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Home » Protest and Politics » Riots and demonstrations » Tryweryn

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  • This newsletter was published by the Tryweryn Defence Committee, c. 1957. The striking black and white photographs of Capel Celyn were taken by Geoff Charles, a press photographer for Woodalls Newspapers, who worked primarily for the weekly Welsh-language newspaper, 'Y Cymro'. The 'Tryweryn' or 'Capel Celyn Defence Committee' (Pwyllgor Amddiffyn Capel Celyn) was established in March 1956, shortly after it had been announced that Liverpool Corporation was intending to build a new reservoir in the Tryweryn valley, drowning the village of Capel Celyn, north of Bala. The Committee launched a spirited campaign to oppose the proposal to drown Cwm Celyn. In addition to canvassing support from local authorities, individuals and national institutions, the Committee organised a series of protest meetings, conferences and rallies across north Wales and in the city of Liverpool. Ultimately, however, the efforts to halt the building of the new reservoir failed and on 1 August 1957 the Liverpool Corporation Act was passed. Work began on the site three years later and was completed by August 1965. As well as losing their homes and land, the people of Capel Celyn also lost their village school and chapel. Some graves in the chapel cemetery were exhumed and moved to Llan-y-cil, while others were covered with concrete.
Tryweryn Newsletter, published by the Tryweryn Defence Committee, c, 1957, front cover [image 1 of 7]
  • The front cover of this pamphlet by Gwynfor Evans, President of Plaid Cymru, features an illustration by Ivor Owen of Bob Roberts Tai'r Felin, a renowned Welsh ballad singer, whose home was near to the site of the proposed Tryweryn dam.
Gwynfor Evans, 'Save Cwm Tryweryn for Wales' (Plaid Cymru, 1956) [front cover, image 1 of 27]
  • This undated letter was sent to Thomas Alker, Liverpool Corporation Town Clerk, by Elizabeth M. Watkin Jones, Secretary of 'Pwyllgor Amddiffyn Capel Celyn' (the Capel Celyn Defence Committee). The Committee had been established in March 1956, shortly after it had been announced that Liverpool Corporation was intending to build a new reservoir in the Tryweryn valley, drowning the village of Capel Celyn, north of Bala. The Committee launched a spirited campaign to oppose the proposal to drown Cwm Celyn. In addition to canvassing support from local authorities, individuals and national institutions, the Committee organised a series of protest meetings, conferences and rallies across north Wales and in the city of Liverpool. Ultimately, however, the efforts to halt the building of the new reservoir failed and on 1 August 1957 the Liverpool Corporation Act was passed. Work began on the site three years later and was completed in August 1965. In this letter, which appears to have been written following the passing of the Act, Elizabeth M. Watkin Jones makes one last request to the Liverpool Corporation concerning the name of the proposed reservoir. The Committee favours the historic name 'Llyn Celyn', rather than 'Llyn Tryweryn', as the 'area which will be submerged and the surrounding district has been called by the natives Cwm Celyn - thus taking the name of the tributary of the Tryweryn river. All living octogenarians still refer to the place by this name'.
Letter from Capel Celyn Defence Committee to Mr Thomas Alker, n.d. [1956?] [image 1 of 2]
  • This letter was sent to Thomas Alker, Liverpool Corporation Town Clerk, by Elizabeth M. Watkin Jones, Secretary of 'Pwyllgor Amddiffyn Capel Celyn' (the Capel Celyn Defence Committee), on 2 July 1956. The Committee had been established in March 1956, shortly after it had been announced that Liverpool Corporation was intending to build a new reservoir in the Tryweryn valley, drowning the village of Capel Celyn, north of Bala. The Committee launched a spirited campaign to oppose the proposal to drown Cwm Celyn. In addition to canvassing support from local authorities, individuals and national institutions, the Committee organised a series of protest meetings, conferences and rallies across north Wales and in the city of Liverpool. Ultimately, however, the efforts to halt the building of the new reservoir failed and on 1 August 1957 the Liverpool Corporation Act was passed. Work began on the site three years later and was completed in August 1965. In this letter, the Committee requests an urgent meeting with members of the Liverpool Corporation, 'to ensure that your City Council, and through it the people of Liverpool are aware of the grounds of the Welsh opposition to the proposed drowning of Cwm Tryweryn'. The Council had already refused this request on two occasions and the Committee members strongly urged the Council to reconsider its position.
Letter from Capel Celyn Defence Committee to Mr Thomas Alker, 2 July 1956 [image 1 of 2]
  • 'Pwyllgor Amddiffyn Capel Celyn' (the Capel Celyn Defence Committee) was established in March 1956. The Committee was formed shortly after it had been announced that Liverpool Corporation was intending to build a new reservoir in the Tryweryn valley, drowning the village of Capel Celyn, north of Bala. The following individuals were elected to serve as Committee officials: President: Rev H. W. Hughes, Fron-goch; Vice-president: Councillor David Roberts, Caefadog; Treasurer: John Abel Jones, Hafodwen; Secretary: Elizabeth M. Watkin Jones. Rev. H. W. Hughes resigned from the Committee in June 1956 as he was leaving the area and E. P. Roberts, Llanfor, was elected the new President. In September 1957, E. P. Roberts announced his resignation and David Roberts, Caefadog, was elected the new President. The Committee launched a spirited campaign to oppose the proposal to drown Cwm Celyn. In addition to canvassing support from local authorities, individuals and national institutions, the Committee organised a series of protest meetings, conferences and rallies across north Wales and in the city of Liverpool. Ultimately, however, the efforts to halt the building of the new reservoir failed and on 1 August 1957 the Liverpool Corporation Act was passed. Work began on the site three years later and was completed in August 1965.
Capel Celyn Defence Committee Minute Book, 1956-1958 [image 1 of 50]
Newspaper article regarding drowning of Cwm Tryweryn : 'New Obstacle to Water Scheme' [February 1957]