A couple living in Rhewl, Denbighshire, are living in constant fear that a nearby hillside could collapse onto their property, leaving them with no safe place to sleep. Ross and Jill Darbyshire have expressed grave concerns after hearing a loud noise on 28 January, coinciding with a small earthquake that struck Gwynedd earlier that evening. The couple, who own a historic 600-year-old cottage, have discovered concerning cracks in the slate bedrock behind their home, raising alarms about the potential danger.
Cracks and Concerns
The Darbyshires have noticed significant shifts in the hillside, which they believe may have been exacerbated by recent seismic activity. Ross, 75, stated bluntly, “It’s not a question of if it comes down – it’s coming down.” Their fears are compounded by the fact that local authorities have informed them that, as the issue lies on their private property, there is little assistance available from the council.
In the decade since purchasing the cottage, the couple has undertaken extensive renovations to preserve the two-room building near the remnants of a historic corn mill. However, the risk of rockfall has left them contemplating the unthinkable: abandoning their cherished home. Local builders have been consulted about potential reinforcements, but with less than two feet of space between their house and the precarious rock face, finding a viable solution proves challenging.
Living with Uncertainty
The threat of falling debris looms large, with sharp slate fragments protruding menacingly from the rock face, a sight Ross likened to “dragon’s teeth.” The couple routinely hears smaller stones tumbling into the void, creating an unsettling environment. Jill, 68, described how the anxiety of the situation has disrupted their sleep patterns. “Ross stayed awake one night listening to the ‘ping ping ping’ of the smaller stones coming down, but the bigger ones – you really hear them thud,” she recounted.
The British Geological Survey recorded a minor earthquake with a magnitude of 0.9 in the Nantlle Valley on the same night, with tremors felt as far away as Llangollen. The Darbyshires believe this seismic event may have triggered the instability in the hillside, causing the bank to crack and shift dramatically. After hearing a loud bang outside, Jill and Ross stayed awake until the early hours, uncertain whether it was safe to return to bed.
Future at Risk
The couple’s situation is precarious, and they worry that heavy rainfall or further landslides could exacerbate the risk. Ross warned, “The walls are the only thing stopping it going any further. After that, it’ll just come right over and come through the roof.” Once enamoured with the area, Ross now faces the reality that their dream home may be uninhabitable. “I’ve accepted that we can’t live in this anymore but I don’t like it,” he admitted.
Despite the distressing circumstances, the Darbyshires consider themselves fortunate to have an alternative property abroad should they need to evacuate suddenly. They acknowledge that their Rhewl cottage is currently “unsellable” until both the wall and an unstable former dam in the vicinity are properly reinforced.
Why it Matters
The Darbyshires’ plight highlights the growing concerns surrounding the safety of homes situated near unstable geological formations. As climate change intensifies weather patterns and increases the frequency of seismic activity, more homeowners may find themselves facing similar threats. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community support and local intervention in safeguarding residents from natural disasters, particularly in regions known for their geological instability.
