The Dolagarrog disaster in 1925 affected the whole community and was cause for lamentation for decades. It is still remembered and memorialised. Poem by Wm Owen Davies about Mr Barber, a very lucky tramp. Stories, old photos and memories of Dolgarrog.


Richard Roberts and his family. Mr Roberts saved his family at the risk of his own life.

THE DOLGARROG DISASTER - a hamlet and a village swept away by floodwaters from a breach in the Eigiau dam.

On Monday 2 November 1925, after two weeks of heavy rain, a breach in a small gravity dam occurred at the Aluminium Corporation's Llyn Eigiau reservoir, up in the hills near 735 m high Craig Eigiau. This was claimed at the time to have been caused by inadequate foundations and lack of maintenance.

This breach released thousands of gallons of water which flowed down along the course of the Porth Llwyd river to another small reservoir, the Coedty. This reservoir could not contain the extra water and breached also, releasing an even greater quantity of water, possibly some 350 million cubic meters, which carried huge boulders and pieces of pipeline down the mountain through Porth Llwyd hamlet and the village of Dolgarrog a mile below, sweeping houses and villagers away as it went. Sixteen people died.


Mrs Elizabeth Brown, a victim of the disaster.

The water poured like a river down the streets and among the great boulders until the reservoirs were emptied. The church was swept away, its bell tolling as it went. Villagers were swept away, one family clinging to debris and singing hymns as they battled for their lives.


Above: Betty Brown, also a victim.


Above: Glyn Brown, who survived.


Above: Douglas Brown, survivor.


Above: Nellie Brown, who was swept away from her father but survived, along with her brother Fred, aged 17. They climbed over coke wagons to escape, and found shelter in the ruins of the village school - according to the newspaper Nellie clung to the roof of the wooden building, which had been swept a mile away, and in the morning was too exhausted to speak.
Her father and the other children escaped by running up the hill. Little Betty was torn from his arms by the water, but he was able to climb an electricity pole.

Fortunately many of the villagers were on higher ground at the Assembly Hall for the weekly picture show, and were away from path of the torrent.



The curate-in-charge at Dolgarrog, William Evans (pictured at left below), along with James Hunter, was reported as having been involved in the rescue, working up to his neck in water. He was also reported as having organised a rescue party to get workmen out of the furnace house.


Above: On the way to the funeral of members of his flock.


The funeral procession of four of the victims.



Onlookers arrived, and police had to erect a road block to stop them obstructing relief operations. It was reported that on the following Sunday twenty thousand sightseers converged on the area, some from as far away as the Midlands, travelling by car, bicycles and motor cycles, buses and charabancs, causing extensive delays due to congestion caused initially by charabancs trying to turn on the narrow road.

Photographers recorded the scenes of devastation and these were published as postcards at the time. They can now be found on the Internet at www. oldphotos.co.uk/dolgarrog.htm.

The scar that was caused by the disaster can be seen today down the side of the mountain together with the huge boulders it carried with it.

The river has been diverted since then, and flows over the old town.

Margaret Sinnott, her daughter Catherine McKenzie and a granddaughter were all lost, though Mr McKenzie and their two sons were at the picture house when it happened. Margaret Sinnott's body was the last to be recovered. According to a newspaper report, Mrs Sinnott's daughter, a nurse in Bangor, had intended to move her mother and sister, Mrs McKenzie, from Dolgarrog to a new home.

A seventeen year old survivor told of the church bell tolling as the church was swept away, and of a family clinging to debris, and singing hymns as they were swept along.

THE HATFIELD FAMILY
Albert and Nellie Hatfield from Yorkshire were living in Dolgarrog at the time of the disaster. Albert was working on the dam as an electric linesman. The morning after the disaster Nellie went out to look for Albert, but couldn't find him. She must have feared the worst. However, she met the district nurse, who told Nellie that Albert was all right, but was still helping to search for people.

Gillian Dansby of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, Albert and Nellie's grand-daughter says: 'My Grandma was pregnant with my mother at the time the dam broke. Grandad helped with a lot of the rescue work as he was one of the few men who could swim.'


Above: Albert and Nellie Hatfield in 1923

Albert and Nellie Hatfield were married 9 June 1923 in Batley, West Yorkshire, and not long afterwards they went to live in Dolgarrog. At the time of the disaster Nellie was pregnant, and her daughter Margaret June Hatfield was born in Dolgarrog on 23 April, 1926. They lived at 22 Taylor Avenue, Dolgarrog, for another four or five years. They then moved back to Yorkshire and lived at Thornhill, then Ravensthorpe for a short while. They then moved to Potter Avenue in Lupset.


Above: Nellie Hatfield with her only child, Margaret, while they were living in Dolgarrog.

Margaret met Peter Danby of Wakefield, and married him in 1949. Their two children were Simon John and Gillian Susan Danby. The family emigrated to Canada in 1970 and lived in North Vancouver, British Columbia.


Above: The wedding of Margaret Hatfield and Peter Danby in Yorkshire 23 April 1949.

Albert and Nellie lived in Potter Avenue in Lupset until Albert retired. After his retirement the couple moved to Scarborough, Yorkshire where they lived until Nellie's death in 1979 at the age of 78. Margaret, who was an only child, then brought her father, Albert, to live with her family in Canada. He died in 1983 aged 85.

Margaret's daughter, Gillian, says: "My Mum, now 81, and my Dad, 80, now live in Vernon, BC. My Dad was a mechanical engineer and was in charge of many design and construction projects in the grain handling, coal handling and mining industries in British Columbia and across Canada. My Mum was a teacher of the blind and deaf, and also of mentally challenged children and adults. My brother Simon is a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police doghandler and has two children who are grown and married with children of their own. I have spent many years in various fields of health care including Nuclear Medicine and Cytogenetics. I have two children, both in their teens and three stepchildren also in their teens."


Above: Peter and Margaret Danby (nee Hatfield) at their grandson's wedding in 2006.

THE TAYLOR FAMILY
Dorothy Buddug Taylor (formerly Hughes from Llandudno) and her husband Stanley John Taylor were victims, along with their daughter Sylvia Doris Taylor, eighteen months old. Dorothy's father was a journalist with the North Wales Weekly News and the Llandudno Advertiser, and had the unenviable task of reporting on a disaster which had claimed his daughter and her family.

A Frank Kenyon of Rochdale had a share in the family business at The Princess Theatre in Colwyn Bay, and he shot about six minutes worth of film of the disaster, showing the empty dam and the water rushing through the streets. This can now be accessed on the Internet at www. gtj.org.uk/en/filmitems/29132

In April 2004 a memorial project to the victims of the disaster was dedicated at Dolgarrog. A £60,000 memorial trail up to the mountains was constructed along the river and among the boulders, a pathway to explain the tragedy to walkers. Fred Brown, a 93 year old Dolgarrog man, was present to open the project, and was said to be the last of the survivors still living. Fred was 14 when he lost his mother Elizabeth and four year old sister Betty in the flood. He reported that his father and elder sister rescued themselves from the flood waters by crawling over coke wagons.

A few years ago Janet Roberts of Llanrwst knew an old man nearly a hundred years of age who had lived through all this.
Most of the victims are buried in the churchyard at Caerhun.

The small gravity dam was not built across the end of a narrow river valley as one might expect, but stretched over a kilometre along the side of the reservoir. The water leaked under this wall, likely causing an outfall there, scouring soil and stones away from the dam bottom at the site, weakening the base of the dam wall until a whole section gave way, thus releasing the water along the natural course of the Porth Llwyd river. Inadequate foundations were blamed for the leakage. It has been speculated that the water level of the reservoir when in use would have been only three or four metres higher than the lake left behind, and did not itself hold a great quantity of water as reservoirs go. However, when the water leaked out and joined the smaller Coedty reservoir, the excess water caused that dam wall to breach, thus releasing water from both the Llyn Eigiau dam and the Coedty dam itself. A photograph of the Eigiau breach taken at the time shows the massive break in the dam wall. Modern photographs show that the resulting freed rocks have been arranged in a dome-shaped mound near the breach. A second breach may have been created later to ensure the dam does not fill up again. Photographs of the area maybe found on www. geograph.org.uk/

The dam was comparatively new when it failed in 1925. The plant and hydro station started operations in 1907 and 1908 to serve the aluminium reduction works in Dolgarrog. This process requires a great deal of electricity, and would need to be sited near an abundant source of water to turn the generators. The reduction process continued only until 1943, but the factory continued drawing power from the renovated Coedty reservoir to serve the specialist rolling mill which operated thenceforth.


