Already a number of enthusiasts are involved in gathering information.

Bro Aled Archives Group has put dozens of pictures on an internet site, and Bro Aled Historical Society meets regularly to hear guest speakers.

A booklet has been produced which records the memories of four local characters during an evening of reminiscing.

The ball was set rolling when Glenys Williams of Pencraig Bach was working on a Lifelong Learning initiative: she arranged for a comma@net representative to visit the region.

This charity-run venture maintains a community archive which records communal memories and experiences on a website.

This seemed ideal to record Llansannan's history and pictorial past, also to record all the changes in farming and rural crafts - with the disappearance of smallholdings, and depopulation.

Glenys enlisted the help of Eirlys Wynne Woodhouse, who was born and bred in the village; highly active in the community, she has an extensive knowledge of the area's families and their lineage. Her late husband Bill was a respected historian and genealogist.

Local builder Berwyn Evans (pictured), of Gelli, was also asked to help, since he had knowledge of computing as well as a keen interest in local history, plus experience of working on a community project, Menter Hiraethog. Aged 42, he started an Open University course, completing it six years later.

These three keen amateurs founded Archif Bro Aled a'r Cylch, a local archive. They approached the Community Centre Committee with a plan and obtained permission to use the centre as a base.

A grant from Arian i Bawb Cymru procured a computer, scanner, printer, projector and other items. Archive pictures were copied and locals popped into the centre every Monday evening to add their pictures and documents.

The group also established a site on the Commanet.org website, and has about 140 old pictures on show. The next step is to create their own website, so they can add to it whenever they wish. A book is also a possibility.

A grant bid is being made, and the Historical Society is already going from strength to strength. It meets every fourth Monday in the month, at the community centre, when guest speakers discuss various historical topics.

Pictures from the past.