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1. The History
Maenofferen slate quarry is situated near the North Wales town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, between the Manod and Moelwyn Mountains. Situated at 400m, it was first worked by men from the nearby Diphwys mine circa 1800 and by 1848 slate was being transported via the Ffestiniog Railway. This ceased in 1857 but traffic resumed shortly after as a steady flow of slate was dispatched via the railway. The quarry was initially named "David Jones" mine until it was renamed in 1861 when the Maenofferen Slate Quarry Co. Ltd. was incorporated. That year it produced around 400 tons of slate and the next year the leasing of a wharf at Porthmadog for onward distribution.
During the nineteenth century the quarry flourished and expanded, extending its workings underground and further downhill towards the nearby Blaenau Ffestiniog. By 1897 it employed over 400 people with nearly half of the men working underground. The Ffestiniog Railway continued to be the quarry's major transport outlet. However, given there was no direct connection to Ffestiniog's terminus at Duffws, slate was sent via the Rhiwbach Tramway which ran through the quarry. This put the quarry at a slight disadvantage to its rivals as it incurred extra shipping costs. In 1882, it produced 8,600 tons making it the fifth largest producer in the Ffestiniog area
It began large-scale use of locomotive power on its internal tramways from around 1900 and in 1908 the company leased wharf space at Minffordd, installing turntables and sidings, allowing finished slates to be shipped to the standard gauge railway there. Following the First World War, Maenofferen had moved up to the third largest slate producer in the Ffestiniog region and in 1918 it introduced hydro-electric power. Two years later in 1920 the company solved its high shipping costs by building a new incline connecting its mill to the Votty & Bowydd quarry. This allowed it to ship its products via that company's incline which was in turn connected to the Ffestiniog Railway at Duffws. In 1928 Maenofferen purchased the Rhiwbach quarry, continuing to work it and use its associated Tramway until 1953.
After the Second World War, fortunes declined and then in 1946, the Ffestiniog Railway ceased operation. In response, Maenofferen leased a short length of the railway's tracks between Duffws station and the interchange with the LMS railway, west of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Slate trains continued to run over this section until 1962. Maenofferen became the last slate quarry to use any part of the Ffestiniog Railway's route. From 1962 slate was shipped from the quarry by road, although the internal quarry tramways, including stretches of the Rhiwbach tramway, continued in use until at least into the 1980s.
By 1972 the mine was only employing 60 men and had an annual output of 1,200 tons. The quarry was purchased by the nearby Llechwedd quarry in 1975 and underground production at Maenofferen continued until November 1999. Production briefly recommenced via the "untopping" of underground workings to recover slate from the supporting pillars of the chambers along with the recovery of slate from the quarry tips, for crushing and subsequent use.
Now owned by J. W. Greaves and Sons Ltd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, it continues to produce crushed slate on a limited scale under the ownership of the nearby Llechwedd quarry, employing just 6 men.
Here’s link to a really interesting video animation (with sub-titles) reconstructing the history and work of Maenofferen slate quarry as commissioned by Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales:
2. The Explore
It’s the first morning of my hols in North Wales and outside, true to form, it’s pissing down. So where do I decide to go? Half-way up a mountain to the legendary Maenofferen slate mine! After a 40-or-so-minute drive from our holiday cottage I’ve parked up and ready to head into the rain. I must have looked a right sight in my green wellies and floral umbrella. Needs must though. The rain was relentless and the visibility poor, but after a hike up the mountain just I was beginning to give up all hope, like a ghost of the Welsh’s slate mining industry, the outline of the cutting sheds rose up out of the rain. I very quickly took shelter in what small part of the building that had its roof intact and, with only the company of the odd sheep that passed through, began taking pictures.
The cutting sheds were amazing, and, in some ways, the appalling weather added to the atmosphere. The wet and poor light didn’t help the photography side of things mind. Then it was out into the mine itself. Given I was solo, didn’t have any gear and hadn’t (foolishly, on reflection) told anyone where I was going, I decided not to go too far into the mine. It was tempting though and was actually drier in there than outside. After taking the second short tunnel and seeing the Winding house was completely sealed, I popped back out to check out the trio of smaller building; the stores, the workshops, and the electricity substation.