HENRY JOSEPH JACK OF MAENAN MANOR
A Henry Joseph Jack, born Swansea 1869, moved to Maenan Manor, Llanrwst, some time after 1912 and became a councillor, later Chairman of the Caernarvonshire County Council. In 1918 he was Managing Director of the Aluminium Corporation and on the board of the Porthmadog, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway in which it had a controlling interest. He foresaw a good future for the railway in slate transport and tourism, and in 1922 became director of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. In April 1924 he was blamed for its lack of success, and resigned his position. After the Dolgarrog disaster he was blamed for even more, and left for Tunbridge Wells, where he died in 1936 after having changed his name to Henry Jack McInnes.

THE VICTIMS

TAYLOR, Stanley John, 1 Machno Terrace
TAYLOR, Mrs Dorothy Buddug, Wife of Stanley, Daughter of A R Hughes, Llandudno Advertiser
TAYLOR Sylvia Doris, 18 months, daughter of Dorothy and Stanley.

EVANS, Mrs Susan, wife of Mr William Evans 3 Machno Terrace
EVANS, Ceridwen, 5 - found Tuesday morning 3 November near the ferry in Conway Estuary by John Ellis, fisherman, yacht skipper, of Conway.
EVANS, Bessie, 3 - found Tuesday 2.30 pm just below Conway Bridge by Mr John Craven, yacht skipper.
EVANS, Gwen, 4 months. Daughter of William and Susan Evans.

TWYNHAM, William, Tai'r Felin. Washed into Conway River.
TWYNHAM, Jennie, wife of William Twynham



Above: News clipping with photo of Mrs Elizabeth Brown, a victim.
She had eight children.

BROWN Mrs Elizabeth, 46, No 1 Bungalow. Married, a mother of 8 children. Body found by P C Smith and some other men half a mile below the works on Tuesday at 3.30 pm.
BROWN, Bessie or Betty, daughter of Elizabeth.

SINNOT, Mrs Margaret, Porthlwyd Cottage. Her dog was found safe lying on the bed upstairs; her house was damaged but standing, but she was swept away.
McKENZIE, Mrs Catherine, of 2 Dolgarrog Cottages, daughter of Mrs Sinnot, and wife of Mr Donald McKenzie, former employee at the works, who was working away from home. They had not seen each other since March. Her body was found by Mr John Roberts of Hendy, Roewen, between 9 and 10 am on Tuesday near the Carbon Factory.
McKENZIE, Mona, 5, daughter of Mrs McKenzie. Found on day of enquiry.

HIGGINS, Mr Henry Victor, 30, childless widower of Sarn Bryn Caled, Welshpool, Linesman, son of Edwin Higgins. Lodging at 2 Machno Terrace.
WILLIAMS, Mrs Mary, 66 yrs, 2 Machno Terrace. Body found near Carbon Factory between 9 and 10 a.m. Tuesday by Owen Jones, Bryn Hyfryd.

SURVIVORS
BROWN, Mr, husband of Elizabeth, No. 1 Bungalow. Water dragged him away from his daughter and carried him down the valley for 500 yards. He was reported to have clung on to an electric pole. This daughter also survived and got to safety in the ruins of the village school; his then 14 year old son Fred when in his nineties said that they both climbed over coke wagons to escape.


Above: A newspaper clipping of some of the Brown family.

EVANS, Mr William, furnace man. Last saw his wife and children at a quarter to six on Monday night

There were also many other survivors, such as Mr Richard Roberts, pictured above, who saved his family at the risk of his own life.

Furniture and other artefacts were swept down the river to the sea. Much of it was recovered by fishermen, but a great deal was carried out to sea by the strong tide. The font of the church was also salvaged from the water, and a couple of bells were retrieved in due course.

Rowena Evans

MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS courtesy of www.penmon.org

In loving memory of
CHARLOTTE
the beloved daughter of
ROBERT ELLIS and ANN WILLIAMS
2 Machno Terrace, Dolgarrog
who died Sept 28, 1924,
aged 23 years.
Also
MARY
the beloved wife of the above,
who died
November 2 1925
aged 70 years.

Er serchog gof am
WILLIAM TWYMAN
Tai'r Felin,
a hunodd Tachwedd 2, 1925
yn 52 mlwydd oed.
Hefyd
JANE
anwyl briod yr uchod,
a hunodd Tachwedd 2, 1925
yn 52 mlwydd oed.

In loving memory of our dear parents
JOHN SINNOTT
who passed away Nov. 10, 1918,
aged 56.
Also
MARGARET
the beloved wife of the above,
who departed this life
Nov. 2, 1925
aged 63 years.

In loving memory of
CATHERINE
the dearly beloved wife of
DONALD MACKENZIE,
2 Dolgarrog Cottages,
aged 36 years.
Also
MONA,
their beloved daughter
aged 5 1/2 year them died at Dolgarrog
on the night of November 2, 1925.
"They cometh forth like a flower and is cut down"

In loving memory of
ELIZABETH
the dearly beloved wife of
GILBERT BROWN
aged 46 years.
Also
BETTY
their beloved daughter,
aged 4.
Both of whom died at Dolgarrog
on the night of November 2 1925.
"Asi. Padre, pues que asi Agrado, en Tusojos"
Also the said
GILBERT BROWN
who died December 10, 1930
aged 55 years.
"At rest".



For photos of Dolgarrog memorial and old boulders, see www.pbase.com/ruralliving/conwy_valley

For additional information, see Ken Davies' site at www.penmon.org where he has other stories about the Dolgarrog disaster on his Conway Valley Connections page at
www.penmon.org/page33.htm

Here is an additional story


Above: Jane Owens of Caenant (from www.penmon.org)

Jane lived at Caenant

One day, Jane was poorly and having a nap, when her daughter Sally heard an awful rumbling.

The Eigiau dam wall had burst, and water was crashing down the valley.

Sally ran upstairs to wake her mother and they both went outside.

They ran down the hill to where a woman was shouting out of the window for them to catch her child. They were desperately trying to help her when a boulder threatened to land on them. A man shoved Sally and Jane out of the way and saved them.

Some of Sally's extended family were saved only because they had gone to the cinema that evening and their home was empty.


Above: Sally and her brothers Jack and Owen (Jack, Owen and Sarah Jane Owens)

Caenant is on the hill very near the path where the water burst through.

A memorial plaque stands at the bottom of the hill just yards away from the narrow road leading up to the cottage.


Above: Mrs Ellen Roberts and her daughter, Mrs Jane Owens.

-------------------------------------------

Y CRWYDRYN

Bu rhiniog carreg-las addoldy’r llan
Yn aelwyd ddigymydog, yntau’n brudd
A ymgartrefai’n wanllyd yn y fan
Bob nos, a’r corwynt milain ar ei rudd;
Er nad oedd ganddo gadair, grât na bwrdd,
Na chlustog ond ei bac i orffwys pen,
Hengôt-droi-heibio gadwai’r ias i ffwrdd
A drws addoldy ei barwydydd pren;
Ar noswaith wyllt, ymrwygudd dyfroedd blin
Trwy’r argae gwan a’r hafn, i foddi trum
O bentref hunai trwy gereiniau’r hin,
A’r creigiau’n crensio’r aelwyd fach ddi-rym;
Ond ‘wyllys Duw arbedodd grwydryn llwm
Y noson hon, nad oedd o fewn y cwm.

Gan William Owen Davies

Jean Davies (neé Roberts) explains that the poem is based on a tramp, believed to be a Mr Barber, who regularly slept inside the church porch in Dolgarrog on his travels. This particular night, he chose to move on towards Conwy. That decision saved his life as the church was washed away by the water as it thundered towards the village.

The poem was written by Mrs Davies' late husband.

Mrs Davies' contribution continues below:

MY EARLY DAYS
By JEAN DAVIES (neé ROBERTS)

I was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, the third daughter of Owen John and Sarah Michell Roberts (neé Jenkins). My father came from Penmon, Anglesey, and mother from Blaenau.

I was about 4 years old when we left Blaenau Ffestiniog to live in Dolgarrog around 1932. My father came to work at the Aluminium Works. I remember my first visit to our home, 26 Gwydr Road. It seemed huge and empty. Obviously the furniture van had not arrived, but we children were very thrilled with the house. It had three bedrooms and bathroom upstairs, a kitchen, pantry, spacious hall, living room and parlour. My father turned our back garden into a productive kitchen garden with fruit and vegetables, with a lawn and flower garden at the front.


Above: 26 Gwydr Road, Dolgarrog. This shows the house and wooden fence, before the road was altered. It iis at the far end of the Gwydr Road colour postcard picture (below, after next story).

