THESE BOULDERS, CARRIED DOWN BY THE FORCE OF THE FLOODWATER FROM THE DAM, LIE IN THE AREA OF THE VILLAGE DESTROYED BY THE DISASTER
Dolgarrog Dam Disaster Memorial Garden
About Dolgarrog Dam Disaster
On the evening of 2 November 1925, high above the village, the Llyn Eigiau Dam failed, The breach in the dam sent water down the mountains and into the Coedty Reservoir below.
The reservoir’s embankment dam was overtopped and collapsed funnelling millions of gallons of water and huge boulders down the narrow gorge and onto the village of Dolgarrog below.
The disaster claimed the lives of 16 people, including six children. The death toll would have been significantly higher had many of the villagers not been watching a film in the community hall which stood on higher ground.
The disaster led to Parliament passing the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act 1930 – which introduced new safety laws for reservoirs.
A memorial garden now marks the disaster site, incorporating many of the huge boulders that were swept down the gorge and parts of the Coedty Dam pipeline which were also washed down by the flood water.
Main image: Dolgarrog Dam Disaster site and Memorial Garden
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All images © W N BISHOP