The Slate Industry of North and Mid Wales

Some quite substantial buildings were erected on piles of waste rock.  As the waste rock has settled over the years this is the inevitable result.  Many unique structures have been lost in this way.

The very high rainfall in parts of North Wales means that all exposed metalwork is likely to rust away eventually.  In the view above there was formerly a tank fed from a pipe.  The feeder pipe remains but the tank is now little more than a pile of rust.

Two views of the Cwm Llan incline.  This incline and a well engineered tramway were built to connect the South Snowdon slate quarry to the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway.  Unfortunately the NWNGR was never built and slate continued to be carried by horse and cart from the bottom of the incline to Porthmadog.

Still standing on a disused weigh bridge, this is the end of the line for a rubbish wagon.

This lonely rowan tree graces the ruins of Cwm Eigiau quarry which closed in the 1870's.  It has thrived by rooting itself just a few inches away from the grasp of the omnipresent sheep.  This quarry was the starting point of a tramway to Dolgarrog which also served Cedryn Quarry.

Looking across the Mawddach estuary at the remains of Arthog quarry.

This splendid roof adorns a bungalow in the small town of Penygroes.

The simple beauty of a dry stone retaining wall made out of slate offcuts.

Some of the wild goats of Dinorwic quarry.  In the interests of "conservation" 38 of these magnificent creatures were killed over the weekend of 11th and 12th November 2006 by a marksman employed by Gwynedd County Council.

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