1. The History
Wrysgan slate quarry is located near to the village of Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales. It initially started to be worked in the 1830s, and then continuously from 1850 right up until 1946. The underground slate quarry is 1,400 feet above sea level and sits high on the flank of Moel-yr-hydd.
In order to work the underground quarries, in total five adits were constructed: two above main mill level, connected to it by a balanced incline. A third adit at mill level was then extended to further two adits to the north of the mill, just below mill level and including an up-haulage incline to bring up the slates to the mill for processing. In the latter days of operation, a rope haulage system was utilized, moving the rock from the underground chambers to the foot of the incline. It was excavated using a series of chambers, with pillars of rock left between them to support the mountain above them. Slate was initially transported onwards from the quarry by pack horse via Cwmorthin in the early days, until the construction of the balanced incline on the northern side of the quarry in 1850.
The main features of the quarry that remains today is the afore mentioned main incline and its tunnel. Also remaining are the walls of the main mill, and at the higher levels, ruins of the upper mill barracks and dressing sheds remain today. Most of the adits are still open, and the chambers at the top of the quarry, although unstable and unsafe, break out into daylight.
Old O/S map extract of the quarry mine from 1919:
2. The Explore
Penultimate report of my Welsh slate mine backlog.
Set off on foot alone to this classic slate quarry mine perched up above Tanygrisiau. It’s a lovely walk along the path to Cwmorthin through the waste slopes of the aforementioned Cwmorthin mine, before crossing over Pant-y-friog and snaking up the old miner’s track to the left up to the quarry. It’s steep and it was a wet day, so it was slow going up the inclined track. Once up there, it’s like you are in another world. I had a poke round the chambers and connecting tunnels before having a look around the surface remains before making my way slowly back down the miner’s track.
Definitely recommended but make sure you have a sturdy pair of boots with good grip!
3. The Pictures
Looking up to Cwmorthin before the turn-off:
Making my way up the miner’s track with Cwmorthin in the background:
An old incline winding house on the uphaulage section:
Onwards and upwards:
Lower adit which was a bit wet to tackle given I had walking boots on:
Another adit higher up that has collapsed:
One of the old buildings at the top:
And another:
Next level up looking over the mill backdropped by Cwmorthin:
And into one of the adits at mill level:
Inside the chamber:
The connecting tunnel:
And out into the open chamber:
It’s a wow from me:
Some old winding rope:
Beyond the open chamber it leads to a dead-end:
Wrysgan slate quarry is located near to the village of Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales. It initially started to be worked in the 1830s, and then continuously from 1850 right up until 1946. The underground slate quarry is 1,400 feet above sea level and sits high on the flank of Moel-yr-hydd.
In order to work the underground quarries, in total five adits were constructed: two above main mill level, connected to it by a balanced incline. A third adit at mill level was then extended to further two adits to the north of the mill, just below mill level and including an up-haulage incline to bring up the slates to the mill for processing. In the latter days of operation, a rope haulage system was utilized, moving the rock from the underground chambers to the foot of the incline. It was excavated using a series of chambers, with pillars of rock left between them to support the mountain above them. Slate was initially transported onwards from the quarry by pack horse via Cwmorthin in the early days, until the construction of the balanced incline on the northern side of the quarry in 1850.
The main features of the quarry that remains today is the afore mentioned main incline and its tunnel. Also remaining are the walls of the main mill, and at the higher levels, ruins of the upper mill barracks and dressing sheds remain today. Most of the adits are still open, and the chambers at the top of the quarry, although unstable and unsafe, break out into daylight.
Old O/S map extract of the quarry mine from 1919:
2. The Explore
Penultimate report of my Welsh slate mine backlog.
Set off on foot alone to this classic slate quarry mine perched up above Tanygrisiau. It’s a lovely walk along the path to Cwmorthin through the waste slopes of the aforementioned Cwmorthin mine, before crossing over Pant-y-friog and snaking up the old miner’s track to the left up to the quarry. It’s steep and it was a wet day, so it was slow going up the inclined track. Once up there, it’s like you are in another world. I had a poke round the chambers and connecting tunnels before having a look around the surface remains before making my way slowly back down the miner’s track.
Definitely recommended but make sure you have a sturdy pair of boots with good grip!
3. The Pictures
Looking up to Cwmorthin before the turn-off:
Making my way up the miner’s track with Cwmorthin in the background:
An old incline winding house on the uphaulage section:
Onwards and upwards:
Lower adit which was a bit wet to tackle given I had walking boots on:
Another adit higher up that has collapsed:
One of the old buildings at the top:
And another:
Next level up looking over the mill backdropped by Cwmorthin:
And into one of the adits at mill level:
Inside the chamber:
The connecting tunnel:
And out into the open chamber:
It’s a wow from me:
Some old winding rope:
Beyond the open chamber it leads to a dead-end:
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. I see it's the penultimate one though now. I liked the cavern in this one.
