Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
South-western aerial ropeway revetment, incline and associated buildings
Llanllyfni, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Industrial
- Date of designation
- 21 July 2000
- Locality
- Nantlle
- Community
- Llanllyfni
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.05406, -4.24206
- Cadw reference
- 23687
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
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
Located above the south side of the North Dorothea Slate Quarry, between the Cornish beam engine house to the west and the ruins of the former slate mill to the east.
History
The Dorothea Quarry in the centre of the Nantlle vale was opened in 1829 by William Turner and John Morgan. From 1853 it was owned by the Williams family until its closure in 1970. The existing incline is shown on an Ordnance Survey map of 1889, although at that date the site of the ropeway structure was occupied by a further incline. The purpose of the revetment was to house engines which drove chain or cable inclines at an angle of about 45 degrees, enabling quarry wagons to be pulled up and let down using further cables.
Exterior
Large ziggurat-like structure built of sawn slate blocks, aligned roughly north-south. The sides are strongly battered with distinctive offsets; remains of slate-built structures on top. Projecting from the east end, in a north-easterly direction, is a slate-built inclined plane.
Reason for designation
Included as one of a pair of large and unique aerial ropeway revetments, impressive for the scale of their engineering and having strong group value with the Cornish beam engine house at this important C19 slate quarry.
Scheduled Ancient Monument (No.199).
Nearby in the register
- Dorothea Quarry Beam EngineEngine Houseunder 1 mi
- Engine House, Boilerhouse, Bunker and remains of chimney to southIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Dorothea Quarry, Pyramids, Inclines, Mill & Winding Houses, etcQuarryunder 1 mi
- Tunnel Portal and TunnelIndustrialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.