Frongoch quarry, Aberdyfi

Frongoch slate quarry (also known as Fron-goch slate quarry or Fron-gôch slate quarry) was a slate quarry and mine in Mid Wales, approximately halfway between Aberdovey and Pennal (5 miles (8.0 km) away from each of them).[1] The quarry was named after a nearby farm of the same name (the Fron-goch farm). 'Fron-gôch' is Welsh for 'Red-breast'.

For other uses, see Frongoch quarry (disambiguation).
Frongoch
Location
Frongoch
Location in Gwynedd
Locationnear Pennal
CountyMerioneth (now Gwynedd)
CountryWales, UK
Coordinates52°33′26″N 3°58′19″W
SN 66332 97359
Production
ProductsSlate
TypeQuarry
History
Openedpre-1865
Closed?

History

Brett and Capper

The earliest mention of the quarry is in July 1865, when the quarry was owned by Messrs. Brett[2] and Capper.[3][4] Then, it is recorded that David Davies, a worker at the quarry, was killed in a rock fall at the 'Frongoch Slate and Slab Quarry Works', on Thursday 20 July 1865. The slate slipped immediately above a group of workers, who raised the alarm and ran for the outside. However, whilst running, Davies was stuck by three falling slates: the first one struck him in the leg, knocking him over; simultaneously two more fell on his back and neck, the latter severed his neck, killing him instantly. An inquest was held on the body, which returned a verdict of "Accidental death". His fellow workers escaped uninjured.[2]

On 12 December 1866, the quarry's owners, Messrs. Brett and Capper, were granted sequestration by the Court of Chancery against Cambrian Railways. This was due to the work on the "Glandyfi diversion" section of the Cambrian Coast Line,[3][4] which has a bridge over the former route to the Frongoch Harbour, from the quarry.

Frongoch Slate Quarry Co.

In April 1877, the Frongoch Slate Quarry Company Limited[5][6][7] was formed, with the intent of buying and expanding the quarry. They had an authorised capital of £10,000 in £25 shares (equivalent to £2,844,912 in £2,371 shares, in 2019). The quarry and associated land was under a lease from Mr. James Hughes[5][6] (the owner of the Frongoch Farm),[8][9] expiring in 1910, for a nominal royalty; the Frongoch Harbour on the River Dovey (which the quarry used) was under a Crown lease for £2-per-annum (equivalent to £201-per-annum in 2019).[10] The expected purchase price for the leases of the quarry and associated land was £6,000 (equivalent to £568,982 in 2019).[5][6]

The company had purchased the quarry by 27 July 1877,[11] and in March 1878 the company advertised for a new quarry manager, to superintend the working of the quarry, which was due to re-open soon afterwards.[7] Mr. Lewis Roberts became the quarry manager; he remained in this post until the quarry's closure, when he became a worker at the nearby Bryn Eglwys quarry.[12] The quarry was also managed by Edward Williams.[13]

Post-1880

The quarry, harbour, tramway, and associated buildings were first advertised for sale, by private treaty, on 19 November 1880.[10] However, no suitable offers were given, so these properties were auctioned separately on 24 March 1881,[14][15][16] at 11:00am, by Mr. Owen Daniel.[14][15] On 27 August 1886, at 3:00pm, the Frongoch Farm, on whose land the quarry lay on, was auctioned by Mr. Owen Daniel.[8][9]

The buyers of the quarry are not clear. The quarry continued to be shown on Ordinance Survey six-inch:1-mile maps revision of 1900,[17] but had disappeared by 1955.[18]

Description

The quarry consisted of one open pit, and three underground chambers.[10]

Transport

The quarry distributed its produce from the Frongoch harbour, on the north bank of the Afon Dyfi (also known as the River Dovey).[10][19] It was connected to the harbour by the 400-yard-long (370 m) Frongoch quary tramway.[10][20] This was steeply inclined to lower the slates, from the quarry – on the hillside – to the harbour. It crossed the A493 road by means of an underbridge,[20] and crossed the Cambrian Coast Railway between Penhelig and Dovey Junction by means of an overbridge.[19] The tramway had 8 wagon turntables, 7 slate wagons, and 4 wheeled trolleys, at the time of closure.[10] The tramway was constructed from iron rails and iron sleepers.[14]

References
  1. "Google Maps". Google Maps. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  2. "TOWYN - Fatal Accident". The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser. 22 July 1865. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  3. "OSWESTRY - Cambrian Railways". The Oswestry Advetiser. The Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register. 15 December 1866. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  4. "CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS". The Oswestry Advetiser. The Aberystwith Observer. 15 December 1866. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  5. "LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS - Frongoch Slate Quarry". The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser. 14 April 1877. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  6. "LOCAL ITEMS - Companies Registered: Frongoch Slate Quarry". The Aberystwith Observer. 14 April 1877. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  7. "Advertising". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 29 March 1878. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  8. "ADVERTISING - Aberdovey". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 20 August 1886. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  9. "ADVERTISING - Aberdovey". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 27 August 1886. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. "Advertising - In Liquidation RE The Frongoch Slate Quarry Co. Limited". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 19 November 1880. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  11. "ABERDOVEY - Frongoch Quarry". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 27 July 1877. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  12. "ABERGYNOLWYN - Death of Mr. Lewis Roberts". Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times. 30 September 1897. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  13. "MERIONETH COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 25 January 1889. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  14. "Advertising - In Liquidation RE The Fronhgoch (sic) Slate Quarry Co. Limited". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 3 December 1880. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  15. "Advertising - In Liquidation RE The Frongoch Slate Quarry Co. Limited". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. 4 February 1881. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  16. "LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS - The Frongoch Slate and Slab Quarry". The Aberystwith Observer. 9 April 1881. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  17. Cardiganshire Sheet I NE / Merionethshire Sheet XLVIII NE (Map). 6 Inches to 1 Mile / 1:10,560. 6-inch Provisional Edition. Ordinance Survey. 1953 [Revised: 1900 with 1948 additions]. Retrieved 21 December 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  18. Sheet 127 - Aberystwyth (Map). 6 Inches to 1 Mile / 1:10,560. One-Inch Seventh Series. Ordinance Survey. 1960 [Fully revised 1948 with corrections to 1955]. Retrieved 21 December 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  19. "Fron-Goch Harbour". National Monuments Record of Wales. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  20. "Fron-Goch Slate Quarry". National Monuments Record of Wales. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
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