Penrhyn quarry railway open day 2,104 views 6 years ago open day at the pqr felin fawr works, coed y parc, bethesda on the 6th of april 20 show less. Removable sides and ends but these are a very tight fit. The first reference to slate extraction at penrhyn is from 1570, when the quarry is mentioned in a welsh poem. Although there had been strikes before at the quarry. One reason for the quarrys growth was that penrhyn slate was favoured and promoted by architect and merchant. On that day in november, some 2800 men walked out of the quarry. However continuing extraction of slate has resulted in the disappearance of almost all traces of penrhyns history. On 22 november 1900 began what was to become the longestlasting dispute in the industrial history of britain the threeyear strike by the men of the penrhyn quarry, bethesda.
Despite his links to slavery, he was known as richard pennant the improver, and he planted over 600,000 trees in the area. The castle belonged to the pennant family, famous for its slate quarries in. By 1790 he had established port penrhyn, a harbour at the mouth of the river cegin. Housing for the workers therefore had to be designed and built as the quarry was developed.
Both industries arose out of nothing, became giants on the world stage and then suffered catastrophic decline and almost total extinction. Operating from its quarries in north wales, welsh slate has been supplying the world with highquality slate for hundreds of years. Although it was not commercially opened until 1784, it had been operating as a cottage industry since at least as far back as the th century. It is significant in the history of the british labour movement as the site of two prolonged strikes in 1896 and 1900 by workers demanding better pay and safer conditions. Click below to download documents, plans, surveys etc. Constructed to transport slate from lord penrhyns slate quarries at bethesda to port penrhyn at bangor, wales, the railway was around six miles 9. Gwynedd archives, caernarvon record office national archives.
Lord penrhyn became prominent for his battle against trade unions at the penrhyn slate quarry at bethesda. The penrhyn slate quarry is a slates quarry located near bethesda. Penrhyn quarry near bethesda has a fascinating history to match that of our. Welsh slate from historic penrhyn svr bridgnorth station. First developed in 1770 by richard pennant, who became the first baron penrhyn, penrhyn quarry, a huge pit a mile long and 1200 ft deep is reputedly the worlds largest slate quarry. On 11 june 1901 as stated on the poster, the penrhyn quarry was reopened and an invitation was extended to quarrymen approved by the quarry office to return to work. The quarry is significant in the history of the british labour movement as the site of two. The 190003 strike, or lock out, was a culmination of several years of dissatisfaction and unrest in the quarrying industry in the ogwen valley. Hi creuddyn, my ancestors worked in the penrhyn quarry from its inception until the early 1900s, and during my research i found most of the deaths at the quarry were either by crushing when there were falls of rock, or by falling off the slate gallery faces. Llechwedd north wales tourism attraction of the year 2019. For external purposes it includes roofing slates, slate cladding, slate paving, walling, sills and copings, landscaping and then aggregates for civil engineering works. History penrhyn quarry railway society originally built in 1801 as a horsedrawn railroad to transport roofing slates from lord penrhyns quarry near bethesda in north west wales.
Young edward employed employer evidence expressed fact february feel funds gave george give given henry holiday hope hughes january john jones july june. Photographs of penrhyn slate quarry on the mine exploration web site uk. The quarry was developed in the 1770s by richard pennant, later baron penrhyn. In 1823, the bethesda chapel was built and the town subsequently grew around it. The slate quarries of northwest wales were often established in remote areas. A new crown agent, robert roberts of caernarfon was appointed in as superintendent of wastelands and. The history of quarrying the industrial revolution in. A look at working conditions in bethesda at the turn of the 20th century when most of the townspeople worked in the huge penrhyn slate quarry, owned by the extremely wealthy penrhyn family. The chapel was rebuilt in 1840 and has now been converted into flats and is known as arafa don.
Looking back at the great strike at penrhyn quarry north wales live. The penrhyn quarry railway dates back to 1801 when lord penrhyns land agent benjamin wyatt designed a narrow gauge railway to link penrhyn slate quarries at bethesda with port penrhyn at bangor, north wales, a distance of some six miles. Practice manager gerwyn jones said on behalf of all the doctors and staff at the medical centre, thank you very much for the very generous gift the masks will be used by all the clinicians at the practice. The picture depicts the quarry from the lower side, showing in the middle distance talcen mawr or gibraltar rock, blown up in 1895. Pennants slate quarry is still the biggest in the world. Looking back at the great strike at penrhyn quarry north. Penrhyn stone slate roofs of quality internet archive. The 1st baron penrhyn 17371808 had made his fortune from slavery in jamaica and the penrhyn slate quarries the present building was created between about 1822 and 1837 to designs by thomas hopper the great strike of penrhyn at the slate quarry which started in 1900 was the longest in british industrial history.
In the 19th century the penrhyn quarry, along with the dinorwic quarry, dominated the welsh slate industry. The great strike at the penrhyn quarry, from 1900 until 1903, was one of the largest disputes ever seen in the industrial history of britain. The route was direct but this needed three inclines, which severely. A brief history of penrhyn castle in bangor, gwynedd, with the national trust.
