The Gwalia

Every town must have odd areas which don't seem to quite fit. The Gwalia is one such in Tywyn. I not sure how big the area is or even the origin of the name but it is certainly one of the oldest areas. Before the Dysynni river was dredged, river banks built up, and the area generally drained the high tide used to come up to moorings for small fishing boats. Now it's only in exceptional high tides driven by a westerly wind that bring any possibility of flooding. Having said that perhaps this year was one of those times because the small industrial units situated there had several inches of water over their floors.

Since the days of the fishing smacks with the cluster of small stone cottages a lot has changed. True several of the older habitations remain in a much renovated state to be weekend and holiday cottages. There was some building in Victorian times at the College Green end - the one nearest St Cadfan's Church - a three story terrace with a public house at one end. Of course marking the times, the pub is long closed and only a very faded painted end wall with its undecipherable name remains.

The Gwalia now gives the impression of being very run down - it is! There are unoccupied industrial units that must in some instances date to pre WW2 days. There is a closed Council yard. A builder has the usual clutter and expanse of discarded material. A car mechanic with an inexplicable number of cars in  states of abandonment and disrepair continues to operate. A Double Glazing and Glass company has an office, and a skip, and piles of discarded frames and doors. On a bright sunny day it isn't in any way an attractive area to visit, on a dull rainy winter day .....

Should it be any surprise then to find a glass fibre hulled boat half hidden in brambles and general undergrowth - difficult to judge its length but 35' is probably a substantial underestimate. Goodness knows how the boat came to be laid up in this yard. Certainly been there for quite some time, certainly not in a good state of repair, and certainly not going anywhere soon. She had a name and harbour clearly readable, the 'Juno Meirion' of Milford.

The more you look the worse the paintwork becomes but the general state of fenders is even worse. No chance of being able to look inside the hull, the outside was enough to gauge her general state. Could she ever 'sail' again? Who knows! Who cares!

Possible to get a general record shot of her place in the yard but there isn't a great deal of point in doing that because that can be done anytime. Best to use the available sun to try for the detail that was there - another time and the sun will be different. Never again will she look the same.