The Flooding of Llyn Eigiau in 1925

The flooding of Llyn Eigiau devastated the Conwy village of Dolgarrog.

Llyn Eigiau began as a natural lake, formed thousands of years ago by glaciers carving out the surrounding valleys of Eryri. Its cold, clear waters reflected the hills and provided a home for wildlife, while the surrounding land was grazed by sheep and farmed by generations of local families. It was a peaceful place, long before human engineering sought to change it.

In the early 20th century, the lake was enlarged by a dam, the Eigiau dam (owned by the Aluminium Corporation), to supply water for local industries. In November 1925, disaster struck. The Eigiau dam collapsed, releasing horrifying amounts of water into the steep valleys below. The flood swept through farms and homes with terrifying speed, tearing out bridges, carrying away livestock, and destroying everything in its path.

Sixteen people lost their lives, many from local families who had lived in the area for generations. Many villagers were fortunate that they were in the local theatre watching a movie, otherwise the number of sixteen would have been much higher. Some were caught in their homes, others trying to rescue neighbours or livestock. Entire farms were wiped out, leaving the survivors to pick up the pieces of their lives in the aftermath. The force of the water reshaped the landscape, washing away fields, roads, and memories alike.

The Llyn Eigiau disaster pushed Westminster to pass the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act 1930. This Act led to an introduction of various laws designed to improve the safety of reservoirs and it would be further strengthened by the 1975 Act.

Since 2004, there has existed a £60,000 memorial trail at the site. The trail tells the history of what happened on 2 November 1925 to the walkers who walk it – I strongly recommend. It was actually the final survivor of the tragedy, a Mr. Fred Brown, who opened up the trail in 2004. Though Fred was very fortunate to survive, he tragically lost both his mother and younger sister on that awful day.

(Diolch, Padrig)

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