Elan Village 2
Guarding the bridge
The location of
the Elan Valley dams
and reservoirs
is shown on the
sketch map.
People were attracted to the Elan Valley in large numbers as the massive construction project got under way, drawn by the prospect of employment which could last for several years.
New arrivals who were seeking work at the construction site were not allowed to enter the village without first spending a week in the rather spartan "Doss House" on the other side of the river. They had to take a bath, have their clothes and possessions disinfected, and undergo a medical examination.
The original
bridge to
Elan Village
Photographs by
kind permission of
Radnorshire Museum,
Llandrindod Wells
These precautions were very necessary
in order to keep the large community in the village free of the
infectious diseases which were very common at that time. Advice
on the running of the Doss House was provided by Branwell Booth
of the Salvation Army, which had experience of providing basic
dormitories for vagrants in London. Access to the village was
over the suspension bridge shown in the top photograph. The navvies
village can be seen on the far side of the river to the left,
and the accident hospital is to the right of the bridge. The
road on this side of the river leads to Rhayader to the left
and Elan Valley to the right. 
He carefully examined the contents of every cart making deliveries
(right) and ensured that only employees and family members
could enter the village. Two watchmen continually patrolled the village at night to guard against crime or the risk of fire among the closely packed wooden buildings.
Suspension bridge
to Elan Village
pictured in 1999
a suspension bridge on the same
spot (left), but it is not the original one in the old
photograph above.It has been replaced twice since then, and even the latest of the suspension bridges is no longer safe, and modern traffic entering Elan Village now crosses the river by a rather more functional bridge alongside.
The Elan Valley Visitor Centre, housed in original workshop buildings used during the construction of the dams, is near the suspension bridge below Caban Coch dam.
