Report - Maenofferen Slate Cutting Mill, Blaenau Ffestiniog - March 2025

[GRONK]

March 2025​

Following my recent report from the Maenofferen Slate Mine with @Acid-reflux I thought I would share a few photos from the Cutting Mill that the mine would have once supplied. Around the turn of the 19th century, workers from Diphwys quarry began extracting slate at Maenofferen. Slate was shipped via the Ffestiniog Railway by 1848, but stopped in 1850. Transport resumed in 1857, providing a steady slate flow, save for a gap in 1865. David Jones quarry was the original site; it sat highest and eastmost within Maenofferen's expanse. The Maenofferen Slate Quarry Co. Ltd. formed in 1861, led by Sir William Fothergill Cooke and Mr. Veasey. That year, the quarry yielded about 400 tonnes of slate. Throughout the 1800s, the quarry thrived and grew. Workings expanded underground, moving downhill toward Blaenau Ffestiniog. By 1897, it had 429 workers; almost half worked below ground. The Ffestiniog Railway was key for transport. Yet, there was no direct link to its Duffws terminus. Instead, slate went via the Rhiwbach Tramway, running through the quarry. This added extra shipping costs not faced by rivals. In 1975, Llechwedd quarry bought Maenofferen, along with Bowydd. These also included the old Votty workings. The Maenofferen Company owns them now. Underground work at Maenofferen ended in November 1999. This marked the end of big underground slate work in the area.

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And on to the mine itself.​

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Have that actually done anything here yet? last time I was there, there was containers & talk about go below doing something with the hillside but looking at your pics it looks like these have now gone?

 

[tigger]

Have that actually done anything here yet? last time I was there, there was containers & talk about go below doing something with the hillside but looking at your pics it looks like these have now gone?

Nothing to do with GB. Work was to remove the flat asbestos roof between the remaining mill sections (see third image above), stabilise one gable end and some of the roof supports.

 

[GRONK]

Nothing to do with GB. Work was to remove the flat asbestos roof between the remaining mill sections (see third image above), stabilise one gable end and some of the roof supports.

“Remove” it was a bit more pile it behind the building and forget about it

 

[HughieD]

Nice work on the topside stuff mate. Remember reaching the sanctuary of the relative dryness of here after the steep climb up on one of the foulest of Welsh mornings. Happy days!

 

[Calamity Jane]

Nice photos 👍