Then it was the long trek back down in the now intensified rain. I stopped briefly to speak to Stefan, a local lad who was driving a tractor and is one of six self-employed workers at the live Llechwedd quarry, at the base of the road up to Maenofferen.
Then it was back off to the warmth of my holiday cottage to dry off.
3. The Pictures
The long climb begins:
Maenoffren 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Sadly, didn’t take and pictures of the ascent due to the weather until the long Dressing Mills came into view:
Maenoffren 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Relative dryness at last:
Maenoffren 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7019 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The waste slate conveyor belt, mill 3:
Maenoffren 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 05 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Electrics in mill 3:
Maenoffren 12 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7025 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A dressing machines in mill 3:
Maenoffren 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7030 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 08 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 09 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 10 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 11 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Wheel pit between Mills 1 and 2:
Planer in Mill 1:
Maenoffren 13 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7027 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7026 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Compressor, and compressed air cylinder, Mill 2:
Maenoffren 16 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 15 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 17 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7024 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the mine itself:
Maenoffren 20 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Rusting former gate to the mine:
Maenoffren 19 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Follow the tracks, Jack:
Maenoffren 25 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Left, or right?
Maenoffren 26 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Right first…
img7053 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Time for tea?
img7057 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7058 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The proverbial rusty hook!
Maenoffren 21 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 22 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back out and down the short left and tunnel:
img7065 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7067 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Unhookers office at top of incline. In this picture you can get an inkling of just how bad the weather was!
Maenoffren 23bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back out on to the cluster of 3 smaller buildings. Firstly, the stores:
Maenoffren 27 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7080 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 28 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7086 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 29 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Then on to the electricity sub-station:
Maenoffren 30 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 31 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 32 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 33 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 34 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 35 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7095 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And finally, on to the engineering workshop, now completely missing its roof but with lots of interesting things still left inside:
Maenoffren 37 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 38 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 39 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 40 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenoffren 42 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7102 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7103 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Anyone lost a steel-capped boot?
Maenoffren 43 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Maenofferen slate quarry is situated near the North Wales town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, between the Manod and Moelwyn Mountains. Situated at 400m, it was first worked by men from the nearby Diphwys mine circa 1800 and by 1848 slate was being transported via the Ffestiniog Railway. This ceased in 1857 but traffic resumed shortly after as a steady flow of slate was dispatched via the railway. The quarry was initially named "David Jones" mine until it was renamed in 1861 when the Maenofferen Slate Quarry Co. Ltd. was incorporated. That year it produced around 400 tons of slate and the next year the leasing of a wharf at Porthmadog for onward distribution.
During the nineteenth century the quarry flourished and expanded, extending its workings underground and further downhill towards the nearby Blaenau Ffestiniog. By 1897 it employed over 400 people with nearly half of the men working underground. The Ffestiniog Railway continued to be the quarry's major transport outlet. However, given there was no direct connection to Ffestiniog's terminus at Duffws, slate was sent via the Rhiwbach Tramway which ran through the quarry. This put the quarry at a slight disadvantage to its rivals as it incurred extra shipping costs. In 1882, it produced 8,600 tons making it the fifth largest producer in the Ffestiniog area
It began large-scale use of locomotive power on its internal tramways from around 1900 and in 1908 the company leased wharf space at Minffordd, installing turntables and sidings, allowing finished slates to be shipped to the standard gauge railway there. Following the First World War, Maenofferen had moved up to the third largest slate producer in the Ffestiniog region and in 1918 it introduced hydro-electric power. Two years later in 1920 the company solved its high shipping costs by building a new incline connecting its mill to the Votty & Bowydd quarry. This allowed it to ship its products via that company's incline which was in turn connected to the Ffestiniog Railway at Duffws. In 1928 Maenofferen purchased the Rhiwbach quarry, continuing to work it and use its associated Tramway until 1953.
After the Second World War, fortunes declined and then in 1946, the Ffestiniog Railway ceased operation. In response, Maenofferen leased a short length of the railway's tracks between Duffws station and the interchange with the LMS railway, west of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Slate trains continued to run over this section until 1962. Maenofferen became the last slate quarry to use any part of the Ffestiniog Railway's route. From 1962 slate was shipped from the quarry by road, although the internal quarry tramways, including stretches of the Rhiwbach tramway, continued in use until at least into the 1980s.
