Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Cwm Penmachno Slate Quarry Incline
Bro Machno, Conwy, Wales
A scheduled monument in Bro Machno, Conwy, recorded as Incline (Post Medieval/Modern).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Incline
- Period
- Post Medieval/Modern
- Date of designation
- 28 September 2001
- Community
- Bro Machno
- Unitary authority
- Conwy
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 53.00482, -3.86254
- SAM number
- CN333
- Cadw record number
- 3983
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 LibrariesBayerische Staatsbibliothek, MunichDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1588 map "Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0" (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1588 · Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0 (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich)
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 119 Snowdon (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument comprises the remains of a unique surviving water-wheel powered incline. Inclines were used to link the terraces and workshops of quarries. The monument is a particularly impressive feature and was driven by a waterwheel, enabling it both to lower blocks to the mills but also to draw blocks and rubble from the underground workings. Cwm Penmachno Quarry, otherwise known as Cwm Machno or Rhiwfachno, was worked from the 1820s until 1962. It was the largest slate quarry in Wales without rail access and was also unusual in operating as both a gallery and an underground quarry. It used water power from the development of the first mill in 1852 until its closure.
The monument is of national importance as a well preserved area within a slate quarry, which contains important evidence of slate quarrying, preparation, transport and infrastructure. Inclines may be part of a larger cluster of industrial monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Quarry Incline at Cwm Penmachno (Lower Part)Industrialunder 1 mi
- Quarry Incline at Cwm Penmachno (upper part)Industrialunder 1 mi
- 1 Rhiw Fach TerraceDomesticunder 1 mi
- 2 Rhiw Fach TerraceDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.