THE past is never far away in the Vyrnwy valley.

Indeed the very landscape, as beautiful as it is, was crafted by the hand of man during the Victorian era to sustain the water needs of Liverpool.

The great Lake Vyrnwy reservoir was created in 1888 by flooding the head of the river Vyrnwy valley - completing a nine year project which saw the village of Llanwddyn submerged - and complete the first large stone-built dam in the United Kingdom.

The dam cost £620,000 but their had also been a cultural and historical cost.

The village of Llanwddyn and its residents were never consulted about the drowning of their beloved valley and despite opposing the plan the scheme went ahead.

County Times: The old village of Llanwddyn. Picture: Powys Digital History.

The old village of Llanwddyn. Picture: Powys Digital History.

Their relocation involved the demolition of a church, two chapels, three inns, ten farmhouses, and 37 houses as their former homes were submerged under 84ft of water and covering the he equivalent of around 600 football pitches.

On February 23, 1889, when the lake had partially filled with water, the Illustrated London News published a long article about Lake Vyrnwy and the scheme proclaimed it to be one 'one of the grandest works of modern times.'

A new settlement to house them was built lower down the valley by Liverpool Corporation.

County Times: The old village of Llanwddyn. Picture: Powys Digital History.

The old village of Llanwddyn. Picture: Powys Digital History.

Even the remains of bodies from the chapel's cemeteries were removed before the flood and re-buried in the new church cemetery.

Also lost under the water was Eunant Hall, a large house and estate owned by a member of the local gentry, Sir Edmund Buckley.

Along with all the other buildings behind the dam this also was demolished, though no new hall was built and instead a tree planted on the soon to be submerged site.

County Times: Eunant Hall. Picture: Powys Digital History.

Eunant Hall. Picture: Powys Digital History.

However the legacy of the past community, long lost to the depths, remains through its 311 feeding brooks, waterfalls and rivers.

Afon Hirddu, Eunant, Afon Naedroedd, Afon Cedig and Afon Y Dolau Gwynionew while Afon Eiddew includes as Pistyll Rhyd-y-meincau, commonly known as Rhiwargor waterfall.

However the old village of Llanwddyn has never completely been forgotten.

County Times: Eunant Hall. Picture: RSPB Lake Vyrnwy.

Eunant Hall. Picture: RSPB Lake Vyrnwy.

Whenever water levels drop to a certain level then skeletons of the never to be forgotten village can be seen.

Recently tourists and locals alike have been fortunate enough to see the remains of Eunant Hall - the once great home of the Vyrnwy Valley - which was never rebuilt by the Victorian architects and engineers whose legacy still remains all around.