Surveying At Newry

A Memory of Llanfairfechan.

In the early 1950s Mining undergraduates at the University of Birmingham practised land surveying at Llanfairfechan. They lodged for most of June at Newry Cottages, now Plas Heulog. The task was to traverse the area south of Newry to where Afon Llanfairfechan is formed by the confluence of three smaller streams. Teams of three lugged theodolites and notebooks along the lanes and over the hills for at least three weeks until the survey was complete. It rained a lot but, when the mist cleared the scenery was gorgeous. The singing in the local pub each evening was delightful. My map of the area has survived and it’s interesting to see satellite imagery showing that, while some of the vegetation has changed, many of the buildings and stone walls still stand. Anyone else remember?