Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Engine 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
- 53.06267, -4.22725
- Cadw reference
- 23721
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 to the north-west of the Eureka slate mill on Level VIII (Bonc Brig) of Pen-yr-Orsedd Slate Quarry.
History
Engine 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 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; slate roof with integral end stack to right. Single rectangular window opening to east (window missing); right gable end has 6-paned sash with projecting slate lintel, above which is a 2-light casement window. West elevation has multi-paned window to left and doorway to right; rooflight to bottom of roof slope to left. Associated with blondin ropeway system.
Interior
Retains winding drum operated from a Bruce Peebles 3-phase motor of 1906 through reduction gearing, of which the motor, control mechanism and liquid controller survive.
Reason for designation
Included as an early C20 engine house 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
- Eureka Slate MillIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Engine HouseIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Drying HouseIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Pen-yr-Orsedd Quarry, Blondins and Associated StructuresEngine Houseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.