Twll y Cwm

Far away from anywhere, with the mountains standing around it like giants, what sort of life was lived here years ago? No one lives here today, and no one has lived here for a very long time.

In 1881, David Roberts, Barbara J. Jones and Mary Davies lived in 1 Twll y Cwm. In 2 Twll y Cwm lived Hugh and Jane Jones and their family. Further on in history, the Lloyd family used to live in Twll y Cwm (Humphrey and Jane). They lost their son Ithel in the First World War (1914-1918). His name is on the memorial in Bethania Chapel, Penmachno.

Near Twll y Cwm is the source of the River Machno. In the pictures below you can see where it is possible to see the river for the first time without having to climb up the mountain! In truth the river starts a small distance from here, from a small brook under "Craig Blaen y Cwm".

Source of the River, View 1

Source of the River, View 2

One may well ask, what is a river? The raindrops falling on the hills and mountains gather into puddles on the rocks and saturated land. The water forms rivulets and then streams as it runs rapidly towards the lower ground. The streams unite and soon become a river flowing quickly downhill, working away the soil and stones in its path. Over the centuries it works and reworks its bed, forming the valley we see today. This is how a river is born.

Beti Richards' Brook

Here you see a small brook running down the mountain called Beti Richards' Brook. I wonder if anybody knows the origin of the name given to this brook?

Twll y Cwm Farm

Sheep-shearing Day in Twll y Cwm, 1934

Here are some of the people in the above picture: Hugh Owen (Tyddyn Bach), William Williams (Foel), Edward Roberts (Swch), Mrs. Williams (Foel), John Ifor, Bertie Jones (Llechwedd Hafod), Thomas Jones (Hafod Fraith), Gwilym Williams (Pen Bedw), William Jones (Llechwedd Hafod) (With the Dog). As you can see, Twll y Cwm was a single storey farmstead.

Twll y Cwm Gorge

Twll y Cwm Gorge, close to the source of the river. The gorge emerges from a bog close to the summit of the mountain and then runs down to the River Machno.

As we travel down the river, we come to Can Cwm Farm. My mother told the story of the little girl who died at Can Cwm in the depths of winter. The little coffin had to be carried through the deep snow from Can Cwm down to Ddôl and then by horse-drawn carriage to Penmachno for burial.

Owen Jones used to live in Can Cwm in 1858.

This is a picture of Can Cwm taken in 1953.

Now that we have seen where the river begins, we shall travel along the river towards the village of Cwm Penmachno.