The village was once lost in time before it saw its rich mining history bought to life once again
Nestled between the Irish Sea and the Eifl mountains at the very edge of civilisation, this small village was once frozen in time before its prosperous mining heritage was brought back to life.
The quarry – Nant Gwrtheyrn – began operations in 1861, next to Porth y Nant, which has become a cherished language centre at the forefront of campaigns to revitalise the Welsh language.
As an isolated village, residents’ lives centred around extracting and transporting Nant Gwrtheyrn stone used for road surfacing – dispatching materials predominantly via the Irish Sea, which resulted in limited interaction with the wider world, according to Nant Gwrtheyrn.
History.
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After demand declined in the early stages of World War Two, the quarry shut down, leaving the local population devastated. The worldwide conflict meant operations came to a standstill, reports Wales Online.
The locals left and their properties deteriorated. Apart from a brief spell when a handful of outsiders attempted to revive the village in the 1860s, the settlement remained abandoned.
You can step back in time to when quarry labourers inhabited the local dwellings by exploring the quarryman’s cottage. This property and its entire contents have been recreated to demonstrate how a quarryman and his family would have existed in 1910.
Later, the location received an injection of funding that would construct a new school – which was eventually taken over by a local trust, spearheaded by Dr Carl Clowes, who established it to create a Welsh language centre.
Tre’r Ceiri.
Close by stands Tre’r Ceiri – among Wales’ most striking ancient monuments.
Initially documented by renowned ‘Tours of Wales’ writer Thomas Pennant, this represents some of the earliest archaeological proof of life in the Iron Age hillforts scattered across the hills above Nant Gwrtheyrn.
Both Tre’r Ceiri and Yr Eifl were occupied between 150 BC and 400 AD – little is understood about them apart from their significant reliance on local iron which was traded and distributed.
Debs wrote on Trip Advisor: “What a fabulously tranquil place. We spent several hours here, walking and enjoying the peace and quiet. Found the history of Nant Gwrtheryn fascinating.
“We sampled the tasty cakes in the cafe. Would highly recommend a visit. We will most certainly return.”
One reviewer said: “What a beautiful place. The Welsh Language Centre. The story behind the revival of this village is inspirational. The vision on a local doctor and the surrounding communities is worthy of a Hollywood film.
“The views are breathtaking and the road down is incredibly steep but worth it.
“We had breakfast in the cafe. Highly recommended good quality produce and full flavoured coffee. Another great plus was the indoor seating where we could have food with our dog.
“The lady who greeted us was so welcoming and friendly too. Just a beautiful place great walks too.”