If we zoom back in time to the 1860s, to a small church beside the lake in Llanuwchllyn near Bala, just a stone’s throw from us here at the Oakeley Arms, we might well have found the church’s Congregationalist Minister, Michael D Jones, preaching sermons and lessons to his congregation on the passions of being Welsh.

Michael D Jones was a fervent and passionate Welshman, and indeed is often considered to be one of the instrumental figures in Welsh nationalism. Mr Jones became increasingly concerned at the loss of Welsh language, heritage and culture. In fact, he was so concerned that he decided to take radical action. He put forward the idea of starting up a new Welsh speaking community on the other side of the world, where they would be free of English influence and outside hostilities.

Stunning scenery of Patagonia

At the time, the Argentine government were encouraging Europeans to colonise the unconquered land along the Chubut River in the area of Patagonia, in the south of the country. The government hoped to stop the land being taken by the Chileans. Mr Jones thought this area perfectly suited his plan, and so he recruited settlers and helped with financing the move.

To Welsh villagers in the 1860s, the plan would have been absolutely life-changing. Many Welsh people from the area had never left Wales, let alone set sail for thousands of miles to a foreign country where they had absolutely no idea what was to await them. Most of them had probably never even heard of Argentina, and yet, with the prospect of a new, totally Welsh community, complete with land to farm and the promise of new housing, schools and churches, they set sail to their new lives.

Welsh Capel Bethel in the Gaiman region of Patagonia

The first 153 people to realise Michael Jones’ dream set sail from Liverpool on the 28th July 1865 on the Mimosa, which had been specially hired. It was a long journey and conditions were tough, but when they landed in Patagonia, it didn’t get much better either. The new community were affected by drought, then floods then hostilities from natives.

However, over time the Welsh colony of Patagonia (called Yr Wladfa) proved to be extremely successful, although there weren’t as many Welsh immigrants as Mr Jones had hoped, and the original Welsh colony were joined by settlers from all over Southern Europe.

The Welsh have certainly left their mark in this part of South America. Place-names like Trelew, Porth Madryn, and Cwm Hyfryd all hark back to the first Welsh settlers, as do traditions like Welsh dancing, Eisteddfodau and the fact that Welsh is still taught in many schools there.

Traditional Welsh dancing (Dawnsio Gwerin) in Patagonia

To mark the achievements of the colony, but in particular the man who started with a dream, a brand new Patagonia Heritage Centre will be built at the small chapel where Michael D Jones preached and worked over 150 years ago in Llanuwchllyn, near Bala. £1 million of lottery funding has been secured for the project, which will transform the church into a museum, gallery and bunkhouse. An one thing’s for certain, a Patagonia Heritage Centre will certainly put the village of Llanuwchllyn on the international map.

**Lanuwchllyn is approx a 30 minute drive from the Oakeley Arms Hotel. The museum is not yet open, but you can visit the village to find out more about the history and culture of Yr Wladfa.