Help needed with Manod/Cwt Y Bugail Quarry

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Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

Hi everyone, I'm wondering whether you could help me at all. I am writing a book about Doctor Who Locations that have been used in Wales; back in 1983, the production team visited Cwt Y Bugail Quarry to film scenes for the 20th Anniversary special. I am however having trouble finding out a)where exactly they filmed the sequences, b) how recognisable these locations are today and c) whether they are still accessible today.

Below are some pictures of the key scenes, it would be fantastic if you could point me in the right direction. I guess its also too much to hope for that some of the locals from 1983 traverse these boards and could pass on some anecdotes, but you never know!

Thanks in advance. Scott

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Brakeman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Hi Scooty , unfortunately your links do not work or the photos have been removed from photobucket.

The management thanks you for your co operation.

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

I think I have just sorted them now, the forum was using a different IMG code to the one I am used to. 🙂

Barney
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Hi scooty, your pics are visible!
Manod/ Cwt y Bugail is still a working quarry and you won't get much past the main gate. The site has changed considerably in the 25 years so not much would be recognisable.
Bear in mind there is 24 hour security at the site!

Good luck with the book.

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

Hiya Barney, thanks for the swift reply: I had found this website: http://www.jgd.org.uk/rotwsi/cwtybugail01.html which whilst the photos are 20+ years old, I had read online that the site hadn't been extensively worked since the late 70's. Obviously this information isn't correct. A shame as I had got my hopes up that there would be still something recognisable all this time on.

Is the whole of the quarry completely private? There certainly seems to be alot of photos taken of the site, considering its private as you say. And has anyone actually been inside at all? Anyone's anecdotes about the precarious nature (or not) of the quarry and the site in general, would be useful to have. 🙂

Barney
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Some people have walked up the mountain to look into the pit and take photo's, and on several occasions a mardy assed security bloke on a quad has got very stroppy with them!

Im sure some of the 'locals' can tell you more!

Barney
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I have just followed your link, the pages you have looked at are the old Cwt y Bugail, the old Manod is now working under the name of Cwt y Bugail, Two different quarries, confusing i know!

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

Oh right. Well that would explain that then! As you say extremely confusing! Thanks for the help!

Barney
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Having now looked at a filming location website, they list the venue of which you ask as Cwt y Bugail (Mcalpines) that confirms Manod, as it was called. :thumbsup:

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#10

Indeed! I just didn't expect the Manod Quarry to be renamed the same as another completely different quarry!

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#11

Ah, so this is Manod is it?

There isn't much underground at Cwt-y-Bugail, so I was a bit surprised to see a screen shot from underground!

Now then... while this looks a bit like an incline head in the background, I suspect it's the remains of a building some of some sort? There seems to be no incline...

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#12

As far as BBC documentation from 1983 goes, it does seem to indicate that an underground cave scene was filmed with a Yeti at Manod Quarry!! Do you think this is not the case then?

Here is another screengrab:

pacef8
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#13

Also from what i recall in my youth there was a scene where huge maggots where growing inside a mine. I always thought these where somewhere around festiniog as well. 😮

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#14

"Scooty" wrote:
As far as BBC documentation from 1983 goes, it does seem to indicate that an underground cave scene was filmed with a Yeti at Manod Quarry!! Do you think this is not the case then?

It's entirely likely that some bits were filmed underground at Manod! It was around that time that the mine was opened up to the public when the lease from the Ministry expired and a public open day was held.

However, since then there has been some considerable 'untopping' of the original underground workings as Dave Sallery's photo shows - http://www.penmorfa.com/Rhiwbach/manod.htm .

This is likely to have obliterated the underground location, although I suspect that the above-ground parts may be in better shape, although as Barney says, it remains a working quarry - indeed one with enthusiastic security.

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#15

That is down in Deri pacef8, in South Wales, now virtually unrecognisable too! 😞

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#16

Looks like a roadway, which suggests that it was somewhere that was still being worked? Again, that points to Manod, possibly heading down into the pit.

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#17

I remember being puzzled by that location when the video first came out. I knew it was in the Ffestiniog area but not sure quite where, it was not a quarry I recognised. At the time I had been round pretty much all of the Blaenau quarries, including Manod and I am sure it wasn't amongst them. However, there was one quarry I had never been to, Graig Ddu. Sure enough when I went there a year or so later I was able to identify the adit, and the incline head (you are correct Vanoord it was a drum house ruin). This was before the major works subsequntly done by McAlpines who now work it as part of Manod (CwtyBugail). I doubt much survives as lot of the area has been tipped on since.

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#18

That is very interesting, BBC documents are notoriously unreliable and inaccurate. I suppose its too much to hope that you might have some photos of the area?

Turning into a bit of a mystery this one isn't it!

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#19

Unfortunately back then I didn't take as many photos as I do now. Also, what I did take are all in their original film packets so finding them (if they exist even) would be quite a task. If I come across any I will post them here.

I am sure some of the shots of Bessie were taken on the road up to Manod too (as well as elsewhere).

Scooty
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#20

Yes thats correct, Cwm Bychan and Carreg Y Foel Gron, this quarry is the only location out of "The Five Doctors" we have to confirm.

www.geograph.org.uk is listing this area as disused and has alot of photos taken for it...any idea if this area is accessible at all?