Cwm Penmachno Slate Quarry Incline

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.