real time web analytics
Report - - Penmachno Quarry [Revisit], North Wales, April 2022 | Mines and Quarries | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Penmachno Quarry [Revisit], North Wales, April 2022

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
1. The History
Cwm Machno quarry (also known as Cwm Penmachno Quarry) is located to the south-west of Betws-y-coed, at the head of the valley of the Machno, a tributary of the Conwy river, in North Wales. The nineteenth-century slate quarry was worked between 1818 and 1962. Initially slate was extracted in an ad-hoc manner by the locals but in 1849, serious development took place to allow wholesale extraction of slate.

Early O/S map of the quarry workings:

51372410987_1fa0e3bde4_b.jpg


Slate was worked from an open quarry on several levels, and, additionally, slate was also extracted from underground. There were originally two pits, the upper working was known as Rhiw Fachno and the lower one was the main Cwm Machno quarry. Adits led into the mountain from both pits to access the underground workings. Inclines were used to link the terraces and workshops of quarries. It was particularly noteworthy for its water-wheel that enabled both the lowering blocks to the mills as well as being able to draw blocks and rubble from the underground workings.

Transport was always a major issue. Initially, slate was taken by horse-and-cart to a wharf on the River Conwy at Trefriw. From the late 1830’s, it was carted south to Maentwrog via Cwm Teigl and on to the Afon Dwyryd to Porthmadog. Then, in 1868, the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) opened their line to Betws-y-Coed and from then onwards slate could be hauled there, however this was still a distance of 11 km over rough mountain roads. With the completion of the Rhiwbach tramway in 1863 this allowed some of the slate to be hauled up to Rhiwbach Quarry and taken out to Blaenau Ffestiniog via the tramway

The quarry also suffered from a lack of waste tipping space. Its height on the mountain meant it had a relatively restricted water supply, and on several occasions work stopped due to drought, including in 1891. The quarry became a major employer, with the workforce rising from 70 men in 1872 to 178 at its peak in 1898, before dropping 108 in 1937-8. A community developed around it with houses for the married workers along with barracks for those that were unmarried. Output peaked in 1869 with production of 8,000 tons. However, by 1890, this had dropped to just 2,260 tons.

2. The Explore
Revisit given we were staying pretty close by over the Easter period. Sadly didn’t get much past Penmachno and on to Cwt-Y-Bugail Slate Mine. But do love the vastness of Penmachno and the sweeping views across the valley. Did get to a new adjacent place here but that’s for another report. It’s also a nice place to walk with the family. Nothing spectacular but an impressible legacy of the North Wales slate industry that I’ve become increasingly captivated by.

3. The Pictures

This is where the hike begins!

52009918221_7f0bd493f3_b.jpg


Making our way up the steep main track:

52010177894_6a9ace3d69_b.jpg


Old rusting water pipe and the remains of a wheel pit

51372556348_5c5518956e_b.jpg


Top of the incline:

52008898767_ba68c9a8df_b.jpg


Looking down on the top of the main incline:

52010445975_129b989f04_b.jpg


52008910147_93c99afb16_b.jpg


Some old wooden bridging beams still insitu on a smaller continuation incline towards the quarry’s top:

52010446120_de8eb6d049_b.jpg


52010177364_0d4646b56e_b.jpg


Miner’s caban/refuge:

52010446290_069f79ec49_b.jpg


52009981603_ab852ec9b3_b.jpg


And on to my favourite bit in the whole of this place. This beautifully preserved little incline drum house:

52010166239_a00c0454b6_b.jpg


And my favourite view:

52008898412_4ce57caea3_b.jpg


52010166094_d3b20ba24a_b.jpg


52010166154_bc4f986ab1_b.jpg


At the top of the quarry are the remains of the now breached former dam wall:

52009918426_2bae157b1c_b.jpg


Foot of the slate tips to the east. The start of a steep incline to two massive slate quarry mines can be seen in the foreground:

52036716313_cde9ee11ce_b.jpg


52010176689_ea87c24665_b.jpg


Side profile of the great incline:

52010435035_6072bfab89_b.jpg


And finally, a couple of pictures looking over Penmachno from the east towards the west:

52009980588_652e7a3eb4_b.jpg


One day when I come here the sun will shine!

52008897962_5e59160941_b.jpg


52008898047_b178c6bb2e_b.jpg
 

Who has read this thread (Total: 159) View details

Top