AMID the natural disasters caused by high temperatures across the world in recent weeks, and the Llantysilio mountain fire still raging, memories of a man-made disaster that took place 50 years ago have risen to the surface.

Features of a forever drowned village, Capel Celyn, submerged beneath a lake in the Tryweryn Valley above Bala have reappeared as water levels have fallen during the current drought in north Wales.

Video and images by Craig Colville

The rural village, which had a post office, school and chapel with a cemetery, was controversially flooded by the UK Government in 1965 to create a reservoir to provide water for the city of Liverpool and the Wirral.

The decision was met with mass protests in the valley, a campaign known as Save Tryweryn, led by north Wales trade union leader Huw T Edwards which included peaceful marches on the streets of Liverpool and three militants blowing up a transformer on the lake dam. The protestors were unsuccessful in their cause.

The lost village now lies beneath a body of water at the bed of the Llyn Celyn reservoir, which was originally called ‘Great Tryweryn Lake’ but it was subsequently renamed due to criticism.

The reservoir is no longer in use and in 2005 the Liverpool City Council issued a formal apology for the flooding.

The tragedy and the opposition it caused are still considered a touchstone political moment in the rebirth of Welsh nationalism.