National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free

A Village Condemned to Die - Capel Celyn in the Treweryn Valley
A Llanrwst resident films the transformation of Capel Celyn from village to reservoir, believing it “a worthy contribution” to progress.
From the collection of:

Overview
The title suggests that the film-maker may regard the demolition and drowning of the village – a controversial means of providing water for industry in Liverpool - as a tragedy for justice and fair play but, be that as it may, he concludes that, “Capel Celyn in death now makes a greater contribution to man’s progress than it ever was able to do in life.” Shot by Alfred Mawby (b.1918) of Llanrwst, a founder member of Grwst Cine Club. NB: ‘Treweryn’ is correctly spelt ‘Tryweryn’.
The Tryweryn Bill, passed in 1957, allowed Liverpool City Council to proceed with the flooding of the Tryweryn Valley without the need for planning consent from the relevant local authorities. By 1965, Llyn Celyn reservoir had taken the place of Capel Celyn village and surrounding farms, a Welsh-speaking community, despite the declared opposition of all the Welsh MPs bar one. Protests involved the Free Wales Army and Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru [Society for the Protection of Wales]. In 2005, Liverpool City Council issued an apology.
Related

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.