Abergwesyn (Welsh pronunciationⓘ) is a village in theWelsh county ofPowys, inmid-Wales, at the start of the Abergwesyn valley and at the confluence of theAfon Irfon and theAfon Gwesyn. It is 52 miles (84 km) fromCardiff and 158 miles (254 km) fromLondon.[1]
Abergwesyn Commons stretch between theNant Irfon valley andLlanwrthwl. They are rich in archaeology, includingBronze Age ritual sites and deserted medieval villages. ANational Trust project is focused on the preservation of thepeatland.
Abergwesyn Commons cover an area of some 16,500 acres (6,700 ha) and stretch for 12 miles (19 km) between the Nant Irfon valley in the west andLlanwrthwl in the east, are rich in archaeology, includingBronze Age ritual sites and deserted medieval villages. There are manycairns and other evidence of ancient human activity. To the north the ground falls away to the edge of theElan Valley Reservoirs. The summit ridge is wild and bleak with expansive views across the roof of Wales. Among the wildlife to be seen arered grouse,northern lapwing andred kite.[2]
TheNational Trust has an ongoing ecology project, centred on the preservation ofpeatland in the 16,500 acres (6,700 ha) Abergwesyn Commons. The site has extensive areas of deep peat and blanket bog in poor condition due to pastovergrazing and burning.[3] The work done has benefited thegolden plover, an amber-listed species on theBirds of Conservation Concern index.[4]
Originally achapel of ease toLlangammarch Wells, St David's later became a parish church, but was last used as such in the mid-19th century. It stands within the remnants of a churchyard and is linked to Dewi's Well (a holy well or fount).[5]
In 1740 the curate in the parishes ofLlanwrtyd,Llanfihangel Abergwesyn andLlanddewi Abergwesyn, was Wales' most famous hymn-writerWilliam Williams Pantycelyn (1717–1791).[6] Llanddewi Abergwesyn parish was united with Llanfihangel Abergwesyn parish in 1885, and separate marriage registers were not kept thereafter. Parish registers are held, at theNational Library of Wales and/orPowys Archives for baptisms 1813–1984, marriages 1813–1873, burials 1813-1986 and banns 1826-1862 and 1957–1959. Also, atCardiff Central Library and NLW, are records of baptisms 1738–1812, marriages 1738-56 and 1765–1812, and burials 1738–1812. Bishops' Transcripts, for various periods, are also held at NLW.[7]
The MoriahWelsh Independent Chapel, initially constructed in 1828 and later rebuilt in 1867, is characterized by its whitewashed stone construction and follows thevernacular architectural style. It is entered through a gabled porch and contains a platform pulpit dating from the late 19th century. The pulpit end of the chapel and the opposite side have two rectangularsash windows; each of these have late 19th-century coloured border glazing. Although the chapel remained in use as of 2001, it had ceased operations by 2010.[8]
The village was the location for a smallRoyal Observer Corps Monitoring Bunker between 1961 and 1968, It remains mostly intact.[9]
52°09′32″N3°40′38″W / 52.1588°N 3.6773°W /52.1588; -3.6773
