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The Llechwedd Slate Caverns

The Llechwedd Slate Caverns, located near Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales, is a historic site that showcases the region's rich slate mining heritage. The caverns are part of the extensive slate mining landscape of Gwynedd, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. The quarry was established in 1846. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the quarry produced vast quantities of slate, much of it used for roofing in Britain and exported internationally. Blaenau Ffestiniog became known as the "Slate Capital of the World," with Llechwedd being one of its key contributors. In 1972, Llechwedd Slate Caverns was transformed into a heritage attraction to preserve and share the history of slate mining. The main aspect of Llechwedd is its Llechwedd Deep Mine Tour which has the steepest narrow gauge railway in the UK and travels over 150 meters underground to the disused slate caverns, and the Quarry Explorer Tour which heads out to the furthest reaches of the Llechwedd site to explore the history of mining in the area. A 610 mm narrow gauge Miners' Tramway, opened in 1972 under the name "Quarry Tours", was a railway travelling 800 meters underground. The trains were hauled by battery-electric locomotives and travelled through tunnels and into a series of quarry chambers. The tramway's closure in 2014, as part of a revamp of the caverns, caused some controversy. The Deep Mine, opened in 1979, is accessed by the 914 mm narrow gauge Deep Mine Railway, a steep passenger funicular with a gradient of 1:1.8 or 30°. At the foot of the funicular, visitors can walk through several tunnels and chambers of the mine. A new guided Victorian Mine Tour opened combining the funicular, the tunnels from the two previous tours and some tunnels newly opened to the public. The tour highlights the harsh conditions miners faced and the innovative techniques they used combined with demonstrations of traditional slate-splitting and craftsmanship showcase the skills of the quarry workers.

January 6th 2025

 

 
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