Place:Maentwrog, Merionethshire, Wales

source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

Maentwrog is a village and civil parish in the Welsh county of Gwynedd, lying in the Vale of Ffestiniog just below Blaenau Ffestiniog, within the Snowdonia National Park. The River Dwyryd runs alongside the village. Its population of 585 in the 2001 UK census increased to 631 at the 2011 census. The Community of Maentwrog includes the village of Gellilydan.

Prior to 1974 Maentwrog was located in the historic county of Merionethshire.

The village settlement expanded in the 19th century to house workers from local slate mines. Slate tiles (shaped from the natural material) were a very popular roofing material for housing up until 1950. For the most part, they have been replaced by clay tiles or concrete tiles, but slate is still used.

The imposing Plas Tan y Bwlch, substantially rebuilt during the 19th century by the rich Oakeley family on the site of a first house probably built in the early 17th century, overlooks the village.

Maentwrog hydro-electric power station was opened in 1928, and still produces electricity today. It is supplied by water from Llyn Trawsfynydd, a large man-made reservoir located near the village of Trawsfynydd.

Research Tips

• A 1900 Ordnance Survey map of the historic county of Merionethshire is available on the A Vision of Britain through Time website. This shows all the old parishes within their urban and rural districts. Large farms and estates are also marked.