The financial empire managed from castell penrhyn was immense. Not only was he the third biggest landowner in wales but was also the owner of one of the largest slate quarries. The history of quarrying the industrial revolution. The penrhyn quarry railway first opened in 1798 as the llandegai tramway. Children and former slate quarrymen share a story to launch world. The quarry was first developed in 1770 by richard pennant and later by baron penrhyn, although it is likely that smallscale slate. Penrhyn castle and the great penrhyn quarry strike, 190003. Currently, penrhyn quarry is still thriving and preeminent in the industry. This would be known as the infamous punt y gynffon the tail. Buy penrhyn slate and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay.
Penrhyn slate quarry, bethesda, gwynedd, wales, uk. Welsh slate donate 100 face masks to local gp surgery. Its described as blue with a purple hint and fine grained riven in texture, with the heather blue being enhanced by subtle variations in colour and natural markings that emphasise its true natural beauty. Slate has been quarried at penrhyn since the middle ages. Much of his early working was for local use only as no large scale transport infrastructure was developed until pennants involvement. Photographs of penrhyn slate quarry mine exploration. Site description penrhyn slate quarry was once the largest and most productive slate quarry in the world, the first slate quarry to be capitalised for global markets, reflecting the immense wealth of its owners, the pennant and douglas pennant families and it has remained in continuous production since before the capitalisation of the workings by the first lord penrhyn from 1782. At the end of the nineteenth century it was the worlds largest slate quarry.
The penrhyn estate was a predominant source of slate from the early 16th century, but it was not until the late 18th century that slate quarrying became a major industry. Centered on union rights, pay and working conditions the great strike was a bitter battle between lord penrhyn and. Memorial stone for the great strike of penrhyn slate quarry 19001903, at jerusalem chapel, bethesda, wales. The easily won slate at penrhyn has enabled the quarry to weather the decline in the industry and it retains its premier position.
The quarry holds a significant place in the history of the british labour movement as the site of two prolonged strikes by workers demanding better pay and safer conditions. Only two years later penrhyn castle, along with the ysbyty ifan and carneddau estates. The history of slate quarrying during the industrial revolution. From there slate was transported to london, bristol, liverpool and ireland. Penrhyn castle alice douglaspennant love story uncovered. The penrhyn slate quarry is a slate quarry located near bethesda. Four hundred men returned, receiving a sovereign each from lord penrhyn and the promise of a 5% pay increase. Penrhyn slate for sale in uk 54 used penrhyn slates. Slate was used in schools, as blackboards and writingslates and on buildings as roofing, cladding, shelves and cisterns. Books are one of the most valuable resources to anyone researching any aspect of the. In 1785 richard pennant, who became the first lord penrhyn, took over the estate and the quarry and introduced ambitious plans for their development. The first penrhyn quarry hospital opened in 1825 and was located in mount street, bangor some six miles away from the quarry.
Rhosydd slate quarry a classic book republished darkness below. Henry hawkins, penrhyn slate quarry, 1832 occupational. Welsh penrhyn slate is steadily adorning the roof and looking wonderful. Although there had been strikes before at the quarry there had never been one on such a large scale and local society would be changed forever. The penrhyn castle collection archives and special collections. At the end of the 19th century, penrhyn quarry near bethesda in wales was the worlds largest slate quarry. I have lots of books on this industry but, if i were to recommend just one then it.
Dinorwig and penrhyn quarries becoming the largest slate quarries in the world. Penrhyn slate quarry near bethesda, north wales was at the end of the nineteenth century the largest slate quarry in the world. Welsh slates high quality slate from penrhyn quarry. A brief history of the welsh slate industry penmorfa.
Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. The penrhyn slate quarry is a slate quarry located near bethesda in north wales. Penrhyn quarry has been producing roofing slate since the thirteenthcentury. The penrhyn quarry, bethesda, caernarfonshire, was one of the largest slate quarries in the world. It hangs in the national trust property penrhyn castle, near bangor in gwynedd. The slate quarry of penrhyn was once one of the two largest in the world. The dinorwig and penrhyn quarries were the two largest slate mines in the world, each employing over 3000 people.
Date 10 march 2012 location penrhyn quarry, bethesda sh 62471 65804. Are you interested in the history of the slate industry. The welsh slate range of products is the most varied and comprehensive available. The mockmedieval castle at penrhyn is another reminder of the ubiquity of britains links with slavery. At the end of the nineteenth century it was the worlds largest slate quarry and worked by nearly 3,000 quarrymen. The penrhyn quarry is the oldest and largest slate quarry in the world. In the meantime, quarrymen were helping them selves to slate and were able to rival penrhyn quarry in their sales. It is reputed to be the worlds largest slate quarry. The penrhyn quarry is a slate quarry located near bethesda, north wales. Constructed to transport slate from lord penrhyn s slate quarries at bethesda to port penrhyn at bangor, wales.