North Wales Slate Industry Sites 1980s

Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians

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jhluxton
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

I have recently uploaded 100 scanned slides taken of North Wales slate industry sites in the 1980s.

http://www.jhluxton.com/The-35mm-Film-Archive/Industrial-Archaeology-British/Slate-Industry-of-Wales/

Some samples:

John

www.jhluxton.com - Transport, Industrial Archaeology Photography and More
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jhluxton/ - my Flickr Photostream

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llay101
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Newbie

8 years ago

Excellent pictures:thumbsup:

Rwy'n hoffi tyllau mawr

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Oh wow! Some really nice photos there of places that I started exploring in my teens. A sad reminder, though, if what has been lost in a very short period of time ??

Yma O Hyd....

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Echoing Sinker's comments! So much gone in recent years. 'Something' needs to be done with Dorothea's engine before that is lost - anyone got any news? Access issues were the stumbling block IIRC. There's also Pen yr Orsedd's workshop complex that was subject to a failed BBC Restoration series some years ago. Looks like 'something' may be happening with Maenofferen's mill...

Explorans ad inferos

NigelH
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Newbie

8 years ago

So much gone... so quickly...

jhluxton
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Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

"NigelH" wrote:
So much gone... so quickly...

Does anyone know any detail about the initial restoration of the Dorothea Engine which happened in the 1970s. I think most are aware that the present heritage restorers Dorothea Restorations (previously Dorothea Restoration Engineering) took its name from the project.

Who actually commissioned them to restore the engine?

Were they responsible for cutting the pump rod?

When I visited back in 1989 I thought there was evidence that the site was being prepared for public display at some stage. If you take a look at this photograph of the top of the top of the shears:

it can be clearly seen that recesses have been cut into the ground and a metal rod inserted to support it. It hasn't just tumbled there.

I am sure many would be intrigued to know the history of this site post closure as a quarry and the initial restoration work.

Does anyone know anything?

John

www.jhluxton.com - Transport, Industrial Archaeology Photography and More
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jhluxton/ - my Flickr Photostream

Graigfawr
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Newbie

8 years ago

Most of the ups and downs of the site, including the severing of the pup rod, were covered in the newsletter of the Welsh Mines Society. There is a useful index to the newsletter on the WMS website and most issues have been scanned are available on the website.

ttxela
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Newbie

8 years ago

I was still at school for most of the 1980's but many family holidays were spent in North Wales. We often visited the normal tourist mines but although a keen hillwalker my Dad wasn't much into mines so we never entered any other workings. I remember looking at Dinorwic and particularly the Wrysgan incline tunnel from the car window wondering about the possibilities of exploration - and looking them up on the OS map and planning imaginary forays to go and see.

Never actually did until I was in my 40's though, seems I missed some things......