In Pictures: The valley drowned for a reservoir

Capel Celyn in the Tryweryn valley was the one of the last villages in Wales where people spoke only Welsh.

The pupils at Ysgol Capel Celyn were to be the last to have lessons at the Welsh-language school.

In 1957 Macmillan's Conservative government passed the Tryweryn Bill, allowing the compulsory purchase of land to build a reservoir to supply water to England.

Thirty five of Wales' 36 MPs opposed the bill, but it was pushed through against their opposition, prompting bitter public protests.

The reservoir scheme involved damming the valley at one end to form what is now Llyn Celyn.

Even when the dam was being built the fight continued. Explosives were planted and one man was jailed for blowing up a pylon.

But the campaign failed and people were forced to move under compulsory purchase orders made on their property.

Homes in the village of Capel Celyn were demolished as the planned flooding drew near. The fight had lasted eight years.

As the waters rose, the village of Capel Celyn was slowly overtaken by the rising waters of the new, Llyn Celyn.

Llyn Celyn in the Tryweryn valley as it is now. Liverpool council is preparing to apologise for the creation of this reservoir.

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