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An abandoned quarrying village transformed into a national Welsh Language Centre has been further boosted with the opening of new plush accommodation for learners.

Nant Gwrtheyrn, dramatically located on the Llyn Peninsula, in Gwynedd was abandoned during World War Two after granite quarrying ceased.

Its community was forced to find work elsewhere, leaving its homes in disrepair. Hippies moved into the abandoned houses in the 60s and 70s.

But by the 80s it was bought and restored by trustees who transformed it into a centre where thousands - including former Everton and Wales hero Neville Southall, Steps’ Ian “H” Watkins, weather presenter Behnaz Akghar and journalist Janet Street-Porter have since learnt Welsh.

The Nant, as it is known locally, is also the setting for one of Wales’ most tragic love stories of Rhys and Meinir who both died under an old oak tree nearby whose names have been given to the extended cafe on site.

(Image: Robert Parry Jones)

The language centre there which could house 82 people, can now accommodate a further 38 people in a new block built on the yard of a former farm, Ty Canol, thanks to a £1.6m investment.

Welsh Government Minister of Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language Alun Davies has now officially opened the new facilities at Nant Gwrtheyrn which has 10 bedrooms, for two, three or six people.

Mair Saunders, General Manager at Nant Gwrtheyrn said: “We have already welcomed several groups to Tŷ Canol and the building is proving to be an extremely useful addition in the village. This is a very exciting time at Nant and this particular resource will enable us to improve and expand our provision for the customer.”

(Image: Menna Baines)

Earlier, the Minister also visited Ysgol Abercaseg and Ysgol Pen-y-bryn in Bethesda to see how the pupils there benefit from the Gwynedd Schools’ Welsh Language Charter to encourage the use of Welsh outside the classroom.

Mr Davies said: “The Government has set an aim of ensuring a million Welsh speakers by 2050. Our schools and children have a vital part to play in helping us achieve this aim – they are the future of our language and our nation.”

Tomorrow, he will be officially Menter Iaith Bangor’s new £300,000 centre called Popdy in Lôn Pobty Bangor. Set up three years ago with the aim of increasing the use of the Welsh language at a community level across the city and its vicinity while on Saturday there will be an Open Day at the centre, with children and adults, including Welsh learners, being invited to see the building and enjoy the various activities lined up for the day.

Menter Iaith Bangor’s chair, Menna Baines, said: “We hope that Popdy will soon be buzzing with activity through the medium of Welsh and that our work here, and indeed right across the city, will raise the profile of the language and persuade more people to use it.”