The History of Nant Gwrtheyrn

The earliest archaeological evidence of inhabitation in the area are the two well-known Iron Age hillforts which dominate the high ground above Nant Gwrtheyrn. Tre’r Ceiri and Yr Eifl were both inhabited between 150 BC and 400 AD. Little is known about these early inhabitants, other than they depended heavily on the local iron which was exported and sold.

A sett is a slab of granite, shaped into square or rectangular blocks. These setts were used as cobblestones on streets throughout Britain.

Granite quarrying was a great success and within a few years, three quarries had opened in The Nant:

Cae’r Nant
Porth y Nant
Carreg y Llam

As a result, 150 – 200 ton ships were regularly loaded and transported to the industrial cities before returning with all kinds of products for the quarrymen, which weren’t available locally.

The demand for granite for roads reduced dramatically.

Soon after First World War- The owners of Porth y Nant quarry amalgamated, Roadstone Corporation decided to close the quarry for the final time.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Nant Quarry closed for the final time, and one by one the families left the village.

During the early 1970s, the village was occupied by the New Atlantis Commune of hippies. They lived there without any water supply, electricity or a sewerage system. They caused a lot of damage to the Nant by burning floors and doors as firewood and covered the walls with graffiti. For anyone with special memories of the close-knit community and of the busy quarries at the Nant – this was a very sad sight! When the commune members left the Nant, the buildings were left in ruins.

In 1970, Dr Carl Clowes moved from his specialised job at Christie Hospital, Manchester to run a single-handed doctor’s surgery at Llanaelhaearn. He and his wife Dorothi were determined to raise their children as Welsh speakers. But, what he discovered was a community facing an uncertain future, and he felt that something had to be done. The local granite quarry at Trefor was facing closure and the local school at Llanaelhaearn was also threatened. If the area was to survive, employment would have to come from somewhere.

Since the first Welsh language act came into force in 1967 there was a growing demand for Welsh speaking staff at many public organisations across Wales. The doctor considered it necessary that a residential centre offering Welsh courses throughout the year should be opened if this was to be ensured.

As the two ideas blended together, and although the buildings were in ruins by the 70s, it was decided that a dedicated Centre would be established at Nant which would generate employment for local people and give a necessary boost to the language.

A period of stabilisation, making minor improvements to the cottages and experimenting with the market.

The Heritage Centre was opened at Capel Seilo in 2003 which led to an increasing number of daily visitors visiting the Nant in the years to come. Nant Gwrtheyrn contributed over £0.7 million to the economy of the Llŷn peninsula in 2003.