Sunday 13 June 2010
Monday 24 May 2010
Maenofferen Slate Mine
Maenofferen was first worked for slate by men from the nearby Diphwys quarry shortly after 1800. By 1848 slate was being shipped via the Ffestiniog Railway, but traffic on the railway ceased in 1850. In 1857 traffic resumed briefly and apart from a gap in 1865, a steady flow of slate was dispatched via the railway. The initial quarry on the site was known as the David Jones quarry which was the highest and most easterly of what became the extensive Maenofferen complex.
In 1861 the Maenofferen Slate Quarry Co. Ltd. was incorporated, producing around 400 tons of slate that year. The company leased a wharf at Porthmadog in 1862 and shipped 181 tons of finished slate over the Ffestiniog Railway the following year.
During the nineteenth century the quarry flourished and expanded, extending its workings underground and further downhill towards Blaenau Ffestiniog. By 1897 it employed 429 people with almost half of those working underground. The Ffestiniog Railway remained the quarry's major transport outlet for its products, but there was no direct connection from it to the Ffestiniog's terminus at Duffws. Instead slate was sent via the Rhiwbach Tramway which ran through the quarry. This incurred extra shipping costs that rival quarries did not have to bear.
In 1908 the company leased wharf space at Minffordd, installing turntables and siding to allow finished slates to be transshipped to the standard gauge railway there.
In 1920 the company solved its high shipping costs by building a new incline connecting its mill to the Votty & Bowydd quarry and reaching agreement to ship its products via that company's incline connection to the Ffestiniog Railway at Duffws.
In 1928 Maeofferen purchased the Rhiwbach quarry, continuing to work it and use its associated Tramway until 1953.
When the Ffestiniog Railway ceased operation in 1946, Maeofferen leased a short length of the railway's tracks between Duffws station and the interchange with the LMS railway, west of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Slate trains continued to run over this section until 1962, Maenofferen then becoming the last slate quarry to use any part of the Ffestiniog Railway's route. From 1962 slate was shipped from the quarry by road, although the internal quarry tramways including stretches of the Rhiwbach tramway continued in use until at least the 1980s.
The quarry was purchased by the nearby Llechwedd quarry in 1975 together with Bowydd, which also incorporated the old Votty workings: these are owned by the Maenofferen Company. Underground production at Maenofferen ceased during November 1999 and with it the end of large-scale underground working for slate in north Wales. Production of slate recommenced on the combined Maenofferen site, consisting of "untopping" underground workings to recover slate from the supporting pillars of the chambers. Material recovered from the quarry tips will also be recovered for crushing and subsequent use.
Monday 10 May 2010
Coal Tub
This is a coal tub found in the woods at the back of where I live.
I was on one of my regular mooches in the woods on the site of a disused drift mine, when I spotted a small piece of metal poking out of the ground.
I started to dig & it looked like it could be somtehing interesting so the next day I came back with a spade & continued to dig.
Two days later I had uncovered a coal tub complete with wheels so I got a gang together to lift it & transport it home where it sits in my front garden awaiting a full renovation.
Watch this space for update
I was on one of my regular mooches in the woods on the site of a disused drift mine, when I spotted a small piece of metal poking out of the ground.
I started to dig & it looked like it could be somtehing interesting so the next day I came back with a spade & continued to dig.
Two days later I had uncovered a coal tub complete with wheels so I got a gang together to lift it & transport it home where it sits in my front garden awaiting a full renovation.
Watch this space for update
Empire Theatre, Burnley
When bingo moved out of this theatre in 1995 there were fears that it would be vulnerable to neglect and vandalism. The disused upper level already shows signs of fairly extensive water penetration. The more immediate risk seemed, however, to be that it would be sold for some highly profitable non-theatre activity, removing a splendid building from any prospect of a return to its designed use. There was much local pressure for the opportunity for reopening to be grasped and the local authority and The Theatres Trust contributed to the cost of a feasibility study. Narrow, altered façe. The auditorium is unelaborate but pleasing. As reconstructed by Crewe in 1911, it has two slightly-curved wide and deep balconies, terminating in superimposed stage boxes framed between Corinthian columns. Segmentally-arched proscenium, now with a false ceiling inserted half-way over stage. Flat, panelled ceiling with circular centre panel. Restrained plasterwork on balcony and box fronts. Three boxes and the upper balcony have been partitioned off, but could easily be reopened. The theatre could be readily restored to use, but the narrow stage would need to be extended back over a narrow stream at the rear. Front of house would need improvement. Not a cheap return to use, but the possibilities could be excellent for a town with no large theatre, serving a quite extensive area.More pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/boboilurbex/sets/72157623098123905/
Lancashire Coal & Fireclay Mine
Heres some pics of a disused coal & fireclay mine
The old workings date back to the early 1800's, the mine closed around 1960
More pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/boboilurbex/sets/72157611435272287/
The old workings date back to the early 1800's, the mine closed around 1960
More pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/boboilurbex/sets/72157611435272287/
Croeser Rhosydd Through Trip
Croeser to Rhosydd through trip is a must for any mine explorer,The first challenge is the tough climb up the mountain to the Croeser entrance, once inside its action all the way.
The first obstacle is a 70' abseil into the whispering chamber, then another abseil of about 50' leads you to a 10' abseil into a dinghy to cross a beautiful underground lake. No time to rest as you reach the 1st of 2 zip lines.
The final obsticle is another lake negotiated by dinghy then a 20' prussik .
Your now well into the Rhosydd mine with some fantastic inclines to explore.
6 hours after entering the mountain you apear 1/2 way back down to declare "I've done the CRTT therefore I am now a man !!!!"
More pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/boboilurbex/sets/72157623813277595/
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