To coincide with the activities arranged in the Porthmadog area to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Cob, Gwynedd Council’s Archives Service has put together a selection of material relating to the building of the embankment.
A series of letters written by William Maddocks who was the main driving force behind the ambitious scheme to build the embankment or Cob across the Glaslyn estuary will be on display as part of the exhibition. The items which also include original documents, and pictures from the 19th century will be available to view on the Council website by visiting www.gwynedd.gov.uk/archives as well as a display at Caernarfon Record Office between September and November.
Lynn Crowther Francis, Gwynedd Council’s Principal Archivist said:
“With a number of events being held this year to note the 200th anniversary of building the Cob in Porthmadog, we felt that it would be timely to display some items available at Gwynedd’s Archives which give an idea why and how the embankment was built.
“The items which will be on display on the website and at the Caernarfon Record Office are only a taster of the kind of information held by both the Caernarfon and Meirionnydd Record Office. For example, we have a series of correspondence written by William Maddocks held at the Caernarfon Record Office which can be viewed by members of the public on request.”
Councillor Roy Owen, who leads on archives for Gwynedd Council, added:
“We hope that these timely exhibitions will encourage members of the public who are interested in local history to visit the Council’s record offices in Caernarfon and Dolgellau.
“Both facilities store and protect vitally important historical documents which date back many centuries, including photographs, maps, documents and local newspapers relating to the county’s history.”
For more information and to access the on-line catalogue visit the Gwynedd Council website: www.gwynedd.gov.uk/archives or phone (01286) 679 095 Caernarfon Record Office, (01341) 424 682 Meirionnydd Record Office.
