A special project at the world-famous home of the Ladies of Llangollen aims to restore a fascinating piece of engineering history.
The Our Picturesque Landscape project along with site manager Paul Evans are at work in the Glen area within the grounds of Pas Newydd to reinstate the hydraulic ram pump building which originally powered water up to the garden at the back of the historic house.
The pumping system was installed by General John Yorke of Erddig when he owned Plas Newydd in the 1890s to provide a fresh water supply.
The restoration, which has been funded by Cadwyn Clwyd, is part of a wider volunteer training scheme that has included the restoration of over 50 metres of retaining stone wall, the installation of stepping stones across the Afon Cyflymen as well as pitch-paving to reduce the slipperiness on the summerhouse steps.
Paul Evans said: "The Covid pandemic put a stop to all volunteer involvement and so plans were brought forward to repair the ram building instead.
"No photos, pictures or illustrations exist revealing what the building originally looked like so the project invited people throughout the area to help with research on social media.
"As a result, a number of people came forward, all saying that it was shaped like a stone-domed igloo about five feet high with a little window and door.
"The information provided by the public was a major input to the research needed for the project and enabled the team to plan for the restoration confidently."
Paul added: "The first stages were to dig out the compacted vegetation infill that had built up around and inside the building since the 1960s.
"As part of this uncovering process, the intact workings were revealed at the bottom, which was a real highlight and means that the original pump which has been kept dry for many years in the garages at Plas Newydd can be returned to its rightful place at some point soon.
"It is hoped that one day maybe this form of early green energy can be restored as a working feature.
"The pipework is still evident running from the weir to the ram pump building. It is work in progress but is due to be completed by March 2021."
Paul says the water supply was drawn from the stream via a weir upstream and from there was fed by gravity via iron pipes, some of which are still surviving, to a hydraulic ram pump which in turn supplied water to the back of the main house via iron pipes.
This pump was situated in a stone built dome the remains of which can still be seen.
During the current excavation works a number of interesting artefacts have been unearthed such as old bottles, a horseshoe and an old shoe.
Also uncovered were sweet and crisp wrappers from the 1970s which Paul says Plas Newydd will be able to use for future projects on non-biodegradable waste.
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