Teigl
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14 years ago
Ffestra and I decided to have a mooch around the Hendre Ddu quarry this afternoon. We were surprised to see that a new road has been constructed of slate waste, going up to the quarry approximately on the route of the old access road. There has been a deal of tip robbing, and a large (lorry?) turning area has been carved out of one of the tips on the 1860 top level. The new road finishes at this tip for the moment, but a tree has had it's branches lopped so as not to lean over the route. It's hellish steep.
Just wondered if anyone knew what was going on...an excavator has been parked at the gate. Hope there's not going to be any more tip destruction.
[photo]Hendre-Ddu-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-57688[/photo]



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derrickman
14 years ago
or could that be.. hope the local quarrymen and drivers are getting some work?

what's the difference between last year's mining remains and 100-year-old ones?
''the stopes soared beyond the range of our caplamps' - David Bick...... How times change .... oh, I don't know, I've still got a lamp like that.
Teigl
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14 years ago
Well, if that is the case and the local drivers and quarrymen are getting work...emphasis on the "if"...we'd all better get along there and take as many photos as possible to record the archaeology on site before it all gets untopped, reclaimed and generally obliterated!
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JohnnearCfon
14 years ago
As that is within the Snowdonia National Park, surely that would need planning permission?
Teigl
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14 years ago
Thanks John. I had a good look at the Gwynedd planning lists and the SNPA planning consent list for 2010...not easy when you see the Kafka-esque way it is laid out... nothing found so far, so the planning consent must be earlier.
However, I did find this:
http://www.carrentals.co.uk/offset.pdf 

Certainly, there has been extensive planting of Sessile Oak all over the site in non-sensitive areas. Perhaps this is a case of jobs for the tree managers... 🙂
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JohnnearCfon
14 years ago
Have just spoken to SNP planning. They have not granted any permission for anything on that site. They will be investigating and letting me know. They do not think anything is listed (I did wonder about the magazine). I also suggested that maybe an archaeology survey might need doing before work is allowed to continue.
Teigl
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14 years ago
"JohnnearCfon" wrote:

Have just spoken to SNP planning. They have not granted any permission for anything on that site. They will be investigating and letting me know. They do not think anything is listed (I did wonder about the magazine). I also suggested that maybe an archaeology survey might need doing before work is allowed to continue.



Thanks very much indeed, John. I'm surprised it's not listed, the magazine and the barracks are quite unusual.
I shall keep my eye on the site and do some more record photography there in the meantime.
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moocher
14 years ago
out of interest.. is any underground access still possible ?
looks a very picturesque site ..
Excuse me while my carbon footprint kicks your eco-mentalist backside!
Teigl
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14 years ago
"moocher" wrote:

out of interest.. is any underground access still possible ?
looks a very picturesque site ..



The pit access adit near the incline is flooded at the moment and has a build up of vegetation at the mouth, but would be possible with waders...lot of mud at the mouth though.
The trial adit within the pit is flooded to about 20cms depth but at the moment, after the frost, the rock is a little de-laminated so you'd have to go with care. (of course, we mine explorers always do, don't we! :thumbsup: ) There are other fascinating looking adits all over the site but all are very boggy and full of cut vegetation piled in them, presumably to deter exploring.
The site is well worth a look as it is a beautiful location and has some fascinating surface remains. Good views across to Isallt sq and up the valley to Prince of Wales.
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JohnnearCfon
14 years ago
IIRC it is an adit (flooded to just below Critical Welly Depth) at that mine that has a vertical shaft near the innermost end, so be careful. It is a strange adit in that the floor (under the water) is totally covered in a black substance.
Teigl
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14 years ago
"JohnnearCfon" wrote:

IIRC it is an adit (flooded to just below Critical Welly Depth) at that mine that has a vertical shaft near the innermost end, so be careful. It is a strange adit in that the floor (under the water) is totally covered in a black substance.



Thanks for the warning, I'll bear that in mind!
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