Grwyne Fawr Reservoir

By the end of the 19th-century there were serious water shortages in the western parts of the historic county of Monmouthshire. The area had seen a massive population increase as a result of the steel and coal industries but the supply of water to the area was complicated due to its high altitude. A site for a new reservoir was chosen at the head of the Grwyne Fawr valley because at 1725 ft above sea level it was high enough to allow water to be gravity fed to Abertillery and the surrounding areas. Building works started in 1912, but almost immediately hit problems. The road constructed up the valley could not take the weight of the heavy traction engines used for haulage. It was decided…