Dinorwic and Penrhyn Slate Quarries

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Dinorwic and Penrhyn Slate Quarries

From the collection of

Archif Sgrin a Sain Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive

Established in 2001, the National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive holds an unrivalled collection of films, TV and radio broadcasts, video tapes and sound recordings relating to Wales and the Welsh, from 1898 to the present day. The collection spans multiples formats and genres, both professional and amateur.

Dinorwic and Penrhyn Slate Quarries

Archif Sgrin a Sain Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive
Llanberis
1960-01-01
Silent
18m

Here are the locomotives – the iron horses – that enlivened the workings of the neighbouring quarries e.g. Cackler, Cegin, Ogwen and Winifred.

Locomotives Cackler and George B are seen at work in Dinorwic Quarry and in neighbouring Penrhyn Quarry are seen others - Cegin, Ogwen, Glyder, Winifred, Marchlyn and Nesta – and slate wagons are seen ascending and descending inclines without the need for such power. There are shots of Dinorwic's Padarn Railway and of Port Dinorwic [Y Felinheli].

Giants of the quarrying world are seen here to have declined and fallen on hard times. The National Slate Museum now occupies the workshops of the disused Dinorwic Quarry, which closed in 1969, the quarry itself now housing a hydro-electric pumped-storage power station. The Penrhyn Quarry, once employing nearly 3,000 men, is still open, employing about 200 people.

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