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Images of Wales                          Back to Webpage Archive


The feature below was first shown on my website on 29 October 2000

Daffodil

Images of Wales


Where's that?? - locate Bontnewydd on a map of Wales.



Dolcoed Mill Photography by John Ball  
Dolcoed Mill, Bontnewydd
Cardiganshire
Photography in June 2000 by
John Ball (with a Sony Mavica MVC-FD91 digital camera)
and Venita Roylance (with a Kodak digital camera)

Dolcoed is a 300-year-old former woollen mill and weaver's cottage in the hamlet of Bontnewydd in the parish of Blaenpennal, about four miles north-west of Tregaron.
The building has been refurbished and is now [2000] a cosy self-catering holiday cottage.


Left: Access to Dolcoed is gained by traversing this narrow wooden footbridge across a stream which otherwise isolates the mill from the lane.


Dolcoed Mill Photography by Venita Roylance
Above: The stream and the footbridge which gives access to the old mill.
The stream is called Afon Ddu (Black River).

Stream Photography by John Ball

Above: On the far side of the mill flows Afon Aeron (River Aeron) whose waters once turned the waterwheel driving the mill. The Aeron eventually flows into Cardigan Bay at Aberaeron.


Dolcoed Mill Photography by John Ball
Above: Dolcoed Mill as seen from the lane.

Roof detail
Photography by Venita Roylance

Above: Separated from Dolcoed Mill by Afon Ddu is another old cottage, now (June 2000) used as a cow-shed. This detail of the end wall suggests the roof may once have been lower than at present.



Update, August 2012:
The cottage and its outbuildings were recently purchased for conversion into a habitable residence. The new owner, Lewis Richards, has kindly provided the photograph below, showing the present state of the cottage.

2012 photograph
Photography by Lewis Richards, 24 July 2012, with a Blackberry 9780


Lane Photography by John Ball

Above and below: The lane leading to Bontnewydd. Dolcoed Mill is accessed through the gate on the left of the picture above. The barn and cow-shed are alongside the lane. The building just visible at the top of the hill (above) and through the trees on the left (below) is an old chapel.


Lane and chapel Photography by Venita Roylance

Bontnewydd Chapel
Photography by John Ball
Above: Capel Blaenafon Chapel at Bontnewydd.
(The chapel is also featured in my Welsh Churches and Chapels Collection)

According to local resident Mr Williams (right), this Calvinistic Methodist chapel has not been used for some time, and is now (June 2000) for sale. Mr Williams's ancestors once worked at Dolcoed Mill, and lived in the adjacent cottage which he now uses as a cow-shed.

Update (April 2009): Sadly, Mr Williams is now deceased.

Tom Williams
Photography by
Venita Roylance

Clematis Photography by John Ball
Above and below: A splendid display of clematis in the hedge alongside the lane.

Clematis detail Photography by John Ball

Sheep Photography by John Ball

Above and below: To the east of the lane, sheep were quietly grazing. The scarred landscape is evidence of former quarrying activity. The farm cottage (below) appears to have been abandoned by all but the sheep.


Deserted cottage Photography by John Ball

Dead tree with cobwebs Photography by John Ball

Above and below: To the west of the lane, are the wind-blown hilltops of Cardiganshire. Light drizzle has enhanced the freshly woven spiders' webs.


Spider's web Photography by John Ball

Current status of Dolcoed Mill

In June 2000, Dolcoed Mill was advertised on the Quality Cottages website at: http://www.qualitycottages.co.uk/
In February 2011, Dolcoed Mill was advertised for sale on the RightMove.co.uk property website.


Acknowledgement

Many thanks to Venita Roylance of Provo, Utah, USA, for allowing me to use some of her photographs. Venita can be contacted at venitar@mac.com or you can visit her website at http://www.venitap.com/home.html

Images of Wales                          Back to Webpage Archive

Please write via my Contact Page with your comments about my photographs.

Details of each website feature (for newcomers) Direct links to each website feature (for regulars) Advance news of new developments on my website Summary of all the latest updates Gateway to Welsh Family History Archive Help for those having problems accessing my website A link to the main 'gateway' page to my entire website