Dyffryn Nantlle
The Nantlle (or Nantlleu) Valley
The Onomastic Tale
How does the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion explain the origin of the name of the Nantlleu Valley?
The Original Manuscripts
Where is the Nantlleu Valley mentioned in the manuscripts which recorded the medieval Welsh tale?
Most of the tales of the collection which is now called the Mabinogion are found in the White Book of Rhydderch (c. 1350) and the Red Book of Hergest (1382 – c. 1410), two of the relatively small number of medieval Welsh manuscripts which survive today.
A Rich History
Besides its fame as a setting in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion, Dyffryn Nantlle has long been an important location in North Wales
In the 13th century, Baladeulyn (in the Nantlle Valley) was one of the royal courts of the Princes of Gwynedd. It was the property of Einion ap Caradog, who was the uncle of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last sovereign prince of Wales. Yet after the conquest of Wales by Edward I, the land was seized by the English monarchy. It is even known that Edward I stayed in Dyffryn Nantlle for several weeks in 1284.
The video below shows a modern reconstruction of what a royal court of the Princes of Gwynedd might have looked like. In Gwynedd, there were 22 known royal courts (Llysoedd).
Llys Llywellyn at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff. A modern reconstruction of a royal court of the Princes of Gwynedd based on the archaeological remains of Llys Rhosyr (in Anglesey).
An Industrial Past
An important part of Dyffryn Nantlle's recent history – as with much of North Wales – is the prominent slate quarries in the valley
As can be seen in the map below, there is an abundance of slate quarries in and around Dyffryn Nantlle.
While a more thorough history of slate quarrying in Dyffryn Nantlle and in North Wales more generally is out of the scope of this StoryMap, you can learn more by visiting museums such as the National Slate Museum in Llanberis or visiting websites such as the one linked below.
An Artistic Inspiration
Dyffryn Nantlle is also the birthplace of many culturally significant Welsh figures and, in its beauty and its contradictions, a source of inspiration for many artists.
Numerous other renowned Welsh artists, including famous author Kate Roberts, opera singer Bryn Terfel, and poet T.H. Parry Williams, were also born in Dyffryn Nantlle.
Bibliography
All images sources can be found in the top left corner of the images (in the (i) icon)
Quotes in English from the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion are from Davies, Sioned (ed and trans). The Mabinogion. Oxford University Press (2007).
The source of the two medieval manuscripts can be found in the button nearest to the screenshot and the transcription.
The reading of R. Williams Parry's "Dyffryn Nantlle Ddoe a Heddiw" is courtesy of Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol (found at https://adnoddaubont.cymru/mod/resource/view.php?id=3014 ). The text of the poem (in Welsh) can also be found at that link.
A Rich History
“Baladeulyn Then and Now.” The Official Nantlle Valley Website, www.nantlle.com/history-nantlle-baladeulyn.htm.
“Llys Llywelyn - Medieval Court.” National Museum Wales, Welsh Government, museum.wales/stfagans/buildings/llys-llywellyn/.
Williams, John Dilwyn. “NORTH WEST WALES DENDROCHRONOLGY PROJECT – TŶ MAWR.” Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, 12 June 2012. http://discoveringoldwelshhouses.co.uk/library/Hhistory/cae%20014_HH_17_Ty-Mawr-Nanttle.pdf
An Industrial Past
“Cilgwyn Quarry Papers.” Archives Hub, Bangor University Archives, archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb222-bmssclg.
Hayman, Richard. “Nantlle and Cilgwyn – A Character Study.” Gwynedd Council & Snowdonia National Park Authority, 2017. http://orapweb.rcahms.gov.uk/coflein/6/634149.PDF
“Nantlle Valley.” Llechi Cymru, Cyngor Gwynedd 2016, 2016, www.llechi.cymru/en/Slate-Areas/Nantlle-Valley.aspx.
Wikipedia contributors. "Slate industry in the Nantlle Valley." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Mar. 2021.
An Artistic Inspiration
Bishop, Peter. “Snowdon: Wilson's View.” Campaign for National Parks, Campaign for National Parks, 10 Feb. 2020, www.cnp.org.uk/blog/snowdon-wilsons-view.
“Folklore & Tradition – Llyn Nantlle.” Land of Legends , Literature Wales, www.landoflegends.wales/location/llyn-nantlle#.
Wikipedia contributors. "Nantlle Valley." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 Mar. 2021.
“Wilson In Wales – Snowdon from Llyn Nantlle.” Yale Center For British Art, Yale University, interactive.britishart.yale.edu/wilson-in-wales/103/snowdon-from-llyn-nantlle.