I can remember the current road running through Dolgarrog being built, with lorries and steam rollers working hard all day. There existed only a rough track outside our home then, muddy at times with several large stones or boulders visible. The main road was below that, and ran past Tan Y Ffordd farm.

The first infant school I attended was called The Aviary, situated opposite the Royal British Legion Club and up a narrow hill. Turning right, it was on the left. It consisted of only one room. It eventually became our Methodist Sunday School and prayer meeting place. The Band of Hope was also held there.

The older children went to a school called ‘Sillens’, opposite E. B. Jones stores on the main road. I recall using a thin slate to write on with a slate stick when I later attended there. The school property and land no doubt belonged to the Aluminium Corporation Limited, and years later it became a medical clinic for mothers and their babies.


Above: Old postcard from Mrs Davies' collection showing E B Jones shop.

I remember the new Central School being built - it was in the shape of an ‘E’. As a pupil there I recall the teaching was superb. We had an infants section, cookery room, and held assemblies, short services, in the main hall, which had a kitchen at the back and tables for school dinners. Music lessons were also held in the hall where we learned about Handel, Mendelssohn, Schubert and others. We had a laboratory and woodwork room where I made a wooden mouse. We also had shorthand and typing lessons. The headmaster Mr Darfyl Humphreys, later retired to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

On St David’s Day, we held the School Eisteddfod. The school ‘houses’ were named after local lakes; Cenin (yellow), Crafnant (red), Cowlyd (blue) and my ‘house’ Dulyn (green).

In our Girl Guide uniforms we attended the Armistice Day service in November at The Royal British Legion’s Cenotaph.

Mr Bert Williams led and conducted the children’s concerts and choirs, accompanied by Madam Olwen Hughes, a pianist and singer. These were held at the original cinema which was also a dance hall. We saw many black and white films there, and the serial Flash Gordon’s trip to Mars.

I loved listening to Saturday Night Theatre on the radio. One play was called Ladies in Retirement which was later made into a film, and I was all excited when I heard that the film was coming to Dolgarrog. Unfortunately, the cinema burnt down a few days before it was due to be shown.

We left school at 15 in those days, unless you passed the scholarship when 11 years old and carried on your education at Llanrwst Grammar School.

When walking to school I’d cross a bridge and looking down, I could see and hear the ‘bogeys’, which were trucks carrying workmen to the Hydro Electric Scheme up the mountain. The bogeys were attached to a thick black cable and came down the incline. There were also steps alongside giving people the opportunity of walking up and down.

Near E.B. Jones was another bridge which went over huge black pipes coming down the mountain, on a very steep inclination. I recall once climbing over the bridge and on to one of the large pipes – it took me a long time to come down from it!

We used to walk from our home 26 Gwydr Road across the valley and along the straight road called The Track with bushes either side and cross a wooden bridge to the small station. The Aluminium Corporation’s railway track ran alongside it on the left. From the Track, we could see the village houses with their red tiled roofs. In winter the streets were lit up, as was The Track. Trees have now grown to block the view of Dolgarrog.

At the station we caught the train to Blaenau to visit my grandparents, Richard Jenkins, or ‘Jenks’, a caretaker at Blaenau school, born in Trisant near Aberystwyth, and Elizabeth Jenkins neé Michell, who hailed from Cwm Ystwyth. It was so wonderful, stopping at various stations, all clean and tidy with little flower gardens decorating the platforms. Then off again to Blaenau through the long tunnel. Sometimes the light would go out in our carriage and we were in complete darkness. My dear father would light a cigarette so that we could see ‘light’ in the pitch black darkness, which went on for quite a few minutes – but I felt no fear, because Dad, Mam, two sisters Betty and Myfanwy and dear brother Eric were there. Then we came out of the pitch darkness into the light, and were a few minutes from my dear Taid and Nain’s home – absolute magic for me.

When it rained heavily, the Conway River flooded. From our small landing window, the valley appeared to be a sea of water all the way to Trefriw and beyond. Water would also come down in torrents from the vicinity of the broken dam.

I remember one occasion, relatives of mine journeying up the Conway River from Penmaenmawr to Trefriw in a pleasure boat, and we threw them a bunch of our garden flowers which they picked up and we all waved at each other.

My mother could play the piano and when we moved to Dolgarrog to live, as she played the piano, I would march around the table pretending to be a soldier marching. Little did I think that in years to come, I would watch real soldiers marching through Dolgarrog during the 1939 – 1945 War!

The piano sessions took place in the front room or parlour. We were not allowed to play there – it was kept for special occasions such as Christmas, when it had a lovely coal fire. The large oval mirror which hung on the parlour wall is now here in my home, and I remember on my Wedding Day, looking at myself in the lovely mirror and saying “Today you are going to get married to Bill”.


Roberts Family.c 1947 at 26 Gwydr Road. Back L-R Jean, Myfanwy Front L-R Betty, parents Owen John Roberts, Sarah Michell Roberts and Eric.

I married William Owen Davies of Llanrwst. Our eldest son Ken was born when we lived in Dolgarrog, and we then moved to live in Llanrwst where Bill worked at the Post Office. I worked for David Thomas, a Solicitor in the town. Bill got promoted to Postmaster at Dolgellau in 1960, where our second son Paul was born. We moved to Llandeilo in 1970. My parents came to live with us shortly before they died. Sadly, Bill died in November 2002 and I live not far from Paul and his family, with my very happy memories of my life in the beautiful village of Dolgarrog.



Jo Williams (Gorsedd Grucyn) with Jean Roberts in 1949 on a visit to Gorsedd. Photo taken by her fiance William Owen Davies.


MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF WORLD WAR 2

Written by Jean Davies for her granddaughter Kim Davies at Newtown in 1998.

I was only a young girl at the start of the War, and didn’t know what War was until my parents explained it to me.

In the village where I lived, Dolgarrog in the Conwy Valley, there is a large Aluminium Works and also a Hydro-Electric Power Station. I understand that the Germans were aware of this fact, and they intended to bomb them. The Works was therefore camouflaged to disguise it from the views of the German aircraft pilots. Its roof was made to look like fields, and houses were painted on the sides of the buildings to confuse the enemy. Our homes were also camouflaged.

Llanrwst Grammar School had a foreign teacher. I was told that one day, she asked all the children to draw a map of the River Conway, showing where various places were. The river flowed very close to the Dolgarrog Aluminium Works. Shortly after that, the teacher did not appear in school again. Perhaps she was a spy, obtaining information for the Germans!



Above: "May Queen" - Betty Roberts, Myfanwy Roberts, Rhiannon Evans, Jean Roberts, Joyce Carpenter, Jean Jones, Margaret Roberts, Glenys Jones, May Queen Gwyn Davies, Mary Jones and Moira (?). Betty and Jean Jones decided to have a May Queen and arranged the event with the girls. It was held in the garden of 26 Gwydr Road, They borrowed the 'crown' for the day from neighbour Mrs Hughes at No 27, whose son had won it. Gwyn Davies was chosen as the May Queen.

When the air raid sirens rang out and we were in school, we all left very quickly to safe houses in the nearby village, for fear that a bomb would fall and destroy the school – and us too! Fortunately this never happened. In the air above some nearby lakes, were air pockets, and if a plane flew through one of them, it would immediately lose altitude, and drop to the ground like a stone. The pilots would die. Many years after the War, the remains of crashed warplanes were discovered.

Soldiers lived in our village in specially made huts, and there were several bunkers throughout the area where armed soldiers stayed. I remember large tanks travelling through Dolgarrog every Thursday, creating large holes in the road as they passed by. We children waved and shouted hooray at the soldiers who were in them and the lorries which accompanied the tanks. One day, our spaniel Jet went barking towards them. The tanks stopped and the soldiers all laughed to let Jet cross the road.

We could see searchlights from as far away as Liverpool at night, trying to pick out German bombers. The sirens sounded most nights and we could hear various places being bombed.

As schoolchildren, we knitted scarves for the army and the school forwarded these on to the soldiers to keep them warm on the battlefront.


Above: Dolgarrog Central School c. 1940.
Top L-R Rhiannon Evans, Josephine Watson. Olive Roberts, Gwyn Davies, Drina Scott, Jean Roberts, Bessie Bell, Jinnie Griffiths, Nora Spencer.
Middle L-R Annie Williams, Betty Davies, Joan Williams, Mary Coates, Betty Evans, Mildred Griffiths, Sally Shields, Audrey Baddley, Margaret Roberts.
Bottom L-R Glyn Roberts, Norman Evans, Gordon Jones, Ken Griffiths, Huwie Williams, Ken Carpenter, John Roberts, Jacky Bohanna.

