Slate Museum

Beaumaris Betws-y-Coed Bodnant Gardens Caerleon Caernarfon Carmarthen Castell Henllys Conwy Copper Mine Elderhostel Ffestiniog Railroad Great Orme Tramway Haverfordwest Langharne Llanberis LLandudno National Library Nevern Pembrokeshire Penmon Abbey Porthmadog Portmeirion Saint David Slate Museum Snowdonia Wool Museum

Welsh Slate Museum

 

Welsh Slate Museum

 

The Welsh Slate Museum at Llanberis is situated in the original Gilfach Ddu workshop buildings of the Dinorwig Slate Company.

Other Photos from Llanberis

 

Quarrymen

The Assheton-Smith family from Cheshire owned the company and in partnership with the Penrhyn family. became a major part of the Welsh slate trade (about 25 percent by the turn of the 19th Century). At its zenith during the 1870s. the mine in Llanberis employed 3.500 men and remained an integral part of Welsh industrial life until its unexpected closure in 1969

 

 

 

blasting notice

 

 




Slate mining has been an integral part of Welsh communities. especially in the north. for generations.

 

picking the piece of slate to be cut

Visitors are able to watch demonstrations of slate splitting by skilled craftsmen.
 

splitting the slate

 

the larger roofing slate sizes

 

trimming to size

 

showing pictorial slate etchings


At the Llanberis Welsh Slate Museum. nestled in the valley below Mount Snowdon. the history of the industry since the 19th century is brought to life with workshops. a foundry. forges and water powered machinery. The museum houses the largest working waterwheel in the UK.

 

 

The Waterwheel

 

 

from the movie showing its operation

 

used to power many operations in the shop

 

using belts from the overhead drive shaft

 

the iron foundry in the shop

 

wood saw mill operations

 

overhead crane in the yard to remove cargo from the rail cars

 

large steam driven rail mounted crane

 

shovel for use in the mines


The Slate Railroad

 

narrow gauge engine

 

in the yard

 

mine rail cars

 

yard switching engine

 

mine hopper cars

 

 

mine cars loaded with slate slabs

 

the narrow gauge train used to haul visitors

 

the adjacent slate mine

Return to Wales Elderhostel page


Beaumaris Betws-y-Coed Bodnant Gardens Caerleon Caernarfon Carmarthen Castell Henllys Conwy Copper Mine Elderhostel Ffestiniog Railroad Great Orme Tramway Haverfordwest Langharne Llanberis LLandudno National Library Nevern Pembrokeshire Penmon Abbey Porthmadog Portmeirion Saint David Slate Museum Snowdonia Wool Museum

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