Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Slab Mill
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
- 53.05959, -4.22662
- Cadw reference
- 23734
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
Directly adjoins the large slate mill on Level IV (Bonc Isa') of Pen-yr-Orsedd Slate Quarry.
History
Built in 1868 housing a new steam engine, a Hunter patent saw costing £200 and a 9' by 5' (2.74m by 1.5m) planer costing £100. The planer is now in the slate mill on Level VI of the quarry. The quarry opened c1816 when it was worked by William Turner. In 1863 it was bought by W A Darbishire & Co., after which it underwent substantial modernisation, reflected in the use of both water and steam power. During the 1890s about 450 men worked here; it finally closed in 1997.
Exterior
Large rectangular plan structure adjoining the south-east end of the even larger slate mill to the north. Built of regularly coursed slate slabs under a low-eaved gable-ended slate roof.
Interior
Contains a smithing hearth and a crusher base.
Reason for designation
Included as a well-preserved slab mill, important for illustrating the experimental stage of mechanical slab processing at Pen-yr -Orsedd and as part of the remarkably well-preserved complex of slate quarry structures on the site. It is the earliest surviving mill in the whole of the Dyffryn Nantlle area.
Nearby in the register
- Slate MillIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Winding DrumhouseIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Locomotive ShedIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Winding Drumhouse and InclineIndustrialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.