Derwenlas
Encyclopedia
Derwenlas is a hamlet
in northern Powys
, Wales
.
Part of the historic county of Montgomeryshire
(Sir Drefaldwyn) from 1536 to 1974, it lies on the Afon Dyfi and was once a port serving the market town
of Machynlleth
.
The narrow-gauge Corris, Machynlleth and River Dovey Tramroad (opened 1859) carried slate
from the quarries around Corris
and Aberllefenni
to the riverside quays here, including Cei Ellis and Cei Tafarn Isa, where it was loaded into ships for onward shipment.
At around the time the tramway became the Corris Railway
in the early 1860s the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway
extended the standard gauge rails west of Machynlleth and on reaching Derwenlas, built the new line across the bend of the river by filling in the channel and creating a new course for the Dyfi, in the process cutting off Derwenlas' quays from the river channel and killing off the port.
The Tramroad had originally continued to Cei Ward at Morben
, further downriver, but the entire section west of Machynlleth was abandoned and slate was instead trans-shipped to main line trains.
Derwenlas lies on the A487 trunk road from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth
.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in northern Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Part of the historic county of Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
(Sir Drefaldwyn) from 1536 to 1974, it lies on the Afon Dyfi and was once a port serving the market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Machynlleth
Machynlleth
Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404, and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official...
.
The narrow-gauge Corris, Machynlleth and River Dovey Tramroad (opened 1859) carried slate
Slate industry in Wales
The slate industry in Wales began during the Roman period when slate was used to roof the fort at Segontium, now Caernarfon. The slate industry grew slowly until the early 18th century, then expanded rapidly until the late 19th century, at which time the most important slate producing areas were in...
from the quarries around Corris
Corris
Corris is a village in the south of Snowdonia in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. Although the Snowdonia National Park covers much of the area around Corris, the village is not within the park. The name is possibly derived from the English word "quarries", and the extensive slate quarries that surround...
and Aberllefenni
Aberllefenni
Aberllefenni is a village in the south of Gwynedd, Wales. It lies in the valley of the Afon Dulas.Part of the ancient county of Merionethshire, it is the location of Foel Grochan, a slate quarry which together with Hen Chwarel and Ceunant Ddu formed the Aberllefenni Slate Quarry, which extracted...
to the riverside quays here, including Cei Ellis and Cei Tafarn Isa, where it was loaded into ships for onward shipment.
At around the time the tramway became the Corris Railway
Corris Railway
The Corris Railway is a narrow gauge preserved railway based in Corris on the border between Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire in Mid-Wales....
in the early 1860s the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway
Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway
The Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway was a standard gauge railway built in 1863 connecting major towns on the Welsh coast.- History :...
extended the standard gauge rails west of Machynlleth and on reaching Derwenlas, built the new line across the bend of the river by filling in the channel and creating a new course for the Dyfi, in the process cutting off Derwenlas' quays from the river channel and killing off the port.
The Tramroad had originally continued to Cei Ward at Morben
Morben
Morben is a hamlet in northern Powys, Wales. Part of the historic county of Montgomeryshire from 1536 to 1974, it lies on the Afon Dyfi and was once the home of a number of riverside quays, including Cei Ward and Y Bwtri. The site of Cei Ward lies alongside the A487 opposite Plas Llugwy, where the...
, further downriver, but the entire section west of Machynlleth was abandoned and slate was instead trans-shipped to main line trains.
Derwenlas lies on the A487 trunk road from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
.