By 1972 the mine was only employing 60 men and had an annual output of 1,200 tons. The quarry was purchased by the nearby Llechwedd quarry in 1975 and underground production at Maenofferen continued until November 1999. Production briefly recommenced via the "untopping" of underground workings to recover slate from the supporting pillars of the chambers along with the recovery of slate from the quarry tips, for crushing and subsequent use.
Now owned by J. W. Greaves and Sons Ltd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, it continues to produce crushed slate on a limited scale under the ownership of the nearby Llechwedd quarry, employing just 6 men.
Here’s link to a really interesting video animation (with sub-titles) reconstructing the history and work of Maenofferen slate quarry as commissioned by Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales:
2. The Explore
It’s the first morning of my hols in North Wales and outside, true to form, it’s pissing down. So where do I decide to go? Half-way up a mountain to the legendary Maenofferen slate mine! After a 40-or-so-minute drive from our holiday cottage I’ve parked up and ready to head into the rain. I must have looked a right sight in my green wellies and floral umbrella. Needs must though. The rain was relentless and the visibility poor, but after a hike up the mountain just I was beginning to give up all hope, like a ghost of the Welsh’s slate mining industry, the outline of the cutting sheds rose up out of the rain. I very quickly took shelter in what small part of the building that had its roof intact and, with only the company of the odd sheep that passed through, began taking pictures.
The cutting sheds were amazing, and, in some ways, the appalling weather added to the atmosphere. The wet and poor light didn’t help the photography side of things mind. Then it was out into the mine itself. Given I was solo, didn’t have any gear and hadn’t (foolishly, on reflection) told anyone where I was going, I decided not to go too far into the mine. It was tempting though and was actually drier in there than outside. After taking the second short tunnel and seeing the Winding house was completely sealed, I popped back out to check out the trio of smaller building; the stores, the workshops, and the electricity substation.
Then it was the long trek back down in the now intensified rain. I stopped briefly to speak to Stefan, a local lad who was driving a tractor and is one of six self-employed workers at the live Llechwedd quarry, at the base of the road up to Maenofferen.
Then it was back off to the warmth of my holiday cottage to dry off.
3. The Pictures
The long climb begins:
Maenoffren 01 by HughieDW, on FlickrSadly, didn’t take and pictures of the ascent due to the weather until the long Dressing Mills came into view:
Maenoffren 02 by HughieDW, on FlickrRelative dryness at last:
Maenoffren 07 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 03 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7019 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe waste slate conveyor belt, mill 3:
Maenoffren 04 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 05 by HughieDW, on FlickrElectrics in mill 3:
Maenoffren 12 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7025 by HughieDW, on FlickrA dressing machines in mill 3:
Maenoffren 06 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7030 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 08 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 09 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 10 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 11 by HughieDW, on FlickrWheel pit between Mills 1 and 2:
Planer in Mill 1:
Maenoffren 13 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7027 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7026 by HughieDW, on FlickrCompressor, and compressed air cylinder, Mill 2:
Maenoffren 16 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 15 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 17 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7024 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn to the mine itself:
Maenoffren 20 by HughieDW, on FlickrRusting former gate to the mine:
Maenoffren 19 by HughieDW, on FlickrFollow the tracks, Jack:
Maenoffren 25 by HughieDW, on FlickrLeft, or right?
Maenoffren 26 by HughieDW, on FlickrRight first…
img7053 by HughieDW, on FlickrTime for tea?
img7057 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7058 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe proverbial rusty hook!
Maenoffren 21 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 22 by HughieDW, on FlickrBack out and down the short left and tunnel:
img7065 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7067 by HughieDW, on FlickrUnhookers office at top of incline. In this picture you can get an inkling of just how bad the weather was!
Maenoffren 23bw by HughieDW, on FlickrBack out on to the cluster of 3 smaller buildings. Firstly, the stores:
Maenoffren 27 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7080 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 28 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7086 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 29 by HughieDW, on FlickrThen on to the electricity sub-station:
Maenoffren 30 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 31 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 32 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 33 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 34 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 35 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7095 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd finally, on to the engineering workshop, now completely missing its roof but with lots of interesting things still left inside:
Maenoffren 37 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 38 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 39 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 40 by HughieDW, on FlickrMaenoffren 42 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7102 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7103 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnyone lost a steel-capped boot?
Maenoffren 43 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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