Archive for the 'Slate mining history' Category...
Filed under Slate geology, Slate mining history, Slate quarrying methodologies
Honister is a unique award winning experience and England’s last remaining working slate mine.
Located at the head of the Honister Pass in the centre of the Lake District, this mine produces the world famous Westmorland Green slate – a beautiful, functional material that has been extracted here for centuries. This slate is 400 million years old!
Within the visitor centre, you’ll find a wealth of activities, attractions and information. Guided underground tours can also be arranged. They have live displays of traditional slate processing skills which provide a fascinating insight into the region’s industrial heritage.
Honister is owned by a local family and is a supporter of the Lake District community, economy and the environment. To visit their website, click on the image below:
Filed under Slate geology, Slate mining history, Slate photo of the week, Slate quarrying methodologies
A single slate wagon axle, showing the double flange and floating wheels that allowed wagons to negotiate uneven track.
Photo & words by kind permission of simonrl of www.aditnow.co.uk
Filed under Slate Installation, Slate mining history
The art of dry stone walling at its very finest at Rhosydd Quarry near Blaenau Ffestiniog. Sadly, virtually all the other walls at this remote location have been removed to recover the workable slate.
Words and photo by kind permission of Dave Sallery. For more information from his tremendous website, please click here.
Filed under Slate mining history, Slate photo of the week
“Red Blondin”
Rusted for eternity to the cable, the afternoon sun, and some Photoshop trickery, play on this long abandoned blondin at Dinorwic slate quarries.
Photo & words by kind permission of simonrl of www.aditnow.co.uk
Filed under Slate mining history, Slate photo of the week
The passage of time and rot, work together to consume this abandoned slate wagon.
Photo & words by kind permission of simonrl of www.aditnow.co.uk
Filed under Slate geology, Slate mining history, Slate processing techniques, Slate quarrying methodologies
Mining has given rise to potentially hundreds of terms for processes, techniques and equipment. Many of these terms vary by region or were specific to the type of mine.
Click here for a comprehensive dictionary of mining terms from AditNow.
Link and words by kind permission of simonrl of www.aditnow.co.uk
Filed under Slate art, Slate mining history
Men Working in Slate Quarry, oil on canvas, Martha Levy, 1939, created by the Federal Art Project, Works Progress Administration and lent by the Fine Arts Collection of the U.S. General Services Administration.
For more information on this painting, please visit the Slate Valley Museum’s website (based in Granville, NY) by clicking here.
Filed under Slate mining history
Before the use of compressed air drills, the tool used to drill holes in rock was a Jwmpah. This consisted of a rod with a weight at the top. The rod was dropped and twisted at the same time. Needless to say progress was painfully slow.
Words and photo by kind permission of Dave Sallery. For more information from his tremendous website, please click here.
Filed under Slate mining history
More Welsh slate mining history from Dave Sallery.
The photo above is of a Derelict and roofless quarrymen’s barracks at Dinorwic Quarry in Wales.
Conditions for the quarrymen were harsh in the extreme and accidents were frequent. Unguarded machinery, roof falls and lung diseases all took their toll. Working underground in the industry was more dangerous than in coal mining. Health and safety legislation was non existent. As many of the workers had come to the quarrying towns to seek work they had to take what was offered. Conditions in the quarry barracks and lodging houses were appalling but in spite of all this a great spirit of comradeship grew up.
Barracking was common practice in the industry. Men would arrive for work early on a Monday morning and remain there until lunchtime on Saturday. Many of the barracks were damp, cold and miserable places to spend the week but often the quarry was too remote to make daily travel a realistic possibility. The barracks and cabins (quarry messrooms) did however develop into great social institutions where politics and religion were debated fervently.
Words and photo by kind permission of Dave Sallery. For more information from his tremendous website, please click here.
Filed under Slate mining history
All that remains of what is believed to be the world’s first integrated slate mill, built in 1859, at Diffwys Casson Quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The raw blocks of slate were reduced to a manageable size on the right hand side and then transferred to the saw tables down the centre of the mill. The splitting and dressing took place along the left hand side of the building and the waste from this process was disposed of to rubbish wagons through the openings on the left. The finished slate left the quarry via an incline which connected to the Ffestiniog Railway.
Words and photo by kind permission of Dave Sallery. For more information from his tremendous website, please click here.
