1. The History
Bryn Glas is a small slate quarry, located approximately 5km south-east of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, North Wales. Slate extraction began in the 1890s and continued for just three decades before the quarry's closure in the 1920s. It was then briefly reworked in the 1960s by William Edwards (Wil Band) and Ifor Lloyd Jones & partners, until closing for a second time in 1967. At the time of its final closure, the mill had one sawing table and one dressing machine. The later was powered by a Petters two-stroke oil engine which then went to Dwr Oer quarry, just to the east of Bethania, after closure. When Dwr Oer closed in 1974 the engine was bought by a local engine enthusiast and survives until today.
The earliest workings appear to be below the main site, where a mine entrance and spoil tips can be found. The main site consists of a quarry and two adits, spoil tips and a large mill and associated buildings. A tramway was used to transport the slate down to the road for onward transport to Llan Ffestiniog and beyond. The mill was steam-powered and the reservoir and leat that supplied the boiler remain.
A second site, higher up and to the south-east of the main adit was connected to the main quarry and mill by tram road. It comprised of a deep quarry and an adit, later re-used as a tunnel for removal of material, together with spoil tips.
Old O/S map of the site showing the lower workings and mill (A) and the upper workings (B):
2. The Explore
This one was a quick revisit given I was staying nearby. First time I visited one December morning, the weather was terrible with the wind blowing directly into my face, the clouds were pretty low and visibility poor. This time around it was a lot better, but STILL not sunny!
The main reason for the return was that I missed the upper adit and workings first time around so for completeness’ sake, wanted to check them out, so off I tootled. Previous report HERE.
3. The Pictures
Looking over the lower working’s mill:
The first thing you come to at the upper level is the remains of the drum house:
Track way to the top adit:
The upper adit’s waste tip:
Looking of the waste tip’s edge:
The adit entrance:
Think this is a shot hole:
One of several very marshy open chambers:
And another:
It’s pretty wet in here:
Sadly though, it all ends in dead end:
And time for a quick revisit to the lower adit too:
For some of this:
And the lower adit’s lovely mineralisation:
Never did go up the end incline:
Loving the patterns on the floor:
And back out again:
Hwyl fawr i gloddfa lechi fach newydd!
Bryn Glas is a small slate quarry, located approximately 5km south-east of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, North Wales. Slate extraction began in the 1890s and continued for just three decades before the quarry's closure in the 1920s. It was then briefly reworked in the 1960s by William Edwards (Wil Band) and Ifor Lloyd Jones & partners, until closing for a second time in 1967. At the time of its final closure, the mill had one sawing table and one dressing machine. The later was powered by a Petters two-stroke oil engine which then went to Dwr Oer quarry, just to the east of Bethania, after closure. When Dwr Oer closed in 1974 the engine was bought by a local engine enthusiast and survives until today.
The earliest workings appear to be below the main site, where a mine entrance and spoil tips can be found. The main site consists of a quarry and two adits, spoil tips and a large mill and associated buildings. A tramway was used to transport the slate down to the road for onward transport to Llan Ffestiniog and beyond. The mill was steam-powered and the reservoir and leat that supplied the boiler remain.
A second site, higher up and to the south-east of the main adit was connected to the main quarry and mill by tram road. It comprised of a deep quarry and an adit, later re-used as a tunnel for removal of material, together with spoil tips.
Old O/S map of the site showing the lower workings and mill (A) and the upper workings (B):
2. The Explore
This one was a quick revisit given I was staying nearby. First time I visited one December morning, the weather was terrible with the wind blowing directly into my face, the clouds were pretty low and visibility poor. This time around it was a lot better, but STILL not sunny!
The main reason for the return was that I missed the upper adit and workings first time around so for completeness’ sake, wanted to check them out, so off I tootled. Previous report HERE.
3. The Pictures
Looking over the lower working’s mill:
The first thing you come to at the upper level is the remains of the drum house:
Track way to the top adit:
The upper adit’s waste tip:
Looking of the waste tip’s edge:
The adit entrance:
Think this is a shot hole:
One of several very marshy open chambers:
And another:
It’s pretty wet in here:
Sadly though, it all ends in dead end:
And time for a quick revisit to the lower adit too:
For some of this:
And the lower adit’s lovely mineralisation:
Never did go up the end incline:
Loving the patterns on the floor:
And back out again:
Hwyl fawr i gloddfa lechi fach newydd!
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