A Unique Opportunity in a Ghost Village
In the mid-1980s, 600 residents of Troedrhiwfuwch, a small village near Caerphilly in Wales, were evacuated from their homes due to fears that a 'moving mountain' could engulf the village without warning. This once-thriving mining community, known locally as 'Troedy,' soon became a ghost town after the local school, library, pub, shop, and 93 homes were demolished amid concerns about an imminent landslide.
Despite these fears, a three-bedroom home and the village post office managed to escape demolition, along with a war memorial honoring 16 local men who died in the First and Second World Wars. The deadly mountain never struck, and the solitary buildings in this 'ghost village' have stood the test of time.
Now, the final house on a once tightly packed terrace street has hit the market for just £35,000. Listed as a 'unique opportunity to acquire a property with an amazing history,' the isolated home at 2 Lawrence Avenue features two reception rooms, a large kitchen area, and up to three bedrooms. Surrounded by 'wonderful countryside and stunning views to the front and rear,' it is considered an 'ideal opportunity for either an investor or homeowner,' with vast garden space.
According to auctioneer Sean Roper of Paul Fosh Auctions, how this particular home managed to escape the village's mass demolition remains entirely unknown. He said, "Why this otherwise ordinary three-bedroom house survived while all the others didn't remains a bit of a mystery – and it may be a story a new owner will want to unravel." He added, "It's a vastly overused word, but this is a truly unique sale. The house offers a real-life connection to a vanished community where hundreds of people once lived, worked and raised families."
The property is being sold with vacant possession but is thought to fetch up to £900 per calendar month in rent once updated. It is being offered for online auction sale with a guide price of £35,000. Bidding for the unique home opens later this month.
A History of Evacuation and Abandonment
The village, which once contained a church, library, pub, shop, and even a school, first began to decline in the 1930s after experts raised concerns about the unstable ground. By the 1950s, fears of an imminent landslide had intensified, and it was ultimately deemed unsafe to live, forcing all residents to relocate between the early to mid-1980s and a swift demolition of their homes.
While residents no longer occupy the area, the community spirit endures. Former villagers gather every year at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday to keep the memory of 'Troedy' alive.
Troedrhiwfuwch is just one of several 'ghost villages' across Wales that went from being a thriving community to abandoned. Another example is Pantyffynnon, a tiny village that was deserted more than 50 years ago amid fears that whole families could be buried under landslides. Today, shops, houses, and a church appear frozen in the 1960s when villagers were evacuated because the mountain in the Swansea Valley was moving.
The Emotional Impact of Loss
Rosalyn Davies, 69, who grew up in the village, said: "There was a whole community here; this was my home and always will be my home. There must have been around 100 houses lost in all." She added, "It's an awful thing; you not only lose a house, you lose a home. I had happy times here; it was a fabulous place to grow up as a child. When I walk along today memories come flooding back but at least they are happy memories. It is also very sad as well. We lost a community. People scattered."
Today, the village is a ghost town, described as eerie by those who remember it as it was. "It was a very happy community. Very close-knitted," she said.
Other Abandoned Villages in Wales
Cwmorthin, a slate mining village near Tanygrisiau in Gwynedd, is another example of a once-bustling community now left to ruin. Dating back to the 11th Century, it was once home to a bustling community. The quarry, active from 1810, gained the area significant importance over the years by boosting the local economy and providing jobs for the villagers.
The quarry also became connected to the Ffestiniog Railway in 1860. However, things changed when the slate industry collapsed after a decline in demand. With little work in the area, many locals left, and Cwmorthin was mostly abandoned by the 1940s. It has since been left to turn to ruins, and the Express recently dubbed it a 'ghost village.'
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