Introduction
This is one of the many places me and @JakeV50 visited on our recent trip to North Wales. I didn’t even realise this existed until a couple of days before we went as I did a final search for locations to visit and found a few posts in various locations online. It was one of the highlights of the trip for me to see something this nice which is relatively unvandalised.
Information & History
Penrhyn Quarry was one of the world’s largest slate quarries. Operations began in the 18th Century and peaked during the 19th Century where at one point it boasted a workforce of over 2500 employees. The quarry was owned by the Pennant family and played a significant role in the Welsh slate industry. The quarry was relatively self-sufficent and had its own power source, a railway to Bangor for exporting, and even its own hospital to treat injured and sick workers.
The turbine house is located close to the banks of the Afon Ogwen river and houses a Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon turbine. Gilkes has been supplying hydropower systems since 1856 and is still operating today. The turbine is dated 1929 and was fed via a pipeline which takes water from upstream. The turbine powers a Fullerton Hodgart & Barclay air compressor dated 1918 with a capacity of 1500 cubic feet.
The Explore
A nice easy one this, just off a public footpath, which is why I am surprised it has no graffiti or major signs of vandalism inside. We spent around 45 minutes inside looking around photographing, and was relaxed.
Photos
Thanks for looking!
This is one of the many places me and @JakeV50 visited on our recent trip to North Wales. I didn’t even realise this existed until a couple of days before we went as I did a final search for locations to visit and found a few posts in various locations online. It was one of the highlights of the trip for me to see something this nice which is relatively unvandalised.
Information & History
Penrhyn Quarry was one of the world’s largest slate quarries. Operations began in the 18th Century and peaked during the 19th Century where at one point it boasted a workforce of over 2500 employees. The quarry was owned by the Pennant family and played a significant role in the Welsh slate industry. The quarry was relatively self-sufficent and had its own power source, a railway to Bangor for exporting, and even its own hospital to treat injured and sick workers.
The turbine house is located close to the banks of the Afon Ogwen river and houses a Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon turbine. Gilkes has been supplying hydropower systems since 1856 and is still operating today. The turbine is dated 1929 and was fed via a pipeline which takes water from upstream. The turbine powers a Fullerton Hodgart & Barclay air compressor dated 1918 with a capacity of 1500 cubic feet.
The Explore
A nice easy one this, just off a public footpath, which is why I am surprised it has no graffiti or major signs of vandalism inside. We spent around 45 minutes inside looking around photographing, and was relaxed.
Photos
Thanks for looking!
