Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Engine and Compressor House
Llanllyfni, Gwynedd, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Pen-yr-Orsedd, Caernarfon, Llanllyfni, Gwynedd, designated on 21 July 2000.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Industrial
- Date of designation
- 21 July 2000
- Locality
- Pen-yr-Orsedd
- Town
- Caernarfon
- Community
- Llanllyfni
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.06407, -4.22540
- Cadw reference
- 23673
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
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "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).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 118 Nevin (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Located on Level VIII (Bonc Brig) of the Pen-yr-Orsedd Slate Quarry towards the foot of the modern steep access road from Y Fron.
History
Engine and compressor house built in the early C20 as part of a major phase of investment in the quarry, which saw the introduction of alternating current electricity from Cwm Dyli power station to operate the blondin ropeway system, which was established to take material from the new deep slate pits being formed at this time: the engine and compressor house powered this ropeway system. The quarry opened c1816 and in 1863 it was bought by W A Darbishire & Co. During the 1890s about 450 men worked here: it finally closed in 1997.
Exterior
Regularly coursed slate slabs with some roughly coursed rubblestone; slate roof with purple brick stack in roof slope to long wall on front. Engine house of rectangular plan with lean-tos attached to left gable end and to front on right, the latter being the compressor house. Boarded door and 6-paned window to right gable end of engine house. Associated with a collapsed blondin ropeway system.
Interior
The engine house has its winding drums, operated from a Bruce Peebles 3-phase motor of 1906 through reduction gearing, of which the motor, control mechanism and the liquid controller survive. The compressor house contains an electric motor and a horizontal single-cylinder Ingersoll Sargeant air compressor and receiving chamber.
Reason for designation
Included as an early C20 engine house and compressor house retaining its original machinery, important for the evidence it provides of the pioneering new technology being introduced to the quarry at this period; group value with other structures on Level VIII.
Scheduled Ancient Monument (208).
Nearby in the register
- Transformer HouseIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Engine HouseIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Locomotive ShedIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Drying HouseIndustrialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.