A chapel built from stone collected from a drowned village near Bala is being recommended for heritage status.

Cadw this week announced its intention to list Capel Celyn Memorial Chapel, Llyn Celyn. 

A consultation on the listing is now underway, with the intention to list at Grade II for both its special architectural and historic interest.

The memorial chapel, which was designed by Welsh sculptor R L Gapper of Aberystwyth and is owned by Dwr Cymru, is located at the north-west end of Llyn Celyn. 

It was built on the site of the lost farm of Gwern Delwau, and used stones retrieved from this and buildings demolished when the reservoir was constructed, including from the original Capel Celyn.

The memorial garden that houses gravestones resited from the original Capel Celyn is surrounded by boulder field walls which incorporate the date stone from the original chapel.

Mr Gapper’s intention was for the building to resemble a boat, which would symbolise the culture and religion of the community surviving the flood and coming to shore, and the choice of local, reused stone was intended to root the building to its place. The distinctive angled window which is a strong feature of the design was positioned so as to look towards the site of the original chapel.

Listed at Grade II for both its special architectural and historic interest, Cadw says the building is of special architectural interest as a modern memorial chapel, beautifully modelled and adapted to its site, and giving powerful but subtle expression to the circumstances of its building.

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