3990 Learning at home workbook 6 ebook

The lost village of Llanwddyn – 1
Text
Read the narrative text.
Cerys and Huw live in Sydney, but this year they are
staying with their grandparents, who live in mid-Wales,
in Britain. As keen birdwatchers, one of their favourite
places to visit is Lake Vyrnwy, a mecca for twitchers
from all over the country. In the magnificent woodland
surrounding the lake, there are a number of nature trails
and bird hides. The twins and their grandparents have
spent many happy hours these holidays, huddled together
on a bench, peering through binoculars, and watching the
comings and goings of the reserve’s avian wildlife.
‘I really like this place’, sighed Huw wistfully, trying not to
remember that tomorrow, his family would be travelling
to London to get on a plane to take them back to
Australia. This would be their last visit for quite some
time. ‘It’s so peaceful here. I’ll bet it hasn’t changed in a
thousand years.’
‘Ah, now that would be where you’re wrong, young
man, very wrong.’ John Evans put his hands on Huw’s
shoulders as they all gazed across the lake, marvelling at
the reflection of the hillside in the crystal-clear water.
‘The connection we have with this area didn’t just begin
when your dad, Robert, married our Alice. Oh no, it
began well over a hundred years ago, with the building of
the first stonework dam in the country.’
Sensing a ‘Grandpa story’ coming on, the twins and
Grandma Megan made themselves comfortable on the
bench.
‘You know that my family has always lived in Llanwddyn’,
began Grandpa John. ‘Well, while that’s true, it’s not
absolutely true. You see, the Llanwddyn of today is not
the Llanwddyn of yesteryear. That was just up the valley.’
‘Er … sorry Grandpa, but you’ve lost us’, said Cerys
slowly, a crinkled expression of confusion decorating her
face. ‘How can that be? That would be where the lake is.’
‘Exactly!’ replied Grandpa, delighted with his
granddaughter. ‘My family moved into the house we live
in today in 1888. They didn’t want to move, but their
old house, along with the rest of the village, was to be
demolished. Yes, fifty families were rehoused, and the
shops, inns, church and chapel were rebuilt; and even
those lying in peace in the cemetery were dug up and
taken to a new place of rest.’
‘Why, Grandpa? Were the buildings falling down?’ Huw’s
innocent question made John smile.
‘No lad, it was all about water. The population of Liverpool
to the north was expanding rapidly with all the industry
and factories, and they needed a source of pure, fresh
water. Where better to find it than here in the rivers of
Wales?’
Amid endless interruptions and questions, John managed
to explain to the children how the last years of old
Llanwyddyn continued under the shadow of the rising
dam wall that would stem the river’s flow; and how the
village was finally abandoned, then demolished, so the
Vyrnwy could rise to form a lake.
‘Well!’ cried Huw in utter dismay. ‘I hope nowhere else
had to suffer in the same way.’
Megan Evans had been quiet for a long time. ‘It happened
in many places, Huw: the Elan Valley and Capel Celyn
are two others. And there are some to in Australia, like
Tallangatta. Someone, somewhere, always has to pay the
price for something that benefits others, and people are
always resistant to change. But don’t dwell on it. There
are plenty of events that have occurred in the past that
were much worse than this.’
‘Your grandmother’s right, as always!’ laughed John,
coming out of his reverie. ‘And don’t forget, you love this
place. Its history shouldn’t change that. Come on, who’s
up for a cycle around the lake in this glorious evening
sunshine?’
© R.I.C. Publications
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My learning log When I read this narrative text, I could read: all of it. most of it. parts of it.
R.I.C. Publications® www.ricpublications.com.au 88 ISBN 978-1-922313-88-1 Learning at home workbook 6