A brief history of the Welsh Slate Industry
The
embankment of the Croesor Tramway with Cnicht on the left.
In many ways
the Slate industry in North Wales was as important to the local economy,
culture and history of the area as was the Coal industry of South Wales.
Both industries arose out of nothing, became giants on the world stage
and then suffered catastrophic decline and almost total extinction.
But whereas in South Wales it is sometimes difficult to trace where collieries
once existed, due mainly to reclamation, in North Wales there are still
many visible examples of the slate industry. Often a little exploration
will reward the interested party with a gem of industrial archaeology or
an insight into a way of life which nowadays seems harsh and bleak.
The
main production areas were around Blaenau Ffestiniog, Bethesda, Llanberis,
Nantlle, Corris and Llangollen/Glyn Ceiriog. But, in the boom years,
wherever there looked like being a remote chance of finding slate - even
if miles from anywhere, then the prospectors would be out scratching at
the barren hillsides. Many of these speculative sites never got beyond
tiny workings whereas the giants of the industry employed over 3000 men
in huge quarries. In between were scores of medium sized workings
often with impressive buildings, inclines, machinery and production methods.
(continued)
Cedryn
Quarry, Cwm Eigiau
Cedryn
is an example of a small quarry of a type once common in North Wales.
The quarry, in Cwm Eigiau, was opened in 1827 and had closed by 1868.
On the hillside can be seen where the slate was quarried, split and dressed.
In the foreground are the remains of the mill where slab was produced.
The two were connected by an incline and tramway which crossed the river
by a, now vanished, bridge. The quarry was connected to Dolgarrog
from the 1820's by a primitive narrow gauge railway which incorporated
a further four inclines. This tramway originated at Cwm
Eigiau quarry.
Welsh
slate was exported all over the world from small ports like Porthmadog
or purpose built harbours like Port Dinorwig or Port Penrhyn. To
access these ports or to connect the quarries with the nearest town or
main line railway, there sprung up a number of narrow gauge railways.
The most notable of these being the Ffestiniog which connected Blaenau
Ffestiniog and Porthmadog. Other lines were the Talyllyn, Corris,
Gorseddau Tramway, Croesor tramway, North Wales Narrow Gauge and the quarry
owned Penrhyn and Padarn lines. Because many of these lines originated
high in the mountains it was often necessary to incorporate inclined planes
in their routes to ease the gradients.
At
the quarries themselves the processes of extracting, splitting and dressing
the slate took place. A very important part of the extraction process
was the removal of rubbish or waste rock, it was not uncommon for up to
90% of rock to be disposed of in this way. Most quarries dumped the
rock using end-tipping rubbish wagons over the nearest slope and the slate
waste heaps thus developed, these are the single most noticeable landscape
feature today. Quarry owners often found that good rock was inaccessible
because of careless rubbish dumping in the past. Not all quarries
produced roofing slates some preferring to concentrate on slab. Some
of its uses were gravestones, steps, man-hole covers, decorative effects,
electricity panels, hearths, etc. A business also developed in slate
enamelling, the products of which can still be seen in ornate Victorian
mantlepieces. (continued)
This
water wheel, although used at a Welsh copper mine, is typical of those
from
the
early days of slate quarrying. To read more about this water wheel
please
view my Cwm Ciprwth website
In the
early days of quarrying water power was the primary source of energy.
Quite often a network of dams were built to supply the water wheels with
the water, sometimes this was carried for long distances in wooden or slate
lined leats. At the quarry there were sometimes two or more wheels in tandem
- the water from the first going on to power the second etc. The
coming of steam revolutionised matters but sometimes the water wheels were
retained to save the expense of bringing in coal or wood as fuel.
Electricity also made an early appearance with Croesor Quarry for example
having its own generating station by 1900 and an electrically powered tramway
system as early as 1905.
Conditions
for the quarrymen were harsh in the extreme and accidents were frequent.
Unguarded machinery, roof falls and lung diseases all took their toll.
Working underground in the industry was more dangerous than in coal mining.
Health and safety legislation was non existent. As many of the workers
had come to the quarrying towns to seek work they had to take what was
offered. Conditions in the quarry barracks and lodging houses were
appalling but in spite of all this a great spirit of comradeship grew up.
(continued)
The
Barracks
Derelict and roofless quarrymen's barracks at Dinorwic Quarry.
Barracking was common practice in the industry, men would arrive for work early on a Monday morning and remain there until lunchtime on Saturday. Many of the barracks were damp, cold and miserable places to spend the week but often the quarry was too remote to make daily travel a realistic possibility. The barracks and cabans (quarry messrooms) did however develop into great social institutions where politics and religion were debated fervently.
Part
of the barracks at Rhosydd Quarry
The
industry reached its zenith in the 1890's when half a million tons were
produced and nearly 17,000 men were directly employed. It should
be borne in mind that well over five million tons of rock would require
excavating to reach this figure. From then on decline set in - capital
dried up, imports grew, roofing tiles became cheaper than slate and
men left for easier ways to make a living. The two world wars deprived
the industry of manpower although rebuilding after bombing did provide
a brief fillip. One by one the quarries closed and the quarrying
districts became deprived areas and the people left. A lot of the
remaining quarries continued to use outdated working methods which only
added to costs. No part of the industry seemed to be immune
from the cycle of decline. When the once mighty Dinorwic closed for
ever in 1969 all that was left were a handful of producers.
Currently,
Penrhyn Quarry is still thriving and pre-eminent in the industry.
In the Blaenau Ffestiniog district Oakeley and Llechwedd remain open while,
in the Corris area, a long tradition of underground mining has now ended
at Aberllefenni. However the industry has clung on and thanks to
further investment it has grown slightly. There are now several new
operators at work and the industry, if not exactly buoyant, would seem
to have a secure future. It is now however a far cry from the world
beating days of old.
This
large abandoned pit working is Chwarel Fawr near Llanberis.
Next page: Geology and quarrying techniques