The Lost Village Of Pwlldu

The Lost Village Of Pwlldu
In 1963 the small hamlet of Pwlldu, near Blaenavon, was demolished. Originally a mining community, the mines had long since closed, and houses had fallen into a dilapidated state of repair, with no access to either running water or a sewerage system.
The council took the decision to move residents down the valley to another village. Interviews with residents, one who had lived in the hamlet for over 70 years, show that even though conditions were harsh, not all wanted to leave.
The foundations of the houses can still be seen, and The Lamb Inn seen in the film is still open today.
An interesting feature of Pwlldu is the 'Pwlldu Tunnel' which runs from Pwlldu to Blaenavon through the hillside. The tunnel was originally created in the late 18th Century and was one of a number of mines supplying iron and coal to Blaenavon Ironworks. In later years it was used as a tramroad tunnel.
Story has it that the ladies of Pwlldu used to walk through the tunnel to do their shopping in Blaenavon!
Some parts of this clip are mute.
Pentref Coll Pwlldu
Fe ddymchwelyd pentref Pwlldu, ger Blaenafon yn 1963. Erbyn hynny roedd y cyn bentref glofal wedi dirywio tipyn, doedd yno er enghraifft ddim system ddwr na charffosiaeth.
Er fod y Cyngor wedi cynnig cartrefi newydd i'r trigolion, mae'r cyfweliadau hyn yn dangos nad oedd pawb mor awyddus i adael
Mae olion y tai iw gweld o hyd, ac mae'r dafarn 'The Lamb Inn' yn parhau i fod ar agor hyd heddiw.
Un nodwedd ddiddorol o hanes y pentref yw 'Twnel Pwlldu' sy'n rhedeg drwy grombil y mynydd o Pwlldu i Flaenafon. Adeiladwyd y twnel yn y Ddeunawfed Ganrif er mwyn cario glo i'r ffwrneisi haearn a chynyrch haearn lawr at y gamles. Yn ol y son roedd gwragedd pwlldu yn defnyddio'r twnel er mwyn picio i Flaenafon i siopa!
Mae rhananu o'r clip yn fud.
Mae Archif ITV Cymru / Wales wedi ei leoli yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru. Am fwy o wybodaeth ar sut i weld catalog yr archif cysyllter a www.archif.com The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Wales. For more information on how to access the Archive Catalogue, please visit www.archif.com.
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