The owner of heritage properties has removed new English language signs after a cultural row over historic place names in Eryri. The sign's installation last month caused outrage in the Gwynedd market town of Dolgellau, as it appeared to replace the Welsh name of one of the town's heritage properties with an Anglicised version, reports North Wales Live.
On Tuesday night, the town council agreed to make inquiries with a view to "educating" the new owner of Y Llwyn, ancestral seat of local landed families dating back to the 16th Century. A new signpost outside the Grade-II listed property indicated the ancient hall had been renamed "Snowdonia Manor". Cottages and outbuildings were given names such as "Cader Cottage" and "Idris Barn".
In response however, residents labelled the name choices as "disgraceful" and an act of "cultural vandalism". On social media, some called for the signpost to be taken down or daubed with red and green paint. One social media user suggested that they "probably didn't understand how much of tragedy this is".
Read more: Cymdeithas yr Iaith extends scheme to help protect Welsh place names for land
Another local resident said too many homes and farms in the area were being bought up and given English names. She said. “It’s time we stand firm again and put a stop to them destroying our culture.” It comes after Welsh language pressure group, Cymdeithas yr Iaith, launched a scheme called Y Diogelwn ('we will protect') as a way for owners to protect their houses' Welsh names.
The project encourages people to ask their solicitor or conveyancer to include a particular clause when selling their house or land to prevent the buyers and their successors from changing the name. It also helps people to prevent buyers or beneficiaries under their will and their successors from changing the name of the house. You can read more about this here.
Y Llwyn's owners acted quickly after learning of local concerns. Abby Lever, one of the redevelopment partners, accepted the decision had been a mistake and that no offence had been intended. "I'd like to apologise," said Abby, of Lever's Living, Oswestry. "We hadn't really thought it through properly.
"As soon as we became aware of local concerns, we arranged for the signpost to be removed. It will be reinstated in due course with the appropriate Welsh names." Nine-bedroom Llwyn hall is being renovated as tourism accommodation for large families and groups. Its owners hope to be taking bookings in around a month's time.
Two ancillary properties, part of the Llwyn complex, have been operating as holiday lets since last year. Y Llwyn is famously linked, indirectly, to Welsh politician Lewis ab Owen, known locally as “‘Y Barwn Owen”. A 16th Century Sheriff of Merioneth (Meirionnydd), and the county’s MP, he also served as the 1st Baron of the Exchequer for North Wales.
In his second spell as Sheriff, he targeted Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy, the red-haired bandits of Mawddwy who, according to a contemporary writer “never tired of robbing, burning of houses and murthering of people”. Local farmers were so afraid of them that they put scythes in chimneys to prevent the bandits climbing down them, some of which remained in place until the early 1800s.
When Baron Owen seized and sentenced around 80 bandits to the gallows, and exiled others, the remaining Gwylliaid plotted revenge. On October 11, 1555, he was waylaid near Mallwyd and stabbed more than 30 times.
Following his murder, the full force of the law was brought against the Gwylliaid, leading to its demise. The spot where Baron Owen fell, at Dugoed Mawddwy, is still known as “Llidiart y Barwn”, the Baron’s Gate. He was aged 39.
On Tuesday night, Llwyn’s apparent name change was raised at a meeting of Dolgellau Town Council. It agreed to write to the property’s new owner requesting a rethink. At the time, Cllr Ywain Myfyr expressed concern it showed a lack of respect for the area’s heritage. He said: “If we can, we will convey our dismay and, hopefully, educate the owner about the building’s history.”
Now that Y Llwyn's owners have acted to head off concerns, they hope to make amends by inviting local people to tour the hall. An open day is being arranged for Saturday, May 20, 11am-3pm. So that the owners are aware of potential numbers, anyone interested in attending is asked to contact Abby in advance on Abbylever@leversliving.co.uk. "We want to be part of the community," she said. "We'd also like to make links with local businesses."
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