Food such as butter, sugar and tea was scarce as were other items during the War. My father grew several vegetables in his garden and my mother did justice to them with her cooking. The shops were very short of ‘nice things’ and everyone had a Ration Book, which had a personalised number. My number was ZEIH/235. Very few sweets were available.

There were many War posters on display throughout Dolgarrog. The ones which stay in my mind are “Make do and Mend” and “Careless Talk Costs Lives”. I recall mending and re-mending our clothes and my father repaired our shoes. He was in the Local Defence Volunteers, renamed the Home Guard, having fought in the Great War of 1914-18. Each home had dark window curtains to stop lights showing at night. If there was a light, a policeman or a Home Guard soldier would knock on the door and give us a row. My father built an Anderson shelter in our back garden.

Despite all this, we children remained happy, not fully appreciating the situation, but we were extremely happy when the War came to an end.


Above: Gwydr Road, Dolgarrog, in days of peace.


Write to mail at melin-y-coed.co.uk - put @ instead of at and insert header MYC Dolgarrog Disaster

1851 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS
Coedsadwrn ; Rowland Roberts 44, shepherd, sisters ; Anne Roberts 72, sister, Margaret Roberts 52, housekeeper, Marie 50, servant, niece Elizabeth Jones 16 general servant, all born Dolgarrog.
Coety ; Robert Davies 24, widower, farmer mountainous land, born Caerhun, Catherine Williams 16 recorded as daughter in law 16, housekeeper, David Williams 12, brother in law, 12, Thomas Davies servant 21, all born Dolgarrog.
Coety Bach ; Henry Williams 63, shepherd, born Llanrhochwyn, Elen Williams 53, wife, born Llandegai, children ; John15, errand boy, born Llanbedr, Elias 7, born Dolgarrog.
Pwlldy ; William Roberts 49, farmer mountainous land, Elizabeth 55, wife, both born Dolgarrog, children ; Mary 10, born Llanrhochwyn, Elen 7, Anne 3, father John Roberts 87, widower, all born Dolgarrog, general servants ; Grace Williams 21, servant born Llanrhochwyn, Elen Davies 18, born Caernarfonshire, William Pritchard 18 born Llanbedr.
Eilio ; William Roberts 53, shepherd, born Dolgarrog, Anne Roberts 46, wife, born Llanrhochwyn, children ; John 14, Mary 10, Grace 8, William 4, Anne 1 all born Dolgarrog.
Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 30, widower, farmer mountainous land, Margaret 4, daughter, both born Aber, Margaret Griffiths 25, housekeeper, born Llaniolen.
Cedryn ; William Davies 31, farmer mountainous land, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Davies 36, wife, born Llaniolen, William 6 months son, Robert Davies 15, brother, both born Dolgarrog, Catherine Owen 18 , servant born Llaniolen.
Cowlyd ; Thomas Roberts 34 farmer mountainous land, Elizabeth Roberts 37, wife, Wlliam 2, son, all born Llanllechid, Elen Roberts 5 months, born Dolgarrog, John Owens 13, general servant, born Trefriw.
Garreg Wen ; William Edwards, 42 farmer mountainous land, born Conway, Anne Roberts 40, wife, John 12, son, both born Dolgarrog, John Griffiths 86 widower, father in law, born Llandegai, Jane Evans 15 servant, born Llanddeiniolen.
Siglan ; William Edwards 82, widower, farmer mountainous land, born Bangor, children ; Elizabeth Hughes, daughter, widow, 44, housekeeper, born Conway, Hannah 6, born Dolgarrog, servants Griffith Williams 17, born Dolgarrog, Anne Roberts 12 born Caerhun.
Pantsiglan ; Owen Evans 60, farmer mountainous land, born Llanrhochwyn, Alice Evans 68, wife, born Dolgarrog, Jane Roberts 12, servant, born Dolgarrog.
The next entry, which has no house name, gives details of widow Catherine Williams, 70, live on a property, born Llanrhochwyn.
Pen y Bryn Gwyn ; William Hughes 55, farmer mountainous land, born Caerhun, Anne Hughes 54, born Llanllechid, sons Hugh 35, Lewis 21, daughter Jane 10, all born Dolgarrog, daughter in law Ann Thomas 16 born Trefriw.
Ardda ; Mary Thomas 52, widow, farmer mountainous land, born Llanrwst, children ; Moses 21, shepherd, Miriam 16, David 9, Margaret 8 all born Dolgarrog.
Pandy ; David Williams 26, woollen manufacturer, unmarried, born Dolgarrog, David 4, son, born Llanrhochwyn, Jane Williams 24 sister, housekeeper, Ellis Williams 19, brother, woollen manufacturer, Margared 14, sister all born Dolgarrog.
Factory ; Robert Jones 43, widow, Master wool manufacturer, born Llanaelhaearn, children ; Catherine 17, Jane 14, both born Caerhun, John 12, Hannah 8, William 5, all born Dolgarrog, . Workman William Edwards 52, fuller, born Llanfor, Jeremiah Jones 29, wool spinner and weaver, born Betws, William Davies 15, wool garder, born Eglwysbach.
The next house, unnamed, was uninhabitted.
Factory ; Henry Lewis 36, sulphur miner, born Conway, Elizabeth 36, wife, born Trefriw, children ; Deborah 9, Jane 6, Robert 3, Mary 1, all born Dolgarrog.
Dol Hyfryd ; Michael Thomas 63, gamekeeper, born Caerhun, Elizabeth 55, wife, born Llansantffraid, Jane 24, daughter, servant, John 14 son, both born Llanbedr.
Tan y Gerddi ; Richard Williams 55, farmer, born Llanfair yng Nghornwy, Ann Williams 49, wife, born Henllan, children ; John 12, David 10, son in law, servants ; William Roberts 20, servant and daughter in law Margaret Roberts 15 all born Dolgarrog.
Pant Teg ; Moses Jones, 71, widower, farmer born Llanbedr, Thomas Jones 40, son, Jane Jones 35, daughter, housekeeper, both born Dolgarrog, David Jones 35, son in law, quarryman, born Llanbedr, grandchildren ; John 18, born Caerhun, Thomas 6, Moses 3, Ann 5 months. all born Dolgarrog, Hugh Hughes 34, general servant, born Caerhun, Hugh Jones 17, labourer, born Llanrhochwyn, Ann Williams 60, widow, visitor, born Trefriw.
Caefrotian ; Robert Roberts 64, labourer, born Dolgarrog, Mary 57, wife, born Dwygyfylchi, daughters Ann 27, Hannah 9, grandchildren Ceturah Pritchard 2, Ann Williams 5 months, all born Dolgarrog.
Beudy Mawr ; John Jones 50, widower, farmer, born Eglwysbach, Rowland Williams, 65, brother in law, born Dolgarrog, Jeannet Jones 65, widow, cousin, Catherine Jones 23, servant, both born Eglwysbach, visitors Ann Jones 8, Catherine Jones 1, both born Caerhun.
Tu Ucha'r Ffordd ; Richard Roberts 57, farmer, Jane Roberts 48, sister, housekeeper, Thomas Roberts 32, brother, farmer, Margaret Roberts 9, niece, Moses Roberts 3, nephew, all born Dolgarrog, William Williams 22, servant born Trefriw.
Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 36, farmer, born Cerhun, Margaret Roberts 39, wife, children ; Elinor 8, both born Dolgarrog, William 3, born Caerhun, Robert 4 months born Dolgarrog. William Evans 20, carpenter, David Hughes 21, servant, born Penmon, Margaret Hughes 16, servant born Llanbedr.
Tyddyn Isa ; William Hughes 63, widower, farmer, born Caerhun, daughters Jane Williams 24 housekeeper, ary Jones 21, son David 14, daughter Elen 11, all born Dolgarrog, David Williams 25, son in law, labourer, Thomas Jones 30, son in law, labourer, both born Eglwysbach, grandchildren William Jones 6 months, Thomas Williams 5 months, both born Dolgarrog.
Glanyrafon Isa ; Robert Roberts 71, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Margaret Roberts wife 55, born Llanuwchllyn, children ; Evan 29 farmer, Margaret 16both born Dolgarrog.
Glanyrafon Ucha ; William Roberts 66 widower farmer, born Caerhun, William Roberts 30, son farmer, born Dolgarrog, Ann Roberts 27, daughter in law, born Gyffin, grandchildren ; Jane Roberts 4, Elin Roberts 8 months. both born Dolgarrog. Servant Margaret Williams 16 servant born Trefriw.

