The village of Arthog is situated near the southern banks of the Mawddach estuary, approximately 15km north east of Tywyn. The first edition of the six-inch Ordnance Survey maps, published in 1888, labels Arthog as ‘Capel Arthog.’ According to mawddachestuary.co.uk, the name ‘Arthog’ derives from the Welsh words ‘arth’ (bear) and ‘ogof’ (cave).  

In the nineteenth century, the settlement ‘served a cluster of slate villages, the remains of which can still be seen on the hills behind the village.’ (from mawddachestuary.co.uk). Chwarel Ty’n Coed was located a short distance north east of Arthog. It operated from the mid-eighteenth century until 1869. The influence of the slate industry can be seen in the form of terraced houses in the village, notably Seion Terrace and Arthog terrace, both noted on the 1888 six-inch Ordnance Survey map. Arthog terrace survives into the twenty-first century and is now Grade II listed.  

Other notable buildings noted on the 1888 six-inch Ordnance Survey map include St Catherine’s Church (described as ‘new’ in 1808); Zion Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel (originally built in 1806); Arthog Hall Hotel (built in 1833 for Lancashire cotton mill owner Richard Fourden), as well as a school and a railway station on the ‘coast section of the Dolgelleu branch’ of the Cambrian Railway. Little had changed in Arthog by the time the second edition of the six-inch OS maps was published in 1901. The village was still called ‘Capel-Arthog’ and a post office had appeared on Arthog Terrace. 

Sources: modern and historic OS maps; Coflein; Cadw database of listed buildings; mawddachestuary.co.uk. 

M. Ryder, RCAHMW, 4th May 2020