HISTORICAL objects from a village which was lost when a water reservoir was created in the Tryweryn Valley near Bala have been donated to a museum in Cardiff.

The objects from Capel Celyn have been given to the national collection in St Fagans National Museum of History by Gwyn Roberts and his daughters, Nia Erain Griffith and Lois Elenid John.

Mr Roberts’ mother, the late Martha Roberts, was headmistress at the village school from 1957 to 1963.

Following the flooding of Cwm Tryweryn, Mrs Roberts received the school’s bell, key and lamp, along with two lamps from the chapel, to commemorate this momentous chapter in the history of Wales.

Capel Celyn and the surrounding lands were lost in 1965 when a reservoir was created to provide water for Liverpool.

Mr Roberts and his daughters have presented these objects to Amgueddfa Cymru so that future generations may remember and learn about this important period.

Elen Phillips, principal curator of contemporary and community history, said: “Every object in St Fagans is important, and every story adds to our national memory.

“However, some acquisitions send a shiver down the spine.

“We are extremely grateful to Mr Roberts and his family for entrusting these objects to our care.”

St Fagans already has a road sign and a cup and saucer from Capel Celyn.

These objects can be seen in the ‘Wales Is…’ gallery from October 2018 onwards. The new acquisitions will also be displayed in the future.

Mr Roberts said: “Although these objects are part of our family’s history, and a living link between ourselves and the tragedy of Capel Celyn, we were also aware of their national importance.

“It is a pleasure to present them to St Fagans National Museum of History, in the hope that future visitors will empathise and learn more about this sad chapter in our history. Even so, as my mother was fond of telling the schoolchildren, ‘the water belongs to Wales now – we won in the end!’”