Thursday, September 04, 2008

A Small Explosion in Crossgates

I've posted about this incident before, but here's a report from the Canberra Times detailing the 1952 attack on the Elan Valley pipeline. Of course it should read the Fron aqueduct, near Crossgates and three cheers for the Mid-Wales Constabulary for working out that it was an act of sabotage. Interesting that the total cost of the Claerwen dam was only £15.5 million, heaven knows how much it would cost today.

The attack was carried out by members of the Welsh Republican Movement, one of the more serious fringe nationalist groups. Founded in 1949, the WRM folded in 1957. Interestingly one of its better known members Gwilym Prys Davies, now Lord Prys Davies, was the defeated Labour candidate in Gwynfor Evans' historic by-election win in Carmarthen in 1966.





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