School Writing Slate · AditNow Community

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maggie48
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Hello to all, I have inherited a school writing slate which I believe belonged to my grandmother, she would have been at school in London between 1897 - 1906. The writing slate is quite thick and uncracked it has a solid wood surround with pins holding the frame together at each corner, engraved into the frame are the words CROWN SLATE WALES with a crown in the middle. I would very much like to know if anyone can give me information about which mine the slate came from and a possible a date, it is possible the slate was my mothers who also went to school in London between 1925 -1934. Thank you so much if anyone can help........margaret

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merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

Interesting. Does it look anything like this one? http://www.rubylane.com/shops/molotov/item/3817 This one has Crown Slate, Dixon and (I think?) Bangor which suggests that it would have come from the Penrhyn or Dinorwic quarries.

Out of interest is it lined, squares or just plain slate?

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

I think there is a New Crown Slate Quarry in the Nantlle valley so it could also come from there.

Sorry I'm not really much help - there doesn't seem to be anything on the internet!

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

"merddinemrys" wrote:
I think there is a New Crown Slate Quarry in the Nantlle valley so it could also come from there.

Sorry I'm not really much help - there doesn't seem to be anything on the internet!

I think that quarry was also known as Carnarvonshire (sic) Crown Slate Quarry at one time too.

Margaret, could you take a couple of photos please. That at least would show if the details are the same/similar to the one Merddin found.

Wyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

I think it's unlikely that the name refers to the source quarry.

The manufacture of writing slates used processes a bit more involved than say roofing tiles (eg some were leafed), so tended to be made in a factory as opposed to a mill.

Anyway with regard to the earlier link, Sutton's Directory of North Wales 1890 lists an E.J.J Dixon School Slate Manufactury at Glanadda, Bangor.

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

There are a few, very interesting pages about writing/ciphering slates in Slate Quarrying in Wales. A.J.Richards.ISBN 1-84527-026-6.
I remember using them at primary school!

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

There is an illustration of the Writing Slate Mill/Factory at Tre'r Felin (from memory!) near Bangor in Boyd's Penrhyn Railway.

Also there was a Writing Slate Mill on the floor above Floor A at Votty & Bowydd. This is just below the level of the Rhiwbach tramway. The mill was driven by a waterwheel which also drove the incline up to the Rhiwbach tramway by means of a chain from the wheel to the drumhouse. (Don't let me get started on the probelms of their floor numbering!) The building was later used as the DC booster house when a LARGE battery was installed there, along with a motor-generator set.

Graham

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

There were also writing slate factories in Blaenau town centre - served by the Festiniog Railway and on the wharf at Port Dinorwic.

maggie48
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Hello to all who replyed to my Q. My slate is slightly different to the one in the link, The wooden corner joints on mine are diaganol not straight. The words Crown Slate and the Crown emblem are the same but mine just sayes Wales underneath, no mention of Dixon anywhere. My slate is also plain no lines or grids. Overall measurements on mine are 6" width x 7 3/4" length. You have all given me plenty of info on mines and hopefully on my next visit to S. Wales to visit family I will be able to visit a mine or museum. Another Q how do I upload a photo? Thanks Margaret

Barney
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

#10

"maggie48" wrote:
how do I upload a photo? Thanks Margaret

Hi Margaret, If your picture is directly related to a specific mine, then look on the left of the home page for 'mine search' enter name here and search. If the mine is in the database it should appear. On the relevant mine page there will be a box saying something similar to 'to upload pic click here'

If your picture is not mine specific you can upload it to your 'personal album'
Again, look on the left of the home page, under 'my aditnow.co.uk, below this is 'personal album, click here then follow the instuctions on the page .... good luck

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

17 years ago

#11

"maggie48" wrote:
Another Q how do I upload a photo? Thanks Margaret

Hi Margaret

If your photo is of the slate, i.e. you're not sure which mine or quarry to upload it to, the best place to upload is to your Personal Album, click on Personal Album on the left hand menu under 'My AditNow.co.uk' and then click the 'click here' link in the block that reads as below:

Quote:

This is your own personal album, for example for photographs not specific to any named mine or for photographs for inclusion in forum postings. Click here to upload to this album.

Follow the instructions from there and your photo will be uploaded. Please note, photos have to be JPEG format, but this is the standard format from digital cameras so your photo is already likely to be in the correct format.

EDIT: Whoops, I responded at the same time as Barney, either set of instructions will work fine :thumbsup:

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