This upland pool was created in 1838 in the area known as Bwlch yr Oerfa by the 4th Duke of Newcastle, the owner of Hafod at that time. It survives in the landscape as an embanked dam approximately 200m long, running north-south. Behind the dam is a marshy basin crossed by two small streams.

The Duke's papers in Nottingham University Library contain references to the construction of the pond, referred to in a letter from his Steward, John Haslam, as ?the Oerfa Pool? (NeC 8,668). The accounts for the period show that David Jones was paid a total of £200 2s 2 ?d for the work (Ne 3A 312/2 and Ne 3A 313). A handwritten note states that it was to be ?6,144 yards? - cubic yards, presumably - and contracted to be built at 6d per cubic yard (pers. comm. J. Borron).

There is no mention in the papers of the intended purpose of the pond. It may have been to provide an improved water supply to Pwll Peiran (the Duke's home farm) or to Hafod itself. Another possibility is that the Duke, who enjoyed shooting, wished to create a decoy pond for wildfowl.

The pond is shown on sale plans of the Hafod estate produced in 1864 (Cambridge University Library) and 1870 (NLW). There is a reference to it in the 1864 sale catalogue (NLW) where a cottage tenant is being charged 15s per year for the right to cut peat at the Duke's Pond.

Jennie Macve, Hafod Trust
November 2017