A century ago
... the Vyrnwy Valley looked very different: The Corporation of Liverpool began work on the huge masonry dam in 1881 to create a new fresh water supply for their city.
Apart from land for the lake, they purchased the surrounding 24,000
acre catchment area to control the purity of the water, and this
enabled them to enhance the great scenic beauty of the area. This
colossal project even involved relocating the entire former village of
Llanwddyn.
The lake took two years to fill and the water first flowed to Liverpool in 1891. An official ceremony in 1910 conducted by HRH the Prince of Wales marked the completion of the works.
Accommodation was required for many of the sightseers, engineers and dignitaries who came to see what was then the largest dam in Europe, so the hotel was built to accommodate the City Fathers of Liverpool so that they may enjoy their newly created sporting estate.
Located 900 feet above sea level, it is made from locally quarried stone. Sporting activities were also introduced, with shooting, fishing, walking and birdwatching. The lake was stocked in 1889 with 40,000 Loch Leven trout, and the first official day of fishing was in March 1891. All sporting continues to this day.
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