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Lost places of Wales rediscovered by Cynefin project

6/8/2015

Cynefin is an innovative Heritage Lottery Funded project; digitising the tithe maps of Wales. During preparation for an exhibition at the National Eisteddfod, Cynefin’s project staff came across tithe maps showing places from the 1840s which can no longer be seen.

Tithe maps are an important source of information about the lost villages and houses of Wales. On display at the Eisteddfod this week is part of the Guilsfield tithe map showing Garth Hall, a Gothic mansion which was situated not far from the Eisteddfod, but was demolished in 1947.

The tithe maps showcased at ‘The History Place’ and the National Library of Wales stand at the National Eisteddfod this year also show Llanwddyn village and the area of Capel Celyn before the village developed. These villages and their surrounding areas now lie under the waters of Llyn Vyrnwy and Llyn Celyn reservoirs respectively.

These tithe maps are displayed together with pages of tithe apportionment documents, which name the landowners, land occupiers, land use and field names from the 1840s when the tithe maps were drawn up.

Einion Gruffudd, Cynefin’s project manager said; “It’s exciting to see Welsh history come to life through the use of tithe maps at the National Eisteddfod this year. These stories of lost places convey just how important tithe maps and tithe documents are as research tools for local and family historians.”

The tithe maps are being digitised at the National Library of Wales and can be seen on the cynefin.wales website.

The Cynefin project is eager to get the people of Wales involved in transcribing the tithe maps and their associated tithe apportionment documents. This will help create an innovative and comprehensive online research tool for people to access and search through the tithe maps and documents.  Find out more about the Cynefin website and volunteering opportunities by visiting cynefin.wales or by visiting the National Library of Wales stand
(601 – 605) at the National Eisteddfod.

Ends.

For further information contact Einion Gruffudd or Carys Evans
Einion Gruffudd: 01970 632 842  einion.gruffudd@llgc.org.uk
Carys Evans: 01970 632 416   carys.evans@llgc.org.uk  07988 750 415

Editor’s notes

  • The ‘Cynefin: Mapping Wales’ sense of Place’ project is run by a partnership led by Archives Wales, and also includes the National Library of Wales and People’s Collection Wales.  The majority of its funding comes from the Heritage Lottery Fund; the project is also supported by the Welsh Government through Museums, Archives and Libraries Division (MALD), the National Library of Wales and Archives Wales.
  • Cynefin was launched in November 2014 and is due to be completed by the end of September 2016. To find out more visit the website: cynefin.wales; follow Cynefin on twitter, @CynefinProject, or contact cynefin@llgc.org.uk or 01970 632 416.
  • More information about the 2015 National Eisteddfod