1861 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS
Coedsadwrn ; Rowland Roberts, 55, shepherd, Margaret Rowlands, 68, wife, Elizabeth Roberts 26, house servant, all born Dolgarrog.
Coety Mawr ; Robert Williams 33 farmer, Grace Williams, 28 wife, both born Caerhun, children ; David 8, William 5, Sarah Jane 3, Owen, 10 months, all born Dolgarrog, servant Catherine Williams, born Caerhun.
Coety Bach ; Henry Williams, 72, shepherd, born Llanrhochwyn, Elen Williams 32, wife, grandchildren ; Hugh 9, born Dolgarrog, John 6, born Bangor.
Pwll Dy ; Owen Jones 46, high land farmer, Grace Jones 46, wife, children ; Thomas 8, born Caerhun, Evan 7, born Llangelynin, Hugh 2, born Dolgarrog, father in law Thomas Pierce 81, shepherd, Robert Roberts 17 agricultural labourer, both born Caerhun, Elen Jones 26, dairy maid, born Trefriw.
Eilio ; William Roberts 68 shepherd, born Dolgarrog, Ann Roberts 55, wife, born Llanrhochwyn, children ; John 25, slate quarryman, William 43, shepherd, Ann 11, grandson John Roberts 2, all born Dolgarrog.
Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 39, high land farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 36, wife, born Llanllechid, children ; Margaret 14, born Aber, Robert 6, Elizabeth 3, both born Dolgarrog.
Cedryn ; William Davies, 40, high land farmer, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Davies 36, wife, born Landwrog, Elen Griffiths 13, recorded as daughter in law, unmarried, born Llanrug, children ; William 10, Thomas 8, David Thom. 5, Elizabeth 4, Mary Jane 2, Catherine Ann, 6 months, all born Dolgarrog.
Cowlyd ; Thomas Williams, 50, high land farmer, born Llanllechid, Elizabeth Williams 26, wife, born Clynog, children ; William 4, John 2, Thomas 6 months, sall born Dolgarrog, shepherd Zechariah Jones 15, born Llanrwst.
Gareg Wen ; William Edwards 53, high land farmer, born Conway, 50, wife, John Griffiths 22, recorded as son, both born Dolgarrog.
Siglan ; Edward Williams, 40, farmer, born Conway, Jane Williams 40, wife, born Aber, William Jones 15, shepherd born Llanrhochwyn.
Pant y Siglan ; Owen Evans ; 75, high land farmer, born Llanrhochwyn, Alse (Alice ?) Evans 79, wife born Dolgarrog.
Pen y Bryn ; Lewis Hughes 32, high land farmer, Jane Hughes, sister 20, housekeeper, Rowland Hughes 65, uncle, an occupation of cowman has been deleted, all born Dolgarrog, Griffith Williams 21, carter, born Trefriw, Grace Roberts, 18, dairymaid, born Dolgarrog, Willaim Roberts 22, visitor, shepherd, born Caerhun.
Ardda ; Moses Thomas 31, shepherd, born Dolgarrog, Ann Griffiths 21, housekeeper born Trefriw.
Pandy ; David Williams 36, Manufacturing Master, born Dolgarrog, unmarried, David Williams 14, son maunfacturer, born Llanrhochwyn, Margaret Williams 24, sister, house servant, born Dolgarrog, Catherine Roberts 26, visitor, dressmaker, born Caerhun, William Edwards 59, fuller, born Llanfair, John Jones , 75, widower, manufacturer, born Gwydr, William I. Okes, 11, manufacturer, born Caerhun..
Factory ; Edward Evans, 25, Master of Woollen factory, born Betws Y Coed, Jane Evans, sister, 20, housekeeper, born Llandderfel, Griffith Jones 52, woollen weaver, born Dolwyddelen, John Jones 16, carder, born Capel Garmon.
Ty'n y Gerddi ; Richard Williams, 65, farmer, born Llanfair yng Nghornwy, Ann Williams 57, wife, born Henllan, David Williams 25 son, born Dolgarrog, Mary Jones 20, dairymaid born Llanbedr.
Pant Teg ; Moses Jones 82 widower, farmer, born Llanbedr, Jane Jones 44 daughter, house keeper, grandchildren ; Thomas Jones 16, Moses Jones 13, born Dogarrog, servant William Williams, 36 carter, born Llansantffraid, Owen Davies 56 cowman, born Caerhun, Jane Williams 16, dairymaid born Llandegai.
Caepolion ; Robert Roberts 75, agricultural labourer, born Dolgarrog, Mary Roberts 66, wife, born Dwygyfylchi, grandchildren ; Ann Roberts 10, Mary Roberts 4 both born Dolgarrog.
Ty Newydd ; John Jones 60, farmer, born Eglwysbach, Elen Jones 38, wife, born Llanrhochwyn.
Ty Ucha'r Ffordd ; Richard Roberts 66, farmer, Jane Roberts 56,s ister, housekeeper, Margaret Jane Hughes 19, niece, dairymaid, Moses Hughes 13, nephew, Elizabeth Hughes 8, niece, all born Dolgarrog, agricultural labourer, John Jones 20, born Trefaenan.
Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 47, widower, farmer, born Caerhun, children ; Elinor Roberts 18, William Roberts 13, Robert Roberts 11, David Roberts 7, born Dolgarrog, carter Robert Davies 22, born Llanelian, Jane Davies 17, house servant, born Llanrwst.
Tyddyn ; David Hughes 24, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Hannah Hughes 22 wife, born Caerhun, William 2, son born Dolgarrog.
Glan yr Afon ; Marharet Roberts 66, widow, farmer, born Llanuwchllyn, Ann Williams 32, daughter, born Dolgarrog, William Williams 31, son in law, stonemason, born Llangwstenin, grandchildren ; Jane 6, Elias 4, Samuel 1, all born Dolgarrog.
Glan yr Afon ; William Roberts 40, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Ann Roberts 37, wife, born Gyffin, children ; Jane 14, house servant, Elen 10, Hugh 8, Mary 8 months, all born Dolgarrog.

