Lost house rises in Elan Valley as reservoir dries up

Remains of Esgair y Gader Cottage, a brick house, have recently come into sight at the Claerwen Reservoir in the hills above Rhayader, following months of dry weather.

The pictures of the remains of the cottage on the shores of the Claerwen dam have been posted on the Elan Valley Past and Present Facebook page.

It is believed this is the first time the house has been seen since the flooding of Claerwen Valley, more than 70 years ago.

Remains of Esgair y Gader Cottage, a brick house, have recently come into sight at the Claerwen Reservoir in the hills above Rhayader, following months of dry weather. (Image: Elan Valley Past and Present)

“Remains of the brick house, Esgair y Gader Cottage, have just come into sight,” read a post on the Elan Valley Past and Present page on Sunday, August 30.

“I believe this is the first time the house has been seen since the flooding of Claerwen Valley. It might be in view for a few weeks before the water level begins to raise again.

“(The) brick house was 1 of 6 houses built by the Birmingham Water Corporation at the time of building the 1st phase of the Elan Valley Dams.

“There was to be 3 dams built up the Claerwen Valley when the demand for more water was needed.

“The base of Dol-y-Mynach Dam was built and is the only dam part built of the three dams planned for the Claerwen Valley. After the 2 World Wars, the Claerwen Dam we know today was built to a much higher level.

The Elan Valley was identified by the Birmingham Corporation Water Department, which acquired the land via a compulsory purchase order following an 1892 Act of Parliament. (Image: Elan Valley Past and Present)

“Please do not attempt to go down to the house, the mud is very soft and deep around the ruins.

“I've not seen any photos of this brick house before it was knocked down, I would love to see any if any are about.

“Three of the six brick houses are lived in today, 2 have been knocked down and one near Cwm Elan Mine is empty.”

How a valley was flooded

The Elan Valley was identified as the perfect place to save the city of Birmingham in the 19th century – which was in desperate need of a clean water supply due to the boom of the industrial revolution.

The project to supply water to Birmingham was officially opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on July 21, 1904.

Joseph Chamberlain, father of future-prime minister Neville Chamberlain, was elected mayor of Birmingham in 1873, and he became aware he needed to get clean water to it in order to save its people – who were becoming ill from dysentery and diarrhoea due to the city’s small rivers, which had quickly become polluted.

Two large manor houses and about 44 properties were demolished, including 18 farms, a small mill, a school and a church. (Image: Elan Valley Past and Present)

The Elan Valley was identified by the Birmingham Corporation Water Department, which acquired the land via a compulsory purchase order following an 1892 Act of Parliament.

While good news for Birmingham’s residents, it was bad news for locals. Two large manor houses and about 44 properties were demolished, including 18 farms, a small mill, a school and a church.

About 100 people had to move and while landowners received a small amount of compensation, others who were tenant farmers received nothing.

Work began on the project in 1893. The Claerwen Reservoir, the largest of the dams, was also the last to be finished. Work was expected to begin in 1939 but was delayed by World War II, and it was completed in 1952.