelley and Harriet wished to purchase;
|
|
|
| and Capel Nantgwillt, the local church. |
|
|
| Unfortunately,
all three
buildings
were demolished
and the sites
are now underwater,
victims of
late-Victorian
construction.
In the late
nineteenth
century,
the rapidly
growing Birmingham
population
required
new sources
of water,
and a series
of reservoirs
were constructed
in the valley.
The rising
waters engulfed
a number
of houses
in the area,
including
the three
Shelley sites
(in these
views, taken
during the
construction,
Cwm Elan
can be seen
at the rear
of the reservoir,
precariously
balanced
at water's
edge). |
|
|
| Today, a patch of rhododendrons is the only marker of
the former Cwm Elan site. |
|
|
| Nantgwillt is also submerged, although a few of the foundations
and garden walls can be seen during times of drought (a
history of the area can be found in Francis Brett Young's
"The House Under the Waters" and in Vale of Nantgwillt:
Submerged Valley (London: J.S. Virtue, 1894). |
|
|
| The
Rhayader and
District History
Archives maintains
an impressive
collection
of early photographs
and artwork
depicting
the houses—including
all of the
images seen
here. Stephen "Charlie" Collard,
a remarkable
young man
who maintains
a cutting-edge
computer
facility
in his home,
has brought
together
material
picked up
at local
jumble sales
and used
bookshops.
His booklet "Touring
the Elan
Valley" (S.
Collard,
1999) is
an invaluable
tool for
any researchers
working
on the history
of the area.
He can be
reached through
the
website. |
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)