1. The History
Very little history on this medium-sized quarry. Located 4 km from Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Foel Gron was initially an open slate quarry in the 1850s. It was also later worked underground. The mill and dressing sheds were a distance from the quarry, linked by a tramway, as there was insufficient water to drive the water-wheel close to the quarry.
Subsequent un-topping to produce granite obliterated the majority of the underground slate extraction remains. The mill and the dressing sheds were completely removed during later landscaping work and now nothing remains.
Old O/S map of the area:
A - Foel Gron Slate quarry
B - Foel Gron Slate mine
C - Tramway
D - Croes-y-ddwy-afon slate quarry
Interesting, some episodes of Dr Who were filmed in the vicinity of the quarry. For more info see HERE
2. The Explore
Revisit after coming here last Summer. The morning I came last time, it was very foggy and the clouds very low, making for very poor visibility. The main reason for the revisit was to check out the old slate mine's main adit, which was flooded to around knee depth and I just had my wellies, so I chickened out. This time, however, I had my waders with me so slipped them on and proceeded up the adit. It soon dries out before coming to a junction that splits to the left and right. Both end in collapses pretty quickly but it was a lovely and really photogenic part of the mine.
3. The Photographs
Up the miner’s track once more:
Past what I think was a waterwheel house:
Then you come to the mine’s waste tips:
Here’s what we are interested in:
It’s still pretty wet in there:
And we’re in. This is the initial section that is just below wader level-deep in water:
There’s some nice colours:
And after it dries out, you can see the original tram lines:
Along with the original compressed air pipe:
Shut-off valve:
Then you get to the junction:
The right-hand side ends immediately in a collapse:
This is the money shot!
Time to head back out again:
A few shots further up at the newer quarry:
Very little history on this medium-sized quarry. Located 4 km from Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Foel Gron was initially an open slate quarry in the 1850s. It was also later worked underground. The mill and dressing sheds were a distance from the quarry, linked by a tramway, as there was insufficient water to drive the water-wheel close to the quarry.
Subsequent un-topping to produce granite obliterated the majority of the underground slate extraction remains. The mill and the dressing sheds were completely removed during later landscaping work and now nothing remains.
Old O/S map of the area:
A - Foel Gron Slate quarry
B - Foel Gron Slate mine
C - Tramway
D - Croes-y-ddwy-afon slate quarry
Interesting, some episodes of Dr Who were filmed in the vicinity of the quarry. For more info see HERE
2. The Explore
Revisit after coming here last Summer. The morning I came last time, it was very foggy and the clouds very low, making for very poor visibility. The main reason for the revisit was to check out the old slate mine's main adit, which was flooded to around knee depth and I just had my wellies, so I chickened out. This time, however, I had my waders with me so slipped them on and proceeded up the adit. It soon dries out before coming to a junction that splits to the left and right. Both end in collapses pretty quickly but it was a lovely and really photogenic part of the mine.
3. The Photographs
Up the miner’s track once more:
Past what I think was a waterwheel house:
Then you come to the mine’s waste tips:
Here’s what we are interested in:
It’s still pretty wet in there:
And we’re in. This is the initial section that is just below wader level-deep in water:
There’s some nice colours:
And after it dries out, you can see the original tram lines:
Along with the original compressed air pipe:
Shut-off valve:
Then you get to the junction:
The right-hand side ends immediately in a collapse:
This is the money shot!
Time to head back out again:
A few shots further up at the newer quarry:
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