Llechwedd Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Records

This material is held atGwynedd Archives Service - Meirionnydd Record Office / Gwasanaeth Archifau Gwynedd, Archifdy Meirionnydd

Reference
- GB 220 Z/M/720
Dates of Creation
- 1875-1916
Name of Creator
- Llechwedd Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog
  J. W. Greaves & Sons
Language of Material
- English
Physical Description
- Not provided

Scope and Content

Account books, 1875-1881; prospectus, 1881-1886; Talyweunydd Quarry account books, 1886-1887; deeds, 1915-1916; and photographs.

Administrative / Biographical History

Llechwedd Slate Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merionethshire, was owned by J. W. Greaves & Sons during the 19th and 20th centuries. Tal-y-Weunydd is the western part of the quarry. The quarry, which was mostly underground, was opened in 1846. Highly-mechanised mills were established in 1852, and extensive use was made of waterpower for mill driving, pumping and haulage. By 1882, the quarry employed 553 men. By 1917, this figure had dropped to 110, due to the decline in the slate industry. Production is now concentrated in a mill built in the 1950s.

Arrangement

Arranged into the following: account books; prospectus; Talyweunydd Quarry account books; deeds; and photographs.

Access Information

No restrictions.

Note

Compiled by Seri Crawley for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Meirionnydd Archives, Miscellaneous Collection (Dolgellau) Llechwedd Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog, records; Richards, Alun John, Slate Quarrying in Wales (Llanwrst, 1995); Richards, Alun John, A Gazeteer of the Welsh Slate Industry (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1991).