Crimea Pass
{{Short description|Mountain pass in North Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Crimea Pass
| photo = Crimea Pass - geograph.org.uk - 134919.jpg
| photo_caption = The Pass in 2006
| elevation_m = 385
| elevation_ref =
| traversed = A470 road
| location = North Wales
| range =
| coordinates =
{{coord|53.02338|N|3.93816|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SH701491)}}
| topo =
}}
The Crimea Pass ({{langx|cy|Bwlch y Gorddinan}}) is a mountain pass in North Wales, on the A470 road between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolwyddelan connecting the counties of Gwynedd and Conwy.
Geography
At its highest point, it is {{convert|385|m|sigfig=4}} above sea level, and is sometimes closed in winter because of snow.{{cite web | url = https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/a470-reopens-crimea-pass-after-2638326 | title = A470 reopens at Crimea Pass after snow closure | date = 18 April 2013 | accessdate = 24 March 2020 | publisher = North Wales Live}} At one time there was an inn at the summit of the pass, called the "Prince Llewellyn Inn" but it was popularly known as "the Crimea", because of its reputation for fights. The inn closed in 1881 because the police opposed the renewal of its licence and the justices thought that there was no need for the Inn when the railway to Ffestiniog was completed.{{cite web | url = http://lledrvalley.org/?page_id=10 | title = The Crimea Pass | accessdate = 24 March 2020 | publisher = Lledr Valley}}
Industry
In the mid-1870s, Owen Gethin Jones opened the Bwlch Gordduant quarry near the summit of the pass. The quarry was not a great success and it was sold to the owner of the Prince Llewellyn quarry in late 1876.{{cite news |title=Dolyddelen and Vicinity |url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3308240/3308248/102/ |date=12 January 1877 |work=Cambrian News}} There is a track above the road which follows the route of the old road across the pass, described as a cleverly constructed route with gradients appropriate for a time when horses were the source of power.{{cite web | url = https://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk-3024-description | title = Snowdonia Walk North West of Blaenau Ffestiniog from the Crimea Pass | accessdate = 24 March 2020 | publisher = Walking Britain}}
Name
It takes its name from the Crimean War which was being fought about the time the road was opened, in 1854. The construction of the stone walls in the area was carried out by Russian prisoners of war captured at the battles of Inkerman and Balaclava.{{cite web | url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199495/ldhansrd/vo950209/text/50209-27.htm | title = House of Lords Hansard text for 9 February 1995 | accessdate = 25 March 2020 | publisher = Houses of Parliament}}
Recent development
In 2008 major highway improvement work on the A470 through the pass was completed, this included the downhill section to the north of the pass, and southwards down to Blaenau Ffestiniog.{{cite web | url = http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2008/2701/introduction/made | title = The Cardiff to Glan Conwy Trunk Road (A470) (Penloyn to Tan Lan Improvement) Order 2008 | accessdate = 24 March 2020 | publisher = legislation.gov.uk}}
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199495/ldhansrd/vo950209/text/50209-27.htm About the Russian prisoners of war]
External links
- [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3531205 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of the Crimea Pass and surrounding area]
- {{oscoor gbx|SH701491}}
{{coord|53.02338|N|3.93816|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SH701491)|display=title}}
Category:Mountain passes of Conwy County Borough
Category:Roads in Conwy County Borough
Category:Mountain passes of Gwynedd