Machynlleth The River
Dyfi between Aberdyfi and Derwenlas
was often a very busy waterway when the tide was up in Victorian times. The map above shows Derwenlas, the
diverted River Dyfi, and the railway line in the early
1900's. One of the original loops in the course of the river
was completely cut off by the railway. Back to
Machynlleth transport menu
Victorian transport
The
end of Derwenlas as a port
One account said that up to eighty boats
with their sails up could be
seen on that stretch of the river at the same time. There could be traffic
on the river at Derwenlas by day and by night, depending on the tide.
Derwenlas also had three boat-building yards,
and 36 wooden vessels of up to 75 tons were built there from local oak
up to 1869. Most of these were used for coastal trade around Britain.An
early engraving
showing sailing boats
on the River Dyfi
at Derwenlas.
as shown
on a map
of the
early 1900s
The
building of the new steam
railway between
Machynlleth
and Aberystwyth was to put an
end to the use of Derwenlas as
a trading port.
The railway line cut through the
main river dock and the river
was diverted in 1862 by
the new
embankment.
Only four more boats were built
there after the railway arrived.
The railway took over most of the commercial
trade from the river boats, and the boat-builders and sailors
left the area for good. The lime kilns
near the port which were used to burn limestone to produce lime for use
as a fertiliser also closed down.