Drop-in Heritage Room for Cwm Penmachno a step closer

Sep 16 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Drop-in Heritage Room for Cwm Penmachno a step closer

PLANS to create a drop-in museum to help preserve the heritage of a Conwy Valley quarry village are a step closer thanks to the endeavours of a community action group.

Cwm Penmachno was once a thriving quarry village with many shops, businesses and regular community events as well as its own school, chapels and church.

But its population dwindled with the end of quarrying in 1962, and the remaining villagers were left with very few community facilities.

Nevertheless community spirit was strong and eventually the Cwm Community Action Group was formed to help preserve and promote community life.

In 1999, the group took over the lease of a local chapel building from Conwy County Council and called it Shiloh. It was converted and provides a communal centre for village life.

“The plans for the building were developed from local residents’ ideas,” said secretary Aled Owen.

“The Shiloh provides two floors of activity space and the building is fully accessible and a popular venue for all sorts of activities, including regular concerts.”

Aled explains it was only after a popular exhibition organised in the community that the group decided on a permanent heritage room for exhibitions and displays about the village.

He added: “In 2005 the active village community, which includes a rich variety of people from different backgrounds including artists and craft workers, put together an exhibition about its history.

“Many people were involved and an amazing amount of information, photographs and exhibits were given for display.

“The exhibition, which was only open for a short period, was met with an excellent response. Since then there has been a desire in the community to see a lasting and good quality exhibition in the Shiloh Chapel.

“The idea of the Drop-in Heritage Room will prevent stories and information from the past from being lost altogether.

“The village has changed dramatically over the last 60 years and a way of life has been lost forever which is still in living memory for many people.

“The completed project will be a source of enjoyment for visitors to Cwm Penmachno and enable people to fully understand its story.

“The project will also allow local people to learn about their heritage.”

At a total cost of £65,000, Cwm Community Action Group is far from its target, but with £12,000 already raised from community events the group is optimistic and waiting on £2,000 of private sector funding which they say will enable them to apply for the major Heritage Lottery grant.

samantha.castle