Moelwyn Slate Quarry

The Moelwyn Slate Quarry, viewed from across Llyn Stwlan
The eastern slope of Moelwyn Bach showing the inclines to the Moelwyn Slate Quarry

Moelwyn Slate Quarry is a defunct slate quarry located to the south of the village of Tanygrisiau, north Wales.

History

Between 1826 and 1828 the Rothschild's Royal Cambrian Company attempted to locate commercially viable slate deposits on the eastern slopes of Moelwyn Bach. In 1841, one Humprhey Jones of Ruthin opened a quarry here, though it was only worked intermittently.[1]

In 1861, the Great Moelwyn Slate Company Ltd. was founded and purchased the quarry, re-opening it in 1865.[1] This quarry was at the 1800ft contour on the eastern slope of Moelwyn Mawr. A series of seven[1] inclines were installed in 1866 to connect the quarry with the Ffestiniog Railway more than 1100ft below.[2]

The quarry was never a significant success. It was closed by 1869, re-opened in 1873 as the Union Slate Company Ltd., closed again in 1875, re-opened in 1891 as the Moelwyn Slate Company and operated until 1897.[1][3][2]

The site today

The quarry and the inclines remain largely intact, though Llyn Stwlan the upper reservoir in the Ffestiniog Power Station pumped-storage hydroelectricity scheme sits just below the quarry and has obliterated the upper incline and mill. The Ffestiniog Railway's deviation around Llyn Ystradau has also destroyed the lower section of the final incline.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Boyd, James I.C. (1975) [1959]. The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 2 - Locomotives and Rolling Stock; Quarries and Branches: Rebirth 1954-74. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-8536-1168-8.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Moelwyn Slate Mine". The Royal Commission on the Historical and Ancient Monuments of Wales.
  3. ↑ (Map). 1:2500. Ordnance Survey. 1889. Missing or empty |title= (help)