Report - Maenofferen Slate Mine (Underground) - August 2021

[monk]

There's alot of risks in this hobby & I've been doing it along time, I grew up exploring places and doing "dangerous stuff" that most people frown upon.

This doesn't make me right of course in this instance as everyone is different, but I will say this, whether it's an abandoned dangerous building, a crane, running across train tracks or messing around underground in mines or sewers I weigh up my own risks,
If I think it's dangerous ill take the action I feel I need to take to keep myself safe, this has worked very well for me and I don't intend to change now.
The whole appeal of this site in the beginning was being able to share explores and taking part in dangerous activities without being called about it, I don't want to wear a saftey hat, gloves and goggles, sign a waver & take out insurance to visit an old hospital, I just want to go with good old common sense.

Don't mistake this post for arrogance though, if I'm exploring a unknown site to me but with someone who has good knowledge showing me around, I'll happily take any advice or precautions they recommend, if I'm taking people around somewhere I expect the same.

 

[pirate]

I agree to some extent…….just don’t become a statistic

caving incidents

Cave Rescue – The Cave Rescue Organisation

cro.org.uk

even dedicated cavers/miner explorers get into trouble,and I guarantee they would all recommend wearing a bash hat

 

[Lavino]

Even experienced cavers were helmets. It’s a fact.

 

[monk]

Oh absolutely they would, your point on bash hats is not wrong & anyone reading this thread considering a mine should take the steps they need to take to be as safe as they can be, I don't wear a lid in Maenoffaren through personal choice, but would never discourage others from doing so.

 

[monk]

Even experienced cavers were helmets. It’s a fact.

Only when they're not sleeping drinking or partying.... Well some of them

 

[monk]

@Fluffy his name was Mat (army medic) done a couple of tours of Afghan, should have mentioned that earlier in this thread come to think about it.

 

[Topvape1]

​

Full history;

Maenofferen quarry - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Brief history;

Maenofferen was first worked for slate by men from the nearby Diphwys quarry shortly after 1800. By 1848 slate was being shipped via the Ffestiniog Railway, but traffic on the railway ceased in 1850. In 1857 traffic resumed briefly and apart from a gap in 1865, a steady flow of slate was dispatched via the railway. The initial quarry on the site was known as the David Jones quarry which was the highest and most easterly of what became the extensive Maenofferen complex.
In 1861 the Maenofferen Slate Quarry Co. Ltd. was incorporated, led by Sir William Fothergill Cooke and Mr. Veasey. The quarry produced around 400 tons of slate that year.

During the nineteenth century the quarry flourished and expanded, extending its workings underground and further downhill towards Blaenau Ffestiniog. By 1897 it employed 429 people with almost half of those working underground. The Ffestiniog Railway remained the quarry's major transport outlet for its products, but there was no direct connection from it to the Ffestiniog's terminus at Duffws. Instead slate was sent via the Rhiwbach Tramway which ran through the quarry. This incurred extra shipping costs that rival quarries did not have to bear.

The quarry was purchased by the nearby Llechwedd quarry in 1975 together with Bowydd, which also incorporated the old Votty workings: these are owned by the Maenofferen Company. Underground production at Maenofferen ceased during November 1999 and with it the end of large-scale underground working for slate in North Wales. Today it continues to produce crushed slate on a limited scale under the ownership of the nearby Llechwedd quarry.

Explore;

This place is now my favorite place on Earth. It'd been on the 'to do' list for ages, and boy, it didn't disappoint. I can fully understand how people fall for this place; it's truly special. A return visit is an absolute necessity, as I was woefully under-prepared this time around for the sheer scale of the place. Turning up with a few torches, a point and shoot camera and a wonky tripod simply doesn't cut it here, as my (shameful) pictures attest to, but to be honest, I was more in awe and wonderment of the place than I was bothered about taking decent photos!

Huge thank you to @monk and his friend (who I've forgotten the name of - sorry!) for the guided tour. Myself and my girlfriend had a great time. Many thanks. Dinorwic next year?

We spent a good 7 hours here, but even that was a whistlestop tour. We made it down to Level 7, which I believe is the furthest you can go without getting wet, bypassing 4 and 5 on the way, so completing Levels 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7. From what I can remember Monk telling us, many of the levels are similar once you get down there - Lots of passageways, interspersed with gigantic, colossal chambers which swallow torches and the light contained within, whole for breakfast, lunch and dinner! It's truly a spectacular place, with so much to see and do. I could spend a week there quite happily.

Pictures;

Choo choo!

Looking down the incline;

And back up the stairs;

Being driven round the bend...

Catching up on 'current' affairs!

Just time for a quick welfare break...

Before the long walk back out!

And a quick road test of my forthcoming Christmas present to myself for this year!

Although I might need to upgrade the dashboard slightly...

Thank you, Blaenau, it's been a pleasure... Until next time...

All the best...
x

Fantastic mine both above & below ground, great pics brought back memories.

 

[Xan_Asmodi]

Love this! The photos are beautifully left and I'm very jealous that you've seen bits that in all the time I went down there, I never managed to see!

 

[Wevsky]

Over half the members including the older experienced ones on this site, sleep, party & socialise in mines with no lids, if you want to wear one then do so, but don't be calling people out on it, Maenoffaren is huge, unless you're messing around on ropes a lid in my opinion is not needed & if something was to fall it would squash you like a soggy wet tissues anyway.

Not once have i ever worn one, yes ive banged my head in a few,im of the opinion its my own stupid fault if i do, and ive been in some right iffy underground spots

Good reportage Fluffy, lightings a bugger at times

 

[Fluffy]

Loving that. This place is epic, both overground and underground...

@HughieD And even wombling free!

Thank you all for your kind comments.

 

[Funkymunkster]

That's awesome thank you. It's now at the top of my "I wanna do" list
That old ADT would probably start if you charged it's batteries. They're not bad them Komatsu's