History:
The first slate quarrying at Minllyn was from open pits before 1840. Quarrying for slate slabs continued underground with several headings but there was never a high extraction rate despite a standard gauge connection with the Mawddwy Railway at Dinas Mawddwy Station; a private branch from the Cambrian Railway at Cemmes Road. Although the line has a passenger service it was primarily intended for slate quarry traffic.
A water powered mill on the dressing floor alongside the open pit by 1845 and was the first integrated mill in the region employing 3 saws, 3 planers and slate dressing machines; the water wheel was later replaced by a pelton wheel with steam back up. From the mill there was a steep incline down to the valley below with a further short incline to the Mawddwy Railway.
The quarry eventually closed but was reopened and re-equipped in 1872 and for a short period a workforce of over 100 produced an annual extraction of 100 tons per annum. A new larger mill with 40 machines was built on the valley floor. By 1894 the workforce had been reduced to 20 with 550 tons of slate being produced.
Production continued to decline until the quarry closed in 1925, by this time there were only 3 saws and 2 planers. Tramways throughout the quarry were an unusual gauge of 2' 4 1/4"; today much of the tramway still remains in place both on the surface and underground.
This was a fantastic site. We spent over 2 hours walking the site the day before the explore inside, just to get a feel for it. The views are amazing & the history that is still visible is brilliant.
So, a few from the outside:
A Link tunnel between the foot of the mine workings & the lower open pit. (the entrance Adit is also in the corner of the lower open pit)
There is a 40m adit that leads into the mine, this was over welly deep but worth getting wet!
Once inside, there are a series of tunnels leading to a number of truly massive chambers.
The first chamber we came to is massive, it is also flooded. We couldn't see the bottom with our torches so it must be 15m+ deep....! Signs that other explorers have been in, as there was a rope installed - ensuring no one fell in the water!
In this chamber there was also the remains of a boiler (?)
In another chamber there was a metal ladder leading to what must have been an upper floor at some point. I just about managed to photograph it - look closely!
A Winch in another chamber, this still turned but we didn't play about with it too much.
Winch chamber - massive!
A series of tunnels and chambers had been knocked through
Cool looking 'rotting timber piece' - No idea what this is/was
Another big chamber, the Mrs is only 5' tall, but this was still a big chamber!
A different chamber here, perhaps a workshop? This chamber was very wide but no as tall as the others. There was some very deliberate looking machining marks on the roof of this chamber....
Final Chamber we discovered was equally as massive as the ones before, although this one had a chain hanging from the ceiling?!
A fab site & easy access. Hope you enjoyed!
The first slate quarrying at Minllyn was from open pits before 1840. Quarrying for slate slabs continued underground with several headings but there was never a high extraction rate despite a standard gauge connection with the Mawddwy Railway at Dinas Mawddwy Station; a private branch from the Cambrian Railway at Cemmes Road. Although the line has a passenger service it was primarily intended for slate quarry traffic.
A water powered mill on the dressing floor alongside the open pit by 1845 and was the first integrated mill in the region employing 3 saws, 3 planers and slate dressing machines; the water wheel was later replaced by a pelton wheel with steam back up. From the mill there was a steep incline down to the valley below with a further short incline to the Mawddwy Railway.
The quarry eventually closed but was reopened and re-equipped in 1872 and for a short period a workforce of over 100 produced an annual extraction of 100 tons per annum. A new larger mill with 40 machines was built on the valley floor. By 1894 the workforce had been reduced to 20 with 550 tons of slate being produced.
Production continued to decline until the quarry closed in 1925, by this time there were only 3 saws and 2 planers. Tramways throughout the quarry were an unusual gauge of 2' 4 1/4"; today much of the tramway still remains in place both on the surface and underground.
This was a fantastic site. We spent over 2 hours walking the site the day before the explore inside, just to get a feel for it. The views are amazing & the history that is still visible is brilliant.
So, a few from the outside:
A Link tunnel between the foot of the mine workings & the lower open pit. (the entrance Adit is also in the corner of the lower open pit)
There is a 40m adit that leads into the mine, this was over welly deep but worth getting wet!
Once inside, there are a series of tunnels leading to a number of truly massive chambers.
The first chamber we came to is massive, it is also flooded. We couldn't see the bottom with our torches so it must be 15m+ deep....! Signs that other explorers have been in, as there was a rope installed - ensuring no one fell in the water!
In this chamber there was also the remains of a boiler (?)
In another chamber there was a metal ladder leading to what must have been an upper floor at some point. I just about managed to photograph it - look closely!
A Winch in another chamber, this still turned but we didn't play about with it too much.
Winch chamber - massive!
A series of tunnels and chambers had been knocked through
Cool looking 'rotting timber piece' - No idea what this is/was
Another big chamber, the Mrs is only 5' tall, but this was still a big chamber!
A different chamber here, perhaps a workshop? This chamber was very wide but no as tall as the others. There was some very deliberate looking machining marks on the roof of this chamber....
Final Chamber we discovered was equally as massive as the ones before, although this one had a chain hanging from the ceiling?!
A fab site & easy access. Hope you enjoyed!
