Quarry village was established in 1878 and served the workers & families at Caernant, Porth Nant and Penrhyn Glas granite quarries. Two terraces of cottages, a shop, a bakery, a school and a Plas for the manager were built. Around 1910 the village name was changed to Nant Gwrtheyrn. After the quarries shut the village was slowly abandoned and completely empty around 1960. Taken over by squatters who called themselves ‘New Atlantis Commune’ it became ruinous when they removed all of the wood to use as fuel. In 1978 a trust bought the site from Amey Roadstone and began restoration. Opened as a Welsh language Heritage Centre in 1982.

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