March 2025
Following kind guidance from @HughieD, I visited Maenofferen with @Acid-reflux. I hadn't considered it before. However, after being a middle man in a chat about it, I checked out some online photos. My interest was soon sparked, so I tagged along with Acid for a closer look. It didn't disappoint. After a long walk down a slope, we found ourselves deep in the mine. We spent eight hours exploring the vast tunnel network. We barely scratched the surface. Most tunnels are full of old relics. These include tools and mine carts. We also had a quick look around the old cutting mill. Other members have covered this area well, so I've left it out of this report.
History
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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Fujifilm X-T5, 10-24mm f4 R OIS WR
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