Sense of Place - DolgellauDolgellau stands in the centre of what was once the Celtic tribal lands of the Ordovices, who were conquered by the Romans in AD 77-78. Whilst there is no evidence of a Roman fortress having been located at the site of today’s town – the area would have been marshy during the period - a few Roman coins from the reigns of the Emperors Hadrian and Trajan have been found in the vicinity, and three hillforts around Dolgellau remain of uncertain origin.
Following the withdrawal of Roman Forces from Britain, the Dolgellau area came under the control of a series of Welsh chieftains. It would seem that the story of Dolgellau as a town begins sometime around the late 11th or early 12th century when a settlement was established as a ‘serf village’ or maerdref, possibly by Cadwgan ap Bleddyn. It seems to have remained as such, as it is mentioned in these terms in annals during the reign of Henry Tudor (1485-1509).
While Cymer Abbey in nearby Llanelltyd, founded in 1198 was the most important religious centre locally, during the 12th century a church was built for the inhabitants of the maerdref. This building was later demolished and replaced by the current church built in 1716. From the mid 12th century Dolgellau gained in importance, and was mentioned in the Survey of Meirioneth ordered by Edward I. Later, in 1404, during Owain Glyndwr’s national uprising, Dolgellau became the location of a council of chiefs led by Glyndwr himself.
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