Oakeley Slate Quarries Co. Ltd Collection

Records of Oakeley Slate Quarries Co. Ltd, 1831-1972, including financial records, 1868-1971, consisting of company accounts, 1933-1939; cash books, 1868-1935; miscellaneous account books, 1935-1971; correspondence, 1925-1970; production records, 1875-1971, including make and value sheets and account books, 1885-1971; summaries of accounts for pay sheets, 1955-1962; summaries of pay books, 1883-1917; output records, 1887-1955; slate bills and account books, 1888-1970; slate stocks and valuations, 1914-1971; bargain letter books, 1905-1956; miners' letting books, 1902-1936; clearers' letting books, 1924-1956; bargain sheets, 1927-1970; clearers'/ rubbishers' accounts, 1926-1970; stores stock records and smiths' and workmen's tool accounts, 1904-1970; production record cards, 1936-1944; records relating to locomotives, machinery and equipment, 1896-1971; explosives account books, 1927-1970; miscellaneous production records, 1875-1970; sales records, 1860-1971, including orders, 1916-1971; accounts, 1860-1971; invoices, 1926-1970; dispatch records, 1928-1971; price lists, 1872-1965; correspondence relating to orders, supply and dispatch, 1917-1970; sales literature, [20th century]; miscellaneous sales records, 1941-1971; slate shipment records, 1911-1971; wages records, 1879-1972, including pay books, 1911-1965; pay accounts and loan books, 1879-1967; wages sheets, 1921-1970; pay ticket books, 1965-1970; bargain pay books, 1965-1970; time books, 1888-1970; time sheets, 1940-1960; pay record cards, 1925-1965; pension records, 1911-1965; income tax records, 1906-1972; correspondence relating to wages, 1944-1968; miscellaneous wages records, 1912-1971; accident and safety records, 1881-1971, including Oakeley Hospital records, 1881-1934; Oakeley Medical Fund, 1911-1948; accident books, 1926-1970; compensation records, 1899-1971; quarry diaries, 1894-1925; reports, 1929-1970; records relating to protective clothing, 1930-1958; miscellaneous accident and safety records, 1913-1970; letter books, 1878-1925; correspondence between Oakeley Head Office, London and the quarries, 1900-1968; records of purchases, 1888-1971; records of unions, 1918-1964; insurance records, 1921-1946; records relating to housing and land, 1863-1971; arbitration reports, Oakeley vs Welsh Slate Co., 1865-1886; records relating to Judgement 1922 and papers relating to liquidation 1933, 1922-1933; employee records, 1883-1970; colloidal factory records, 1937-1949; notices and rules, 1872-1968; newspaper cuttings, books and quarry magazines, 1858-1964; rainfall records, 1887-1956; reports on the Welsh slate industry, 1911-1968; plans, maps and surveys, 1831-1960; and miscellaneous papers, 1884-1970.

Oakeley Slate Quarries Co. Ltd was created in 1883 as an amalgamation of the Upper (Hollands) and Middle quarries (Gloddfa Ganol), Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merionethshire. Later, Cwm Orthin and Nyth y Gigfran quarries made the Oakeley Quarries the third largest in the industry, employing around 1700 men. Oakeley had about 30 workers' cottages on-site, and a hospital. The quarry used the London and North Western Railway, loading at Pant yr Arfon. By 1937, due to the decline in the slate industry, the quarries only had 765 workers. Oakeley closed in 1970, but later reopened as the Gloddfa Ganol Quarry, with a visitors' centre, and the Oakeley Quarry.

Arranged into three groups, by deposit: Group One, financial, production, sales, slate shipments, wages, accident and safety records, letter books, London letters, purchases, unions, insurance, housing and land, arbitration - Oakeley v Welsh Slate Co., Judgement 1922 and papers relating to liquidation, employees, miscellaneous, colloidal factory, notices and rules, newspaper cuttings, books and quarry magazines, rainfall records, reports of the Welsh slate industry, and plans, maps and surveys; Group Two, miscellaneous records; and Group Three, monthly summary of accounts.

No restrictions

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Archifdy Meirionnydd Archives, Cwmni Chwareli Oakeley Cyf/ The Oakeley Slate Quarries Co. Ltd, catalogue; Archifdy Meirionnydd Archives, Miscellaneous Collection (Dolgellau) (Z/M/1391), catalogue; Richards, Alun John, Slate Quarrying in Wales (Llanwrst, 1995); Richards, Alun John, A Gazeteer of the Welsh Slate Industry (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1991).

Hard copies of the catalogue are available in Meirionnydd Archives. The catalogue is available online.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at Meirionnydd Archives have been retained.

Accruals are not expected