A “MYSTERIOUS” Gothic monument near Cwmystwyth has officially been opened, after its successful restoration earlier this year.

The Gothic Arcade, which is located along the Ystwyth Gorge Walk, at the Hafod Estate, has defied efforts by researchers to discover its precise history, with no old photographs or descriptions coming to light.

Listed among the built features of Hafod, which is managed by the Hafod Trust, the Gothic Arcade has Ancient Monument status, meaning its restoration required the authorisation of Cadw.

Representatives of the Hafod Trust and Natural Resources Wales, as well as politicians, councillors and supporters of the project, gathered at the Arcade for the opening ceremony on Friday, 28 October.

Philip Ellis, vice-chairman of the Hafod Trust, welcomed guests and summarised how, over the past 22 years, Hafod had become better known and accessible to a wider audience as walks, bridges and other historical features were restored.

A stylised painting by John Piper, created in 1939, was the only known image of the three-arched structure when intact, and over the following decades, the arcade collapsed, leaving two precarious pillars.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow