“Big Usk” the unflooded valley

Jonathan Williams will tell the story of a 1960s scheme to create a huge reservoir in the Usk valley west of Brecon. The so-called ‘Big Usk’ scheme would have flooded 1,800 acres of agricultural land, submerging 52 dwellings, including the villages of Aberbran and Aberyscir, the Grade 1 listed mansions of Penpont and Abercamlais, the medieval manor house at Aberbran Fawr, the churches at Bettws Penpont and Aberyscir, nine historic bridges and the Roman camp at Brecon Gaer, not to mention a great deal of wildlife, nature and beautiful scenery, mostly in a National Park. It was one of several options which also included flooding the Senni, Cilieni, Bran and Yscir valleys and which led to a public enquiry in 1969.”

Booking details soon