1871 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS
Glanyrafon ; William Roberts, 50 farmer, born Dolgarrog, Anne Williams 47, wife children ; Elin 20, Hugh 18, both general servants, Mary 10, Jane Winifred 4, all born Dolgarrog.
Coedsadwrn ; Griffith Jones 40, shepherd, born Llanllyni, Grace Jones 27, wife, children ; John 7, William 5, Rowland 3, Anne 1, all born Dolgarrog.
Coety Mawr ; Robert Williams 44, farmer, Grace Williams 40 wife, both born Caerhun, children; David 128, William 15, Sarah Jane 13, Owen 11, John 9, Robert 5, Mary 2 all born Dolgarrog.
Coety Bach ; John Jones 25, bailiff to his father, Margaret Elin 15, sister, servant, both born Dwygyfylchi.
Pwll Dy ; Richard Roberts 46, farmer, Jane Roberts 45 wife, both born Caerhun, children ; William 22, Catherine 15, Robert 13, Jane 7, all born Caerhun, Elin 5, Anne 3, David 7 months.all born Dolgarrog.
Eilio : John Davies 54, shepherd, born Caerhun, Elizabeth Davies 37 wife, born Capel Garmon, children ; Jane 17, John 13, shepherd, both born Trefaenan, David 8, Grace 7, both born Caerhun.
Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 49, farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 46 wife, born Llanllechid, children ; Robert 16, Elizabeth 14 both born Dolgarrog.
Cedryn ; William Davies 51, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Davies 46, wife, born Llanddeiniolen, children ; William 20, David 16, Elizabeth 14, Catherine Anne 10, all born Dolgarrog, lodging with them was Edward Davies 26, slate quarryman, born Llanllechid.
Cedryn Barracks were uninhabitted.
Cowlyd ; Elizabeth Williams 37, widow, farmer, children ; William 14, John 12, Elis 5, Robert 3, Mary 1, all born Dolgarrog.
Garreg Wen ; Anne Edwards, 61, widow, farmer, John Edwards 29, son, John Jones 16, all born Dolgarrog, Elin Roberts 15, both general servants, born Llanrhochwyn.
Siglan ; Edward illiams, 52, farmer, born Conwy, Jane Williams, 52 wife, born Aber, William Willaims 14, general servant born Beddgelert.
Pant y Siglan ; William Roberts 32, farmer, born Caerhun, Elizabeth Roberts, 20, wife, born Llanrhochan, Alice Roberts 1 daughter, Alice Roberts 18, general servant born Dolgarrog.
Penybryn ; Lewis Hughes 39, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Margaret Hughes 37, wife, born Caerhun, children ; Winifred 8, born Llanbedr, Margaret Louisa 7, born Llanbedr, Joseph Williams 18, born Llanllechid, Hannah Evans 22 born Dolgarrog, both general servants.
Ardda ; Moses Thomas 41, shepherd, born Dolgarrog, Anne Thomas, 35 wife, born Caerhun, William 4, son born Dolgarrog.
Pandy ; David Williams, 46, woollen manufacturer Margaret Williams, 30, sister, housekeeper, Edward I Evans 14, nephew, fuller, all born Dolgarrog, Jacob Jones 24, woollen manufacturer, born Gwytherin.
Factory ; Morris Evans, 35, woolllen manufacturer, born Betws y Coed, Jane Evans 33, wife, born Capel Curig, children ; Elinor 7, born Llanrwst, Edward M. 2, born Capel Curig, John Owens, 17, fuller, born Penmachno, Jane Jones, 21, visitor, born Corwen.
Factory ; Elinor Evans 71, widow, living on her own means, born Ysbyty, Elinor Evans 29, daughter, servant born Betws.
Factory ; John Hughes 37, factory man, born Llanfor, Grace Hughes 32, wife, born Llanallgo, Robert Edward 3months, son, born Dolgarrog, Grace Davies, 52, mother, visitor, born Llanallgo.
Factory ; Noah Jones 39, wheelwright, Elizabeth Jones 35, wife, both born Llanrhochwyn, children ; Letitia Jane 11, born Llanrwst, John 8, Elias 3, both born Caerhun.
Tan y Gerddi ; Richard Williams, 77, farmer, born LlanfairyngNghornwy, Anne Williams, 67, wife, born Henllan, David Williams 30, son, born Dolgarrog, general servant, Catherine Williams 28, daughter, housekeeper, born Ysbyty Ifan, Richard Williams 1, grandson born Dolgarrog.
Newborough Arms ; Elizabeth Thomas 73, widow, Beer House Keeper, born Llansantffraid, Elinor Thomas 30, daughter, waiter, John Thomas, 38, son, gamekeeper, both born Llanbedr, Elin Thomas 22, general servant, born Llanrwst.
Pant Teg ; Thomas Pritchard 53, farmer, Jane Pritchard 55, wife, Moses Jones 23 recorded as son, Catherine Pritchard 20, Thomas Jones, 15, both general servants.
Ty Newydd ; Owen Jones 55, farmer, born Caerhun, Elizabeth Jones 33, wife, born Llandudno, Hugh 12, son born Dolgarrog.
Ty Uchar Ffordd ; Richard Roberts 78, farmer, Thomas Roberts 55, brother, farm servant, both born Dolgarrog, Anne Griffiths 45, housekeeper, Jane Jones 15, general servant, both born Dolwyddelen, Richard Hughes 13, servant born Caerhun.
Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 55, farmer, born Caerhun, Winifred Roberts, 50, wife, born Nantyglyn, William Roberts 23, son, born Caerhun, Anne Griffiths 20, Thomas Lewis, both born Caerhun, both general servants.
Tyddyn ; David Hughes 34 farmer born Dolgarrog, Hannah Hughes 32, wife born Caerhun, children ; William 12, Margaret 9, Jane 6, David 3, Samuel 1 all born Dolgarrog.
Cedryn House ; Robert Foulkes Evans 29, Agent for B. Stoke Co., born Llanbedr, Margaret Anne Evans 26, wife, born Llangefni, Ebenezer Francis 4, son, born Manchester.
1881 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS
Coedsadwrn ; Griffith Jones 50, shepherd, born Llanllyfni, Grace Jones 38, wife, Born Gyffin, children; John 17, William 15, Rowland 13, Anne 11, Griffith 8, Robert 4, Hugh 1, all born Dolgarrog.
Coety Mawr ; Robert Williams 55, farmer, Grace Williams 49, wife, both born Caerhun, children ; William 24, shepherd, Sarah Jane 22, Robert 15, home maker, Mary 12, Richard 9, Griffith 7 all born Llanbedr.
Coedty Bach was uninhabitted.
Pwll Dy ; Richard Roberts 55 widower, farmer, children ; William 32, Jane 18, Ellen 16, all born Caerhun, David 10, born Dolgarrog.
Eilio ; William Jones 52, shepherd, born Llanarth, Jane Jones 38, wife, born Llandegai, children ; Sarah 11, Elizabeth 8, both born Llanidaw, John 5, Owen 1born Llanllechid.
Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 59, farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 56, wife, born Llanllechid, children ; Robert 26, Elizabeth 21, dressmaker, born Dolgarrog, visiting them were Jane Roberts 12 born dwygyfylchi, and Mary Roberts 10 born Llanfair.
Cedryn ; William Davies 60, farmer of 300 acres, Mary Jane Davies 22, wife, both born Conway, Duncan Stewart 35, lodger, shepherd, born Pentholm, Scotland.
Cowlyd ; John Williams 22, farmer, Robert Williams 13, brother, born Dolgarrog, Ellen Thomas 34 general servant, born Bethesda.
Garreg Wen ; Elizabeth Williams, 46, widow farmer, born Llynwg (?) children ; William 24, Jane 17, Elis 15, Mary 11, all born Dolgarrog.
Siglan ; William Williams 55, farmer, born Llysfaen, Ellen Williams 50, wife, born Dolgarrog, children ; William 17, Thomas 15, Ellen 13, John 10, Edward 7, all born Caerhun, Jane 2, born Dolgarrog.
Pant Siglan was uninhabitted.
Penbryn ; Lewis Hughes 50, farmer, Margaret Hughes 52, born Caerhun, children ; John 22, M. L., daughter, 17 both general servants and both born Llanbedr.
Ardda ; Moses Thomas 51, farmer of 80 acres, born Dolgarrog, Anne 46, wife, born Caerhun, children William 14, Mary Jane 8, Grace 3 all born Dolgarrog. Visiting was Anne Davies 15 born Gyffin.
Pandy ; David Williams 56, woollen manufacturer, nephews ; Edward John Evans 24, spinner, both born Llanbedr, Elias Evans, 18 carder, Samuel Evans 15, weaver, both born Gyffinservant John Jones 40, wool weaver, born Llangollen.
Factory ; Daniel Jones 52, woollen manufacturer, born Llansantffriad, Margaret Jones 50, wife, Bala, children John 22, born Dolgarrog, Jane 18, Anne 14, born Talybont, Edward 12, born Bethesda, Maggie 6, born Dolgarrog.
Factory ; Thomas Jones 25, unmarried, labourer, Catherine Jones 53, mother, housekeeper, both born Caerhun, Anne Jones 23, boarder, quarryman's wife, Moses Jones 21 boarder, joiner, Anne Jane Jones, boarder, 1, all born Dolgarrog.
Ty'n Gerddi ; Catherine Williams 39, widow farmer 20 acres, born Capel Garmon.
Newborough Arms ; John Thomas 36, Inn keeper, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Thomas, 38, housekeeper, Penelope Williams 32, both born Llanbedr, Jane Williams 15, born Llandrillo, both general servants.
Ty Newydd ; Moses Roberts 34, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Grace Roberts 32, wife, children ; Richard 12, born Eglwysfach, Thomas 10, Hannah 9, born Caerhun, William 7, Anne 5, Margaret 4, Grace 1, all born Dolgarrog. Jane Roberts worked as a general servant, born Trefriw.
Pant Teg ; William Roberts 60, farmer, Anne Roberts 58, wife, children ; Hugh 28, Mary 20, Jane 14, all born Dolgarrog.
Ty dan Ffordd ; Thomas Roberts, 75, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Anne Griffiths 50, housekeeper, born Dolwyddelen, Thomas Roberts 20, born Llanbedr, William Roberts 14, born Caerhun, Margaret Williams, born Beetws y Coed, all farm servants
Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 68, farmer, born Caerhun, Winifred Roberts 58, wife, born Henllan, William Roberts 33, son, Owain Jones 18 both born Caerhun, and Margaret Jones 17, born Dolwyddelen, both farm servants.
Tyddyn ; David Hughes 46, farmer, Hasnnah Hughes 42, wife, children ; Margaret 19, David 13, Samuel 11, Mary Ellen 6, Jonathan 3, all born Llanbedr.
Glan yr Afon was uninhabitted.

