Village was submerged under water without locals even being asked

Various North Wales villages have been lost over the years, with some being turned into reservoirs to provide water for Merseyside.

The story of Capel Celyn is widely known, but not many people are aware of what lies beneath Lake Vyrnwy. Located in Powys, Wales, the Llanwddyn community is centred around the vast lake which provides water to Liverpool and Wirral.

Although a version of Llanwddyn still exists, the original village was actually two miles north west, now buried underneath Lake Vyrnwy. When it was still standing proud before its destruction in the 1880s, Llanwddyn comprised 37 houses, a church, three pubs, several shops and two chapels.

READ MORE:

• Seven Liverpool shops that have been around so long it defies all logic

• Fascinating photos show how Merseyside's streets have changed since the Queen's reign began in 1952
  

In 1873, local vicar Reverend Thomas H. Evans published information about the village which described how parts of Llanwddyn were often under water during the winter. In 1877, Liverpool identified the Vyrnwy Valley where the village was based as a suitable site for a new reservoir - thus began Llanwddyn’s demise.

People watch the water pouring through the dam into Lake Vyrnwy where a village once stood, August 1930 (Getty Images)

A parliamentary bill was drawn up to authorise the construction of a dam and reservoir in the area, but the residents of Llanwddyn weren’t consulted. After hearing of the news, they signed a petition to try and stop the plan and save their village.

However, they failed, with the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks Act passing in 1880. Construction of the Lake Vyrnwy reservoir began in 1881, with the original Llanwddyn village demolished and the valley flooded. The project took several years to complete, with the water reaching the lip of the dam on 22 November, 1889.

A view of Lake Vyrnwy in July 2010 (Getty Images)

The new Llanwddyn village was built to house the original residents, and included a church. Despite the trauma and upheaval the residents had to go through leaving their homes, the reservoir created many jobs and the village’s population remained stable for around 70 years.

Now, Lake Vyrnwy is jointly managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the water company Hafren Dyfrdwy. It’s a go-to spot for walkers, cyclists and bird watchers, and is a designated national nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area, and a Special Area of Conservation.

What are your thoughts on the people of Llanwddyn's sacrifice? Let us know in the comments section below.

Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.

For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.

Read next:

• Relive your Merseyside school days with these iconic playground games we loved

• Merseyside's lost outdoor swimming pool 'loved' by generations despite being 'freezing'

• 25 brilliant images of King Charles III visiting Merseyside while he was Prince of Wales

• Fun photos of King Charles III visiting Coronation Street set while he was Prince of Wales

• Michael Jackson hosted 'historic' night at Aintree Racecourse with 125k people