I have been to the National Slate Museum several times over the years but have headed straight into the Museum or had a mooch around some of the trails and paths on the hillside.

Yesterday I was passing through Llanberis and though I knew the museum wasn't open on Winter Saturdays thought I would go into Padarn Park for a bit of a mooch. This time I went for a wander around the lakeside and wandered up to the vertical lift head frame and winding house which I presume was relocated from the upper levels of Dinorwic as I have seen photos of some of these.

What puzzles me is that obviously a lot of effort was put into relocating the headframe and winding house - the numbers on the blocks are plainly visible on the head frame but it looks uncared for. The windows and door are covered by metal plates, there is no sign giving any information about the structure. Having done quite a bit of searching on the web - I have found one or two photos which must have been taken a few years ago which shows the windows without the plates - but I couldn't find any further info neither could I find any in several books I have on the slate industry.

I noticed that a shaft protrudes from the house on the lake side of the building thus I presume there is an engine within.

Is there anyone who could provide me with some more information on the winding engine house, headgear and above all why it appears so uncared for?

Thanks

John

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The structure - and the rest of the flooded Vivian Quarry pit - are not part of the National Slate Museum, I believe, and instead are owned by the local authority, with the flooded pit being let to the dive centre. The re-erected engine house and blondin overhead were put in place in the 1980s - possibly relocated due to the hydro scheme or possibly funded by the scheme.

The Museum's curator could, I'm sure, confirm its origins, date of re-erection, and ownership, as the museum's staff are well-informed about the adjacent quarry even though only the refurbished incline is part of the museum.

There were two Vertical lifts, both in the area now occupied by the power station. They lifted from sincs which went down below the level of Llyn Peris, the buildings being on the lower level in the Hafod Owen/Wellington/Muriau area. There are pics by Graham Isherwood in the archive Album in which you can see them in their original location.

I would love to see inside he building too, seems such a waste.

There were two Vertical lifts, both in the area now occupied by the power station. They lifted from sincs which went down below the level of Llyn Peris, the buildings being on the lower level in the Hafod Owen/Wellington/Muriau area. There are pics by Graham Isherwood in the archive Album in which you can see them in their original location.

I would love to see inside he building too, seems such a waste.

There were four or five in total (not including the two still extant in the quarry). The other two (or possibly three) were in the sinc in the vicinity of the bridge on the "C" side of the quarry.

Thanks for the feedback on this it is a shame that the building is all sealed up - there is clearly machinery in there as a shaft protrudes on the lake side of the building.

Googling the web has generated some photographs of the building's exterior which shows it without the windows plated over.

I wonder if it was every open to the public?

Shame it can't be incorporated into the museum even if it is owned by the council.

John

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One of the remaining two is certainly a site worth seeing, although I suspect you're not supposed to.

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I guess the other one you're referring to John is at the back of the Australia pit - that one is in a sorrier state.

Going back to the original post, I think the building jhluxton is referring to is the one in the car park rather than the one in the Vivian quarry?

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One of the remaining two is certainly a site worth seeing, although I suspect you're not supposed to.

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I admired this from a distance when I had a look around early last year, you are a little 'visible' if you approach it aren't you.

;(

One of the remaining two is certainly a site worth seeing, although I suspect you're not supposed to.

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I admired this from a distance when I had a look around early last year, you are a little 'visible' if you approach it aren't you.

I wouldn't know, I wasn't there 😉

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