Welsh village emerges from lake as heatwave continues to scorch Britain

Welsh village emerges from lake as heatwave continues to scorch Britain
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Max Parry

By Max Parry


Published: 15/08/2022

- 17:55

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:45

The underwater village has not been this visible since 1976

Llanwddyn village is usually submerged by a reservoir at this time of year, however today the houses that made up the settlement are now visible thanks to the heatwave engulfing the UK.

Lake Vyrnwy, which would normally be 90 percent full, is far beneath that percentage, exposing the extraordinary architecture of a village lost since the 1800s.


Eight areas of England have been declared to be in drought, and although the Welsh county of Powys has not formally declared a drought, the lake is still showing the impact of the hot weather.

The town was submerged by the lake, after The Liverpool Corporation took the decision to dam the River Vyrnwy and make it a reservoir.

Lake Vyrnwy
Lake Vyrnwy
Google Maps

The reservoir was designed to serve the people of Liverpool with fresh water, as the city developed during the late 19th century.

The Earl of Powis laid the first stone of the new structure in 1881, after which homes and the church in the village were knocked down.

Over 1,000 men were involved in creating the reservoir at the height of the construction.

Despite the destruction of much of the village, ruins remain.

The last time so much of the underwater village was visible was during the infamous drought of 1976, according to the Shropshire Star.

Now the beautiful stonework can been seen once again; a silver lining to the blazing conditions which have wreaked so much havoc for the nation’s farming sector.

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