A picture in time

National Treasure

This autumn marks 70 years since the designation of Eryri (Snowdonia) as a National Park, and to mark the occasion the National Park Authority has launched a digital gallery of old photographs…

LEFT: Old refreshments hut on the A5 roadside in Dyffryn Ogwen with Tryfan in the background. Credit – Ronald Thompson ABOVE: Afon Mawddach burst its banks near a campsite in Llanelltyd, Dolgellau. Credit - R W Jones RIGHT: Harlech castle and the construction of the Ysgol Ardudwy secondary school (circa 1956)

The Snowdonia National Park Authority has released a photographic gallery which reminisces and celebrates the major milestones and events in the National Park’s history. The gallery includes a good mix of scenery, sites and staff – as well as fascinating photographs that record the old way of life.

ABOVE: The installation of a brass orienteering plate on a new trig pillar on the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in 2001 RIGHT: National Park workers undertaking stone pitching work on the Miners’ Track, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

It seems that littering and unlawful camping has long been an issue in the National Park.

Crosville’s Snowdon Shepra buses at Pen y Gwryd.

National Park staff on the completion of a new timber footbridge in the south of the National Park.

Can you help?

The Snowdonia National Park Authority’s aim is to secure at least one photograph for each of the National Park’s 70 years but, despite the sheer number of old photographs in the library, many of which are without dates, there are still a few years without an allocated photograph. To help achieve this goal the public are invited to send in their old photographs to try and complete the gallery – therefore if anyone has any old photos taken in Eryri between 1951 and now then please visit the SNPA’s website for information on how you can send in your photographs: https://www. snowdonia.gov.wales/authority/eryri-70

Llyn Tegid Warden out patrolling the lake A busy day on the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), but without the ‘selfie’ queue we see there today

Harvesting hay in the Nantlle valley on the edge of the National Park with Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in the background