A history of the area

The town of Waenfawr - 2 miles up the valley from Plas-y-Nant - was probably established in Roman times as an outpost on the approach to the great Roman fortress at Segontium (now the town of Caernarfon).  In the Middle Ages the village was known as Wein Mawr.

Saint Garmon is believed to have lived in Waenfawr in about 400 A.D.  He established a place of worship and held Christian meetings in a slate hut just up the valley from Plas-y-Nant.  Saint Garmon's followers - and later the village - became known as "Betws Garmon" (the Church of Garmon).

The present church in the village of Betws Garmon was built in 1842 on the site of the original slate hut.  In the church is a font, date 1614, and inscribed "Capel, Saint Garmon, Betws" (i.e. Chapel of the church of Saint Garmon).  Inside is a font table to the memory of "John Rowland's of Nant, and honest man, upright magistrate , generous brother, who died 1703, aged 58 years". The memorial was set by his youngest daughter,Margaret. The church is just 5 minutes walk from Plas-y-Nant.

Traveling eastwards through the village, ome passes Plas Coed (house among trees), where David Cox R.A. stayed whilst he was painting Nant Mill, the bridge and waterfall. The mill is derelict and on the site of the kiln, where the corn was dried, two cottages now stand.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.