Dyne Steel 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 an railway incline linking the terraces and workshops of the quarry. The Dyne Steel Incline represents one of the key phases of the development of transport for the Blaenavon Iron Company for the export of its goods and the transport of limestone to the iron furnaces. In about 1850 the Blaenavon Company engineer Thomas Dyne Steel designed a standard gauge railway across the highest part of the mountain between New Pit and Pwll-du village, it was required as a quicker and less congested route than the previous mountain crossings. There was one incline on either side of the mountain, both driven by a stationary steam engine and winding drum at the summit. The summit complex also includes a house platform for the engine driver with a garden, and a well for supplying water to the boilers.

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.