1. The History
Vronheulog Slate Quarry, also sometimes referred to as New Vronheulog Slate Quarry and Fronlog Slate Quarry is a slate pit working located to the south-east of Penygroes, Gwynedd, North Wales. It first opened during the 1840s and its Lower Cambrian strata was quarried for both green and blue slate, as indicated by a 1901 slate price list.
Not too much history on the place but early O/S maps show pits, tips, tramway formations and some sort of pumping equipment. Records show that the quarry produced 1,642 tonnes of slate in 1882 and had 98 men in its employ. By 1898 this had dropped slightly to 87 men and like most slate mines, the 1930s saw a reduction in scale of output and by 1937-8 only 36 men were working at the quarry. It has been worked more recently for its green slate.
O/S map detail of Vronheulog Slate Quarry from 1910:
Also located nearby, just to the north-east, is Tan-yr-allt slate quarry. An open pit working, it first opened in 1805 with the slate being uphauled northwards to a mill. Worked intermittently, in 1873 it had a workforce of 40 men and an annual production of 1,000 tonnes. After this peak in production, output declined steadily with small scale workings continuing right up to the 1980s. The pit is now completely flooded although some sheds from later working remain along with the up-haulage incline formation, wheelpit and traces of early buildings.
O/S map detail of Tan-yr-allt Slate Quarry, also from 1910:
2. The Explore
Having looked round the better-known sites of Dorothea and Pen-yr-orsedd quarries, it was time to take in this lesser-known quarry. It was a relaxed walk, and while not spectacular (bar the very deep flooded pits) it was interesting trying to put together the layout of the quarry. Old maps indicated adits and potential underground workings but none were found. Also to the east of the quarry slate extraction was still on-going. Overall, a nice wander and an interesting and photogenic place.
3. The Pictures
On the climb up to Vronheulog Slate Quarry, on the right you pass the massive, flooded pit of Tan-yr-allt Slate Quarry:
There’s not much to do apart from not to get too close to the edge and stare over the flooded pit:
It’s pretty impressive in its own right:
I did come across this old pit hut on the rim:
Onward to Vronheulog Slate Quarry, snaking round the base of the waste tip:
The main mill buildings are still pretty much in evidence:
Including this gable end:
Some random iron rods:
And on to the main pit:
Really not one to get too close to the edge to:
The incline up to the higher reaches is still very much extant:
Looking northwards over the waste tips:
Up to the top quarry:
It really is some gouge out of the earth:
Sadly, no evidence of the tunnel at the eastern end of the trench that linked the quarry to the tramway.
And back down again:
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!
Vronheulog Slate Quarry, also sometimes referred to as New Vronheulog Slate Quarry and Fronlog Slate Quarry is a slate pit working located to the south-east of Penygroes, Gwynedd, North Wales. It first opened during the 1840s and its Lower Cambrian strata was quarried for both green and blue slate, as indicated by a 1901 slate price list.
Not too much history on the place but early O/S maps show pits, tips, tramway formations and some sort of pumping equipment. Records show that the quarry produced 1,642 tonnes of slate in 1882 and had 98 men in its employ. By 1898 this had dropped slightly to 87 men and like most slate mines, the 1930s saw a reduction in scale of output and by 1937-8 only 36 men were working at the quarry. It has been worked more recently for its green slate.
O/S map detail of Vronheulog Slate Quarry from 1910:
Also located nearby, just to the north-east, is Tan-yr-allt slate quarry. An open pit working, it first opened in 1805 with the slate being uphauled northwards to a mill. Worked intermittently, in 1873 it had a workforce of 40 men and an annual production of 1,000 tonnes. After this peak in production, output declined steadily with small scale workings continuing right up to the 1980s. The pit is now completely flooded although some sheds from later working remain along with the up-haulage incline formation, wheelpit and traces of early buildings.
O/S map detail of Tan-yr-allt Slate Quarry, also from 1910:
2. The Explore
Having looked round the better-known sites of Dorothea and Pen-yr-orsedd quarries, it was time to take in this lesser-known quarry. It was a relaxed walk, and while not spectacular (bar the very deep flooded pits) it was interesting trying to put together the layout of the quarry. Old maps indicated adits and potential underground workings but none were found. Also to the east of the quarry slate extraction was still on-going. Overall, a nice wander and an interesting and photogenic place.
3. The Pictures
On the climb up to Vronheulog Slate Quarry, on the right you pass the massive, flooded pit of Tan-yr-allt Slate Quarry:
There’s not much to do apart from not to get too close to the edge and stare over the flooded pit:
It’s pretty impressive in its own right:
I did come across this old pit hut on the rim:
Onward to Vronheulog Slate Quarry, snaking round the base of the waste tip:
The main mill buildings are still pretty much in evidence:
Including this gable end:
Some random iron rods:
And on to the main pit:
Really not one to get too close to the edge to:
The incline up to the higher reaches is still very much extant:
Looking northwards over the waste tips:
Up to the top quarry:
It really is some gouge out of the earth:
Sadly, no evidence of the tunnel at the eastern end of the trench that linked the quarry to the tramway.
And back down again:
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!
Last edited:
