Most of us probably know the basic history of Dinorwic so I won't put too much here. Brief history stolen from the interwebs.
Dinorwic was at one time the second largest slate quarry in the world (the biggest being nearby Pen Rhyn). It was quarried for more than 200 years, leaving terraces to a height of over 600 metres high, and at its peak it employed over 3000 people. But the work was hard, really hard. Before the arrival of modern transport, quarrymen traveled on foot from as far afield as Anglesey each week, crossing the Menai Straits, or walking up from Caernarfon on a Sunday evening and staying in the quarry barracks until Saturday lunchtime, when they returned to their families and communities for only 24 hours before starting their return journey to work.
The quarrymen had to undertake a 5 year apprenticeship, and while the work was skilled, it was dangerous, dirty, unhealthy and poorly paid. The rockmen had to learn to use explosives, and how to handle heavy hammers and chisels while dangling on ropes wound round their legs and body to leave their hands free to work at the terraces of slate. These men worked in all weathers, and worked only on a monthly contract basis. It was only in the 1960’s did the workers start to enjoy a reasonable rate of pay, but the quarry shut in 1969, leaving 300 men out of work.
However, not long after this, construction of the Dinorwig hydro-electric power station started and brought work for 2000 people during it’s 10 years of construction, many of whom had lost their jobs when the quarry shut.
The quarry was served by three inclines A, B and C. C seems to be the most well known as it is the one many walkers use.
Decided to go for a mooch around Dinorwic with the original plan of doing the majority of the snakes and ladders route, however Australia was crawling with people so off I went for a wander up the A incline.
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Dinorwic was at one time the second largest slate quarry in the world (the biggest being nearby Pen Rhyn). It was quarried for more than 200 years, leaving terraces to a height of over 600 metres high, and at its peak it employed over 3000 people. But the work was hard, really hard. Before the arrival of modern transport, quarrymen traveled on foot from as far afield as Anglesey each week, crossing the Menai Straits, or walking up from Caernarfon on a Sunday evening and staying in the quarry barracks until Saturday lunchtime, when they returned to their families and communities for only 24 hours before starting their return journey to work.
The quarrymen had to undertake a 5 year apprenticeship, and while the work was skilled, it was dangerous, dirty, unhealthy and poorly paid. The rockmen had to learn to use explosives, and how to handle heavy hammers and chisels while dangling on ropes wound round their legs and body to leave their hands free to work at the terraces of slate. These men worked in all weathers, and worked only on a monthly contract basis. It was only in the 1960’s did the workers start to enjoy a reasonable rate of pay, but the quarry shut in 1969, leaving 300 men out of work.
However, not long after this, construction of the Dinorwig hydro-electric power station started and brought work for 2000 people during it’s 10 years of construction, many of whom had lost their jobs when the quarry shut.
The quarry was served by three inclines A, B and C. C seems to be the most well known as it is the one many walkers use.
Decided to go for a mooch around Dinorwic with the original plan of doing the majority of the snakes and ladders route, however Australia was crawling with people so off I went for a wander up the A incline.
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