1891 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS
Coedsadwrn ; William Williams, 28, farmer, Margaret Williams 27 wife, both born Talybont, children; Lewis L., 5, Ienig 3, both born Capel Curig, William 1, born Dolgarrog, farm servant Robert P. Williams 16, born Bethesda,
Coeti Mawr ; Robert Williams 65, farmer, Grace Williams 63, wife, children; Owen 32, farmer's son, Robert 24, stone quarryman, Richard 19, Griffith 17, Mary 22, nephew Willie P. 8. All were born in Dolgarrog.
Coeti Bach ; Chris Jones 42, single, farmer, born Rhiwgyfylchi, Jane Edwards 60, domestic servant, born Eglwysbach.
Pwll Dy ; Richard Roberts 67, farmer, born Rowen, Catherine Roberts 42, wife born Caerhun.
Elio ; Moses Roberts 40, shepherd, born Llanbedr, Elizabeth Roberts 27, wife, born Caerun, Mary E. 4, daughter born Dolgarrog.
Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard, 69 farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 66, wife, born Llanllechid, Robert Pritchard, 36, farmer's son, born Dolgarrog.
Cedryn ; William Williams 29, farmer, born Llanbedr, Mary I. Williams 29, wife, children; Evan T. 6, William 4, John 1, all born Dolgarrog, farm servant Robert Thomas 18 born Penmachno.
Cowlyd ; John Williams 32, farmer, born Llanbedr, Ellen Williams 44, wife, born Betws y Coed, Thomas 4, son born Llanbedr.
Caerreg Wen ; William Thomas 34, farmer, born Llabedr, Elizabeth Thomas 33, wife, children; Owen 9, Willie 6, Jane 4 all born Dolgarrog.
Siglan ; William Williams 65, farmer, born Llysfaen, Ellen Williams, 60 wife, children; John 19, Edward 16, Ellen 21 who was deaf, all born Llanbedr.
Pen y Bryn ; Lewis Hughes, 61, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Margaret Hughes 60, wife, born Caerhun, children; Charlotte 28, born Llanbedr, Robert 18, farm servant, born Llanberis.
Ardda ; David Williams, 37, farmer, born Caernarfonshire, Ann Jane Williams, 30, wife, children; Elizabeth A. 8, William R. 5 all born Caerhun.
Pandy Uchaf ; Edward I Evans 30, wool manufacturer, Catherine Evans 31, wife, children; Jane 1, David John 2 months, all born Llanbedr. Also living there were John Jones 65, wool maunfacturer, born Llangollen, John Evans 50, wool manufacturer, born Valley, Anglesey, John Roberts 12, wool manufacturer, born Llanrwst, Elizabeth Grace Owens 14, domestic servant, born Caerhun.
Factory Isaf ; Daniel Jones 61, wool manufacturer, born Llansantffriad, Margaret Jones 59, wife, born Llansantffraid, children; Jane 26 working in the factory, Annie 24, working in the factory, Edward 22, wool manufacturer, Maggie, 15, Elizabeth 8, all born Dolgarrog.
Newborough Arms ; John Thomas 48, Publican and farmer, Elizabeth Thomas 50, sister, Publican, Benolophi Williams 46, general servant, all born Llanbedr, Jane Williams 21, general servant born Llandrillo.
Tan y Gerddi ; Catherine Williams 46, widow farmer born Yspytty Ivan.
Tan y Gerddi ; Samuel Evans 25, farmer, born Llangylenin, John Jones 15, farm servant born Capel Curig.
Pan Teg ; Hugh Roberts 38, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Roberts 36, wife, born Llanbedr, children; Catherine E. 8. William 6, Jane 5, D. R. Davies Roberts 3, all born Caerhun, Anne 5 months, born Dolgarrog, farm servant William Jones 27, born Llanfair Tal Haiarn, Ellen A Davies 21, farm servant born Llanbedr.
Tan y Ffordd ; Hugh Hughes 52, farmer, Elinor Hughes 49, wife, both born Dolgarrog, children; Maggie 14, David 10, both born Caerhun, Elias 9, brother in law, born Dolgarrog, William Roberts 44 working on farm, born Caerhun, Owen Jones 20, farm servant, born Llanddoget, Ellen Roberts 31, domestic servant, born Conway.
Ty Uchaf y Ffordd ; Moses Roberts 44, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Grace 42, wife, children; Richard 22, both born Eglwysbach, Hannah 19, born Llanbedr, William, 17, Annie 15, Margaret 13, Moses 8, Catherine 6, Robert J. 4, David 2 all born Dolgarrog.
Bankfield House ; John Taylor, 44, Landscappe painter, born Manchester, broke 2 blood vessels and congestion of the lungs, Ellen Taylor, 53 wife also a landscape painter, born Llanbedr, Mary Roberts 54, domestic servant, born Dolgarrog, suffering with Rheumatism. (NB these ailments are not normally recorded on census forms)
Tyddyn Uchaf ; David Hughes 53, farmer, Hannah Hughes 52, wife, children; David Hughes 23, Samuel Hughes 21, Jonathan Hughes 15, and cousin Ellen Jones 56, married, living on her means. All were born in Llanbedr.
1901 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS
Coedsadwrn; Robert Williams 77, farmer born Caerhun, Grace Williams 74, wife, born Caerhun, Robert 30, farmer's son, Richard 27 carter on farm, Griffith 24, shepherd, William Price 18, all born Dolgarrog, grandson, cowhand born Caerhun.
Coeti Bach and Pwll Dy, both uninhabitted.
Eilio; Robert Prichard 43, farmer, born Llanbedr, Ellen Pritchard, 23 wife born Caerhun
Hafod y Rhiw; Owen Pritchard 79, farmer born Aber, Jane Pritchard 75, wife born Llanllechid, William Thomas, 16, grandson, farm servant born Dolgarrog.
Cedryn; William Williams 39, farmer, born Llanbedr, Mary Jane Williams 42, wife, born Dolgarrog, children, Evan Thomas 15, born Llanbedr, William 13, John 11, Llewelyn 9, Olwen 7, Blodwen 4, Myfanwy 2 all born Dolgarrog.
Cowlyd; uninhabitted.
Carreg Wen; William Thomas 44, farmer, Elizabeth Thomas 43, wife, children; Owen 19, shepherd, Jane 14, Elizabeth Anne 9, Thomas William 7, Catherine 5 all born Dolgarrog.
Siglan; William Williams 77, farmer, born Llysfaen, Ellen Williams 72, wife, born Dolgarrog, children; Ellen 31, housemaid, Edward 27, carter on farm, both born Caerhun, William 14, grandson, shepherd born Llanrhos.
Penbryn Brwynog; John Williams 32, farmer, born Llanfairfechan, Leah Williams 33, wife, children; Elizabeth 5, Grace 3, Margaret 2, all born Caerhun, Jane 2months born Dolgarrog.
Ardda; David Williams 47, farmer, born Caernarfonshire, Anne Jane Williams 40, children; Elizabeth Anne 18, William Richard 15, all born Caerhun, Thomas 6 born Dolgarrog.
Factory Ucha; Edward Evans 40, widower, woolspinner, children; Jane 11, David John 10, all born Dolgarrog, Servants; Cadwaladr Roberts 42, wool spinner, born Capel Garmon, Catherine Roberts, widow 50 housemaid, born Caerhun.
Factory Isa; Daniel Jones 73 wool spinner, born Glan Conwy, Margaret Jones 71, wife, born Rhuthyn, children; Edward 30 watermaw gauger, born Bethesda, Margaret 25, grand daughter Lizzie A. 17 both born Llanbedr.
Newborough Arms; Elizabeth Thomas 55, spinster, Inn Keeper, born Llanbedr.
Pant Teg; Hugh Roberts 48, Land Agent - Auctioneer, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Roberts, 46 wife, born Llanbedr, children; Catherine Ellen 18, Pupil teacher, William 16, David R. Davies 13, all born Caerhun, Anne 10, Richard Lloyd 8, Thomas Pritchard 5, all born Dolgarrog.
Ty Newydd; Samuel Evans, 34 widower 34, factory labourer, children; William D. 7, John R. 6, Grace 2, all born Dolgarrog.
Ty Ucha Ffordd; Moses Roberts 54, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Grace Roberts, 52, wife, born Eglwysbach, children; William 27 farmer's son, Moses 18, shepherd, Robert John 14, cowherd - ag cattle, David 12, Anne 25, Domestic cook, Maggie 23 housemaid, Kate 15, nurse,, grandson Moses R. Evans 1 month, all born Dolgarrog, nephew Robert Thomas Davies 22, carter, born Llanddoget.
Tan Ffordd; David Hughes 64, farmer. Hannah Hughes, 63, wife, children; Samuel 30, farmer's son, Jonathan 23, shepherd, all born Llanbedr.
Bankfield House; Ellen Taylor, 60, widow, grocer, born Llanbedr, Mary Roberts 56, spinster general servant born Dolgarrog.
Tyddyn; John Jones 29, carter, born Melin y Coed, Winifred Jones 38, wife, born Llanbedr, Willie John 5, son born Caerhun.

