![](../../shim.gif) |
![Cwmnewidion](webphotos/cwmnewidion.jpg)
CWMNEWIDION
GRID REFERENCE: SN 710745
AREA IN HECTARES: 128.0
Historic Background
By the early 17th century Cwmnewidion was a small independent
estate owned by Hugh Vaughan (no relation to the Vaughans of nearby Crosswood),
and comprised within this landscape character area Cwmnewidion Isaf and
mill, Gilwern, and two Rhos-rhudd farms (Morgan 1997). As Morgan states
(p23), the origins of the wealth and status of the families of these small
estates are lost. The Vaughans of Cwmnewidion were, however, sufficiently
wealthy to have acquired ex-Strata Florida grange lands in Cwmystwyth.
In the 1780s the Crosswood estate purchased the Cwmnewidion estate (Morgan
1997, 196). Late 18th century estate maps indicate that a similar field
patterning to todays was then present (NLW Crosswood Deeds 5, Ser IV,
Vol 1; 18 & 42). The map of Cwmnewidion shows enclosed land on the
valley floor, and heavily wooded valley sides with unenclosed land above.
A similar pattern is shown on the Llanerchpentir map. From the mid 19th
century lead mining became an important element in the economy of the
area. Several mines, Red Rock, West Frongoch, Wemyss and Graiggoch worked
the western limits of the Frongoch lode (Bick 1974, 16-17). Wemyss at
the eastern end of Cwmnewidion was worked from 1861 to 1899, and Craiggoch
from 1841 to 1889, although here evidence of earlier workings was noted
in 1840. A chapel was constructed here in the 19th century.
![Cwmnewidion](webphotos/cwmnewidion2.jpg)
Description and essential landscape components
Cwmnewidion is a narrow, steep-sided valley. The floor
of the valley rises from 100m at the western end to over 200m at the east.
The valley sides rise to over 300m. The landscape area includes the valley
bottom and the lower slopes of the valley sides, but not the higher slopes.
A minor road, but nevertheless an important local route-way, runs along
the northern side of the valley floor linking the fertile lands of the
lower Ystwyth valley with Pontrhydygroes and Cwmystwyth. The settlement
pattern is of dispersed farmsteads located at the foot of the steep valley
sides with enclosed land spread across the valley floor. Enclosures are
small and irregular and are formed by low earth banks. Banks were formerly
topped with hedges, but apart from in the extreme western part of the
area these hedges have gone and are now replaced by wire. Improved grazing
predominates on the valley floor, giving way to poorer quality land on
the lower slopes. Land here is enclosed into larger divisions, but the
earth bank boundaries are redundant and replaced by wire. There are stands
of deciduous woodland and 20th century forestry at the western end of
the area.
Included in this area is the stone-built two storey Georgian
farmhouse of Cwmnewidion Isaf, built by the Trawscoed Estate, with its
range of stone outbuildings arranged formally around a courtyard a little
distance from the house, as is usual with a “gentleman’s”
residence. Other farms are more modest, with rendered stone houses dating
to the mid-to-late 19th century of two storeys and in the typical Georgian
vernacular style – gable end chimneys, central front door, and two
windows either side of the door and one above. One house at least has
strong vernacular traits. Some farmhouses have been replaced by modern
dwellings and there are several other modern dwellings and/or heavily
modernised older houses in this area. Most older farm buildings are relatively
small, of stone and probably date to the 19th century, although 20th century
brick structures are also present. Apart from one farm, modern agricultural
buildings are not large, and indeed, several farms are not now working,
have no modern buildings, and their old outbuildings are not used.
The remains of the metal mining industry are an important
and distinctive element in this landscape. These are concentrated towards
the eastern end of the valley and comprise dominant spoil heaps and mine
buildings. The mine buildings constructed of local stone are roofless,
but stand in some instances to their original full height. The buildings
include a generating station at Frongoch mine that was supplied by a pipeline
from a reservoir to the north.
Other than metal mine remains; the recorded archaeology
consists of a mill site and a chapel.
The borders of this area are well defined with steep
valley sides to the north, west and east. However, at the open western
end of the valley this landscape area forms no clear boundary with the
enclosed land of neighbouring areas.
Base map reproduced from the OS map with the permission
of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery
Office, © Crown Copyright 2001.
All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright
and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272221 |