Hello,

This has probably been discussed before but has there been any news on the Pen Yr Orsedd site being preserved?

It got a lot of press during the BBC restoration series, and although it didn't win, it did get some positive publicity. The last time I went, the site was still being worked so that would add to complications, but I can't help feeling that all of the remaining slate processing sites are soon going to disappear.

There are the tourist attractions like Lechwedd, and the National Slate Museum, but as i recall there are none of the long Mills on these sites restored so that people can look around and appreciate them. I think this is very sad as this was the key building that almost every site had and was virtually unique to the industry.

I know mills still exist at Lechwedd, Aberllefenni, Pen Yr Orsedd, the old Glodfa Ganol site and Australia Mill at Dinorwic. But as three of these five quarries have now closed (to my knowledge), will the long classic mill shape that is so unique to this industry disappear?

I can see why they might, as they are all in remote locations, are exposed to the elements, are expensive to maintain and are in poor areas.

I just wondered if anyone had a ray of hope which they could shine on the subject as I think to lose all of these primitive yet proud buildings would be very sad.

Cheers

Pete

Good question.

I've just uploaded a few shots of the Gloddfa Ganol Mill in 1987/88 and the railway development of that year and will post a couple eventually showing the complete rebuilding that went on after the disastrous fire.

As for the future - the last mill that looks like anything really is Australia - and how long will that last ? It has only survived due to its isolation. It is a real pity about what has happened to Maenofferen.

Grahami

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What state is Maenofferen in now? Last time i visited was probably about 2 - 3 years ago. I know some relics have been vandalised and the workings are unstable, but have the buildings gone dramatically down hill in that time?

I just would have thought that as Slate was a major part of North Wales economy, and entire towns exist as a result of it, then preserving that history would be important. There certainly aren't many sites where there are a culmination of slate industry buildings, like Maenofferen and Pen Yr Orsedd.

I suppose it does come down to cost at the end of the day.

The organisation that was set up to protect and promote Pen Yr Orsedd in a restoration capacity (Tirwedd)has run out of steam,through various reasons,and there is apparently nothing in the pipeline in the future.Shame.

I was allowed by the missus up to North Wales a week or so ago and visited my favourites. Apart from other problems, the severe winter has taken its toll. I am busy at the moment but will compare and upload photos when I can.

But some notes:

Penyorsedd - even less of the corrugated iron roof and the iron hood of the forge has disappeared.

Maenofferen - In the workshops there seems to be less roof, and in the main mill a whole segment of roof has gone. This is in addition to the other problems reported elsewhere.

Australia Mill - nothing specifically more, but of course degeneration continues.

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Shame about the Pen Yr Orsedd project because that sounded like a real positive, even though it was up against fairly big odds of success. Is this subject not something that the Welsh Mines Preservation Society would look at?