Traeth Mawr

Traeth Mawr (Welsh for 'large beach') is a polder near Porthmadog in Gwynedd in Wales. The area was formerly the large tidal estuary of the Afon Glaslyn. It was created after large-scale land reclamation occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A large embankment, called the Cob, separates the area from the sea and carries a road and railway line.

History

Early years

The original estuary of the Afon Glaslyn was a dangerous place; many people were said to have died in the

landowners around the edge of the estuary began to systematically reclaim

land of between 50 acres (20 ha) and 100 acres (40 ha). Between 1770 and 1800 this resulted in the creation of about 1,500 acres (607 ha) of new land.

Around 1798,

earthen bank from Prenteg to Clog-y-Berth (now Porthmadog). The township of Tremadog was founded within the new area. A wooden-tracked railway was used in the dyke's construction. The rails were later used by the Croesor Tramway.^[1]

Completion

In 1807 Madocks obtained a

Meirionnydd

. The massive stone-lined earthwork was 1,600 yards (1,500 m) long, 90 feet (27 m) wide at the bottom, tapering to 18 feet (5.5 m) at the top, which was 21 feet (6.4 m) above the level of the river. The work completed the reclamation of 1,500 acres (607 ha) of Traeth Mawr.

Soon after completion in 1812, the embankment was breached in a violent storm. Repairs were completed by the end of September 1814.[3] Although the original estimate to complete the Cob was £23,500 (£16.9million in 2014), it eventually cost Madocks £60,000 (£43.3million in 2014) to finish. At its seaward end, Traeth Mawr joins "Traeth Bach" ("little sands"), the estuary of the River Dwyryd.

Transport

In 1836, the

narrow gauge railway

in 1863. In 1927 the Cob was breached again, and took several months to repair.

A carriageway was also constructed at a lower level on the inland side to take a public highway. Until September 2003, when the Cob was bought by the

Lôn Las Cymru, the national cycle route from Holyhead to Cardiff

.

In 2010 work started on the Porthmadog, Minffordd and Tremadog bypass to reduce the amount of through traffic in the town.

A4971

.

In 2012, 260 m (850 ft) of the embankment were widened on the seaward side of the Porthmadog end to allow a second platform to be constructed at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway's Harbour Station.

Bibliography

OCLC 2074549
. B1A.

References

^ Boyd 1975, p. 15
^ 1 August 1807 - 47 George III Cap. 71
^ Boyd 1975, pp. 15–16
^ Welsh Assembly Government : A487 Porthmadog, Minffordd and Tremadog Bypass^{[permanent dead link]}

[1] Boyd 1975, p. 15

[2] 1 August 1807 - 47 George III Cap. 71

[3] Boyd 1975, pp. 15–16

[4] Welsh Assembly Government : A487 Porthmadog, Minffordd and Tremadog Bypass^{[permanent dead link]}

[1]