Thanks to Ken Davies for the above transcription of Census Details for Dolgarrog. The record illustrates how mobile the local people were in their search for work and a place to live.

BETWEEN BETWS Y COED, LLANRHOCHWYN AND TREFRIW IN 1881: CENSUS DETAILS

From a private search for names in Llanrhochwyn, which is also on the high ground of the mountain range to the west of the Conway Valley, here is a listing from 1881 of many of the names between Trefriw and Betws y Coed. It is not exhaustive.

William Roberts, 59, b. Penmachno, shoemaker, Jane Roberts, Wife, 55, b. Betws Y Coed, son Matthew Roberts, 31, unmarried, born Llanrhychwyn, Butcher, Margaret Roberts, daughter, unmarried, aged 20, born Llanrhychwyn, William Roberts, son, Unmarried, aged 17, born Llanrhychwyn, Slate Quarryman. 1 Llugwy Terrace, Llanrhychwyn.
Next door to Cwm Isaf
Which was next to Rhos Geffylau
.. .. The Vicarage - John Jenkyns, Boarder (Head)Bachelor, 36 born Llanfihangel, Vicar of Capel Curig
Jonathan Price, Married, 33, b. Tal y Bont. Slate Quarryman
.. .. Rowland Williams Tollgate
.. .. John Williams Tyn Coed Hotel
.. .. Wm Chambers Bryntyrch Inn (Bryntyrch website is at www.bryntyrchinn.co.uk )
.. .. Gaynor Hughes 6 Bryn Llys Cottages
etc to Tan Y Bwlch Hotel
William Hughes Lodging house Bron Eryri
Wm Roberts Siabod Villa
Robert Hughes Tyr Bont and John Adams Schoolmaster Boarder
Thos Wms Bryn Brethynan
David Davies Cyfyng Falls
John Griffiths Bryn Glo see www.bryn-glo.com/
Richard Jones Dol Glaur 171 acres End of Llanrhochwyn
Tyn Y Gerddi 2 houses uninhabited
From here, Bettws y Coed houses listed

And in the other direction

Griffith Jones 2 Llugwy Terrace Llugwy Terrace shows up as a Capel Curig address on the web
etc
After that came 1 Glanr Afon Terrace Robert Owen
after 5 houses came Edward Jones Tap Room (Blacksmith)…*
then Hugh Hughes Llugwy Cottage (Holyhead Rd Betws the address now).
then Henry Hughes Snowdon View
then Henry Parry Post Office
then Wm Wms same one at Chapel House Local Methodist Preacher and Shop Keeper *****
then Robert Hughes 1 Bryntyrch Ucha Cottage
then John Owen 2 Bryntyrch Ucha Cottage
etc 4 houses then
Wm Pritchard Waen Hir
then Grifith Thomas 1 Tal Y Llyn
then Wm Evans No 2 Tal Y Llyn
Catherine Griffith Tyn Groes
William Wms Tyn Y Bryn
Robt Hughes Pen Rhos
Catherine Evans Ty Hwnt R Gors These last few are all farmers ****
Edward Owen Frmr Penrallt
Anne Evans 1 Tai Uchaf Brother Lead Miner
Richard Evans Frmr No 2 Tai Uchaf
Gaynor Jones widow Tyn Y Graig
William Harker 52 Pen Y Coed Lead Miner
Robert Hughes Frmr 8 Acres No 3 Tai Ucha
Evan Williams Frmr 10 acres Ty Newydd
Pierce Wms Frmr 1 Tai Isaf 20 acres
William Williams and Jane 1 Tai Isaf
Elin Wms No 3 Tai Isaf
Ellis Williams No 4 Tai Isaf
Thomas Hughes Pen Ucha Rallt
Elizabeth Cooper White Hall
Catherine Owen Garth
Evan Hughes Tyn Llan
Richard Jones Frmr 100 acres Tanr Eglwys
David & Catherine Wms Tyn Coed
James Harker Penfrith
Christopher Harker Hafotty
Richard Evans Clawdd Gwyn.
Robert Roberts Tyr Mawn
Edward Hughes Lletty
John Jones Old Turnpike
Hugh Jones White Barn Cottage Joiner, Lodger was Inspector of mines
Henry Nottingham Mine agent Tyn Twll
Owen Roberts 1 Ysubor Gerrig
5 houses then
William Ellis 1 Caer Herbor
etc
then Henry Evans Stone Mason Tay (Tan?) Rallt
Owen Griffith Hafod Farm like a little village, with John Hughes Trefriw Curate as boarder at the end
C E Hughes Plas Coch
Ty Newydd Empty
Florence Mary Palmer, Principal of Young Ladies Day school Byrn Afon (Bryn Afon)
John Roberts InnKeeper Geiriognydd House (Cd be Geirionnydd)
Grace Evans Grocer Newadd Llewelyn Could be Neuadd
Robert Roberts Glanr Afon
Thomas Thomas Llys Gains
Richart Jonese Nant Isaf
Thomas Harris(on) Keeper & 12 acres Nant Uchaf
Ellin Pierce Cornal
Thos Wms 100 acres Hendre
David Davies 120 Acres Hendre
Owen Thomas Tan Dderwen
David Rowlant Lledwigan Frmr 200 acre
Ellin Williams Berth Clwyd 23- ac
John Owen 1 Ribo 48 acres
Wm Jones 120 ac 2 Ribo
Charles Jones 53 ac Tyddun Wilim
Evan Wms 80 ac Fridd
Robert Griffith 400 ac Brwynog Isa
Ann Wms do 750 ac
John Roberts 25 ac Berth Llwyd
John Duncan McLaran Gwiga
Letitia Owens 30 ac Dolgarog
John Jones Tyddyn Du 100 ac
1 Cae Coch Empty
Eliza A Hill Share Holder and Retired. Liverpool. Tyddun Du,
Harry Doering Boarder from Java Bavaria ! (Batavia) South American Merchant
Edward Edwarts Bron Fadog
Blaen Nant empty
Richard Wms Blaen Nant 1500 ac
Then it becomes Trefriw.


Above: From Melin-y-Coed the hills on the western side of the valley are a constant source of interest.

Here is a request from Lynda, whose ancestors came from that area:

Wedi cael pleser mawr o ddarllen eich gwefan - Diolch.

Rydw i yn perthyn i deulu Coety Bach ac yn gofyn am gymorth i hel mwy o hanes y teulu - fedrith unrhyw un helpu ?

Thank you very much for the most interesting website. I am related to the family who lived at Coety Bach and would very much like to know if anyone has any information about the family history?

My great grandfather was Elias Williams born in 1843 at Coety Bach and I believe he was the youngest son of Henry and Elin[Ellen] Williams he moved to work in the Penrhyn Slate Quarry and died in Llanllechid having fathered 10 children.

Can anyone tell me anything about the rest of the Coety Bach family? He had 2 sisters, Ellen[Elizabeth]b1830, and Jane 1822, as well as 3 brothers Richiard[sic] b 1825, Robert b 1833, and John b 1835.

I would love to hear from anyone with any history about Coety or the family.

My family and I are living in Rachub/Llanllechid - still in the same village [ over the mountain ] that my great grandfather went to when he began working in the Penrhyn slate Quarry. I believe he left Dyffryn Conwy sometime between 1867 and 1869. I know that Coety and Coety bach are now under Llyn Coety.

Elias married a girl from Llanllechid and lived for a while at Tyddyn Robin Isaf [Llanbedr y Cennin]- this was where my grandfather Henry[b 1867 ]and his sister Ellin [b 1865] were born. I have been to see the graveyard at Llanbedr y Cennin Church and my great great grandparents are buried there to the left of the path leading up to the church.

I have also seen where Tyddyn Rhobin is, but there seems to be no record of Tyddyn Robin Isaf on any OS maps that I've seen . Does anyone know where it was? I would really love to find some family still living in the area, or any history about them.

There are family stories that Henry, my grandfather still kept sheep on the mountain here and would take them over the mountain to sell; he knew the mountains between Llanllechid and Llanbedr y Cennin really well and would walk over to see his family and to drink in Y Bedol. He was well known in sheep dog trial circuits of the time and was the Chairman of the sheep dog association here at the time.

With many thanks for your interest - Diolch yn fawr - Lynda

Lynda Pritchard d.pritchard @ btinternet.com
(To contact Lynda by email, close the anti-spam spaces)