I have now advised BBC N Wales of the situation, reminding them of the story about the loss of water a few weeks back that they carried and how Llechwedd is SUPPOSED to be a heritage centre etc etc etc and they do something like this!

When I saw that photo that was taken last night it was so sad to see. Such a beutiful piece of engineering deliberately smashed.

*******s

I've just uploaded a big batch of "before" and "after" photos via FTP (note to SimonRL - needs putting into the album!).

I've kept it specifically to pics of the destoryed winder and the gear that was in it.

I have now emailed Dr Dafydd Roberts, keeper of WSM Llanberis (I was unable to reach him by phone). I will endeavour to speak to him in the morning.

Disappointing news!

I have just received an e-mail from the C & D Herald reporter.

He submitted the story at 12:10 but the editor had already run out of room! It will be in next weeks edition, updated as neccessary.

I have a copy of the article. Basically Llechwedd's "excuse" and I quote:-

demolish these buildings on consultant’s advice, purely because of a health and safety risk to staff and visitors within this quarrying site.
“.....We are completely aware of our rights and duties to the mines inspectorate,......."

It then goes on that the consultant said it is impossible to retain everything on a working site.

RHD mentions his responsibility to the Mines Inspectorate, but makes no mention of his responsibilty to preserve heritage in, for example Quarry Tours premises.

😞

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Llechwedd management tell lies then.
There is nothing that in any regulation that requires Greaves to demolish thats winding house, what they are saying n a roundabout fashion is there is nothing that stops them either.
If its Health and Safety they are talking about then we all know thats a crock of **** coming from them.
Given the location of the incline head concerned there is no use for that part of the site that could not be accomadated elsewhwere.
I fear Floor 5 is already effectively lost, perhaps we need to find a way from preventing them continuing the destruction further up the hill

that part of the quarry can not be blasted its over the tour tram way there was also some one taking photos there today in working hours!

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Llechwedd-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-034/[/img]


[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Llechwedd-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-033/[/img]

How long before these go? surely much nearer, and directly above the public floor 2 area, but not a danger as opposed to the buildings further away !!!!

yea your photos are floor 3 mill and drum house the 3 mill may be next! :curse: :curse:

Took over 100 photos up there last night. The incline head and all it's machinery (compressors etc) have been totally destoryed, I've put some pics on www.mine-explorer.co.uk

The mill (workshop - yes, that's probably more accurate) is being taken apart, they are starting with the roofs as the old slate tiles are obviously going to be sold.

The workshop still contains a number of big cast iron machines, overhead-belt driven, such a piller-drill, lathes, sawing machines etc. One of these has been pulled through a wall and is sitting on the grass waiting for the scrap men. The rest will no doubt go in the next day or two.

The workshop contains a massive furnace too, no doubt that'll be gone before the week is out.

May I remind you that Llechwedd Quarry is Private land, and this sort of behaviour is just typical of so called "mine explorers" mindlessly trespasing on land they have no buisnes going on to in the first place, as if they own the place them selfs.

In regards of listing/registering the buildings etc, why not go the whole way and get ALL THE QUARRY/MINE listed, and have all the work cease there and put the 20 or so men who work there out of employment?
I' m sure you guys here would be MORE than willing to help us out with our mortgage payments, utillity bills etc,

would you agree SCOOPTRAM???

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Took over 100 photos up there last night. The incline head and all it's machinery (compressors etc) have been totally destoryed, I've put some pics on www.mine-explorer.co.uk

The mill (workshop - yes, that's probably more accurate) is being taken apart, they are starting with the roofs as the old slate tiles are obviously going to be sold.

The workshop still contains a number of big cast iron machines, overhead-belt driven, such a piller-drill, lathes, sawing machines etc. One of these has been pulled through a wall and is sitting on the grass waiting for the scrap men. The rest will no doubt go in the next day or two.

The workshop contains a massive furnace too, no doubt that'll be gone before the week is out.

May I remind you that Llechwedd Quarry is Private land, and this sort of behaviour is just typical of so called "mine explorers" mindlessly trespasing on land they have no buisnes going on to in the first place, as if they own the place them selfs.

In regards of listing/registering the buildings etc, why not go the whole way and get ALL THE QUARRY/MINE listed, and have all the work cease there and put the 20 or so men who work there out of employment?
I' m sure you guys here would be MORE than willing to help us out with our mortgage payments, utillity bills etc,

would you agree SCOOPTRAM???

