Pen-yr-Orsedd quarry

The quarry features multiple excavation pits connected by a network of narrow-gauge railway tracks across different elevation levels.

Starting operations in 1816 as hillside galleries, the quarry expanded significantly under Darbishire Company ownership from 1862, reaching peak production in the 1890s.

Workers at Pen-yr-Orsedd contributed to the Welsh slate industry traditions, maintaining specialized skills in slate extraction and processing methods.

The site incorporated advanced machinery, including four aerial ropeways called Blondins and electrical equipment installed in 1906 for material transportation.

The quarry developed an underground drainage channel system that eliminated the need for extensive water pumping operations common in other slate mines.

Location: Gwynedd

Inception: 1862

Official opening: 1862

GPS coordinates: 53.06053,-4.22689

Latest update: March 5, 2025 22:37