The historic Cascades in Neath’s Gnoll Country Park have been cleaned out in time for the coming Spring and Summer seasons at what is one of the most popular attractions in Neath Port Talbot.
The work on the Cascades was completed by a local contractor using a mini-digger and a large volume of silt and mud was removed.
In addition to the Cascades, the contractor also completed the clearance of a number of water courses throughout the park.
The Cascades were created by the wealthy industrial family the Mackworths.
The estate originally passed by marriage to Sir Humphrey Mackworth, a Member of Parliament who made the Gnoll estate the centrepiece of an industrial empire, milling and manufacturing brass and iron goods including kettles.
The success of his industrial work enabled him to lay out formal gardens near the park’s mansion house.
It was Sir Humphrey's son Herbert, also an MP, who extended the gardens once again and from 1730 he began extensive landscaping works, creating sweeping viewpoints and building the cascades.
Over the next few decades the grounds were embellished with classical features including a grotto, gatehouse, and a castellated temple.
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet member for Streetscene and Engineering, Cllr Ted Latham, said: ”The cascades are an important part of the long history of Gnoll Country Park and they will now be enjoyed at their best.”
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Rhaeadrau ar eu gorau eto ar gyfer y gwanwyn a'r haf
Mae'r rhaeadrau hanesyddol ym Mharc Gwledig y Gnoll yng Nghastell-nedd wedi cael eu glanhau yn barod ar gyfer tymhorau'r gwanwyn a'r haf yn un o atyniadau mwyaf poblogaidd Castell-nedd Port Talbot.
Cwblhawyd y gwaith ar y rhaeadrau gan gontractwr lleol gan ddefnyddio cloddiwr bach a chafwyd gwared ar swm sylweddol o silt a llaid.
Yn ogystal â'r rhaeadrau, cliriodd y contractwr nifer o gyrsiau dwr trwy'r parc.
Crëwyd y rhaeadrau gan deulu diwydiannol cyfoethog y Mackworths.
Mae'r ystad, a roddwyd trwy briodas yn wreiddiol i Syr Humphrey Mackworth, sef Aelod Seneddol a sicrhaodd fod ystad y Gnoll yn ganolbwynt ymerodraeth ddiwydiannol, gan felino a chynhyrchu nwyddau pres a haearn, gan gynnwys tegelli.
Roedd llwyddiant ei waith diwydiannol wedi ei alluogi i osod gerddi ffurfiol ger plasty'r parc.
Ehangodd mab Syr Humphrey, Herbert, a oedd hefyd yn AS, y gerddi unwaith eto ac o 1730, dechreuodd waith tirlunio sylweddol, gan greu golygfeydd ysgubol a chreu'r rhaeadrau.
Dros y degawdau nesaf, ychwanegwyd nodweddion clasurol at y tir, gan gynnwys groto, porthdy a theml gastellog.
Meddai Aelod Cabinet Castell-nedd Port Talbot dros y Strydlun a Pheirianneg, y Cyng. Ted Latham, "Mae'r rhaeadrau'n rhan bwysig o hanes hir Parc Gwledig y Gnoll a gellir eu gweld ar eu gorau erbyn hyn."
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