Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Quarryman's Cottages
Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 1 February 1996
- Locality
- Gloddfa Ganol Quarry
- Community
- Ffestiniog
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.00350, -3.94980
- Cadw reference
- 16869
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Cadw's description
Location
Prominently located on the main Gloddfa Ganol level, backing onto a slate spoil hill and facing NE; set back slightly behind a slate-slab fence and with a slate-flagged forecourt..
History
c1840 terrace of quarry workers' cottages originally serving Holland's quarry. This was opened in 1827 by Samuel Holland the younger and was also called 'upper quarry.' Originally the terrace would have housed the families probably of foremen or clerks, rather than quarrymen, who typically slept in barrack accommodation during this period. Following the amalgamation of Holland's with Oakely quarry in 1878 the terrace was occupied (until as recently as 1968) by 3 quarry maintenance men and their families, who were required to remain permanently on site. The main workings on this level commenced 1839-40 and it is likely that the terrace relates to this period. At the quarry's peak production period between 1882 and 1889, 534 men were employed in the deepest slate mine in the world, producing a recorded 13,753 tons of slate in 1882.
Reason for designation
A good representative quarry terrace retaining much of its historic and sociological interest.
Nearby in the register
- Quarryman's CottagesDomesticunder 1 mi
- Quarryman's CottagesDomesticunder 1 mi
- Oakeley Quarry TipsQuarryunder 1 mi
- Railway Tunnel PortalTransportunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.