Yes DylanW you may remind us to your hearts content, and to a large extent we will listen to you. Nobody has any wish to interfere in commercial operations.
By the same token nobody wishes to see destruction for the sake of it. We know that offers have been made to buy ironmongery rather than break it up for scrap, these offers were not even discussed.
How you make your money is your affair but I may suggest that as a heritage/tourist site your endaevors may be better made in preserving rather than destroying these things. Once gone at your whim they can never be returned.
Nobody has implied work should cease, nobody has any desire for work to cease. More over nobody has any desire to see you rip out things like the Robey Drumhouse for a few quid for scrap. If your business is that cash strapped get a new management team.
If you are expecting an apology for the trespass or photo's taken, or even the actions that have led to you being stopped for the moment then you are sadly and hugely mistaken.
You have a magnificent site, it is of historical significance and it is a working enviroment. It can be all of those things together and whats more it can make you all a lot of money.
There is no need for vandalism on the level you have committed.
Don't expect us to go away either, if you can catch me on site you can prosecute me to your hearts content (if you can), I shall simply come back and take more pictures and tell more people what you have done.
All anybody wants is a thought given to preserving the unique history you are custodians of, it should outlive all of us.
I dont know who Scooptram is or who you think he is for that matter, but he is as entitled to post his opiniopn on here as much as you or I, please respect that.
More to the point, if you are Greaves management feel free to discuss my (or others) actions on this matter, if you prefer I am quite happy not to hide behind the internet and discuss it in person.
Do not expect us all to sit idly by while things like the Robey Winder are destroyed

There isn't a single person on any of the web sites where this has been discussed who wants to see an entire mine closed!

A living, breathing mining industry is a part of the UK economy, it is an industry that we are all interested in (some work in) and is something we all want to see continue.

See, for example, the discussions relating to the job losses at McAlpines and the resulting downscaling of the Welsh slate industry.

I do however accept these reasons are not immediate as the concerns of anybody who works in the industry.

However it is a very sad day when irreplacable parts of a region's mining or quarrying heritage are lost for good. That's all we're discussing.

But as Jagman points out, what you've got is very special, it's a tourist attaction, a working mine and a monument to the efforts of generations of workers.

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It might be interesting to hear what DylanW thinks (or knows) was the REAL reason for demolishing the drumhouse was anyway. Surely it must have COST money just to do that? IE labour, machinery use etc etc and to what end or purpose?

May I remind you that Llechwedd Quarry is Private land, and this sort of behaviour is just typical of so called "mine explorers" mindlessly trespasing on land they have no buisnes going on to in the first place, as if they own the place them selfs.

This comment is particularly short sighted in that it completley ignores the motives for such action. Fortunatly in this country not all of us are content to sit at home and watch coronation st. A leson from history : When people are prepared to make sacrifices for what they believe in, they usually win. What do you believe in DylanW, apart from your wage packet, that is ?

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I don't actually see too much problem in this, after all Llechwedd are the ones causing damage, and the right of way act explicitly sais "don't damage anything" - despite not applying to here, but basically your proving our point.

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I don't actually see too much problem in this, after all Llechwedd are the ones causing damage, and the right of way act explicitly sais "don't damage anything" - despite not applying to here, but basically your proving our point.

Theres no right of way on floor 5, or through Maenofferen come to that, whats your point(less)?! :lol:

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that part of the quarry can not be blasted its over the tour tram way there was also some one taking photos there today in working hours!

That part of llechwedd CAN be blasted, it was last worked in the early/mid 1990's...

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I don't actually see too much problem in this, after all Llechwedd are the ones causing damage, and the right of way act explicitly sais "don't damage anything" - despite not applying to here, but basically your proving our point.

Theres no right of way on floor 5, or through Maenofferen come to that, whats your point(less)?! :lol:

I didn't say that there was: that's why I said: "Though that probably doesn't apply here" -
No I was just stating that in the right of way act, it states that you shouldn't damage property......
But in theory, you are doing just that so you can't at least when some of us (i've never been) do go to llechwedd - we don't damage property.... so basically Llechwedd are no better than us.....
I understand you point of view here, yes I totally agree we whould all respect this... but to say this after Llechwedd have just disposed of most of floor five is a little ironic.

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Ah DylanW I am disappointed that you cannot even be bothered to discuss preservation at Llechwedd.
I know you feel that quarry property is no one else's business, but in this day and age preserving our past is important to many people. We can argue and fight against each other or we can work to a common cause. Its your choice. Times have changed I'm afraid

Please don't take a view on us mine-explorers as damaging, and not caring for other peoples' land, because on this website I can insure that we all don't... we do our exploration for historical purposes. The fact remeins- we respect the rights which you have on Llechwedd etc... and do nothing to damage or wreck this amazing site, and as the owners you should aslo respect the historical importance. As Jagman says - we may as well talk together, we all have to face it: preservation is important.. 😉
please take a moment to understand... and respect each others' points. 😉

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