16869

3  

II  

Designated  

01/02/1996  

 

Quarryman's Cottages  

 

Gwynedd  

Ffestiniog  

 

Gloddfa Ganol Quarry  

269259  

346910  

 

Prominently located on the main Gloddfa Ganol level, backing onto a slate spoil hill and facing NE; set back slightly behind a slate-slab fence and with a slate-flagged forecourt..  

Domestic  

 

c1840 terrace of quarry workers' cottages originally serving Holland's quarry. This was opened in 1827 by Samuel Holland the younger and was also called 'upper quarry.' Originally the terrace would have housed the families probably of foremen or clerks, rather than quarrymen, who typically slept in barrack accommodation during this period. Following the amalgamation of Holland's with Oakely quarry in 1878 the terrace was occupied (until as recently as 1968) by 3 quarry maintenance men and their families, who were required to remain permanently on site. The main workings on this level commenced 1839-40 and it is likely that the terrace relates to this period. At the quarry's peak production period between 1882 and 1889, 534 men were employed in the deepest slate mine in the world, producing a recorded 13,753 tons of slate in 1882.  

 

 

A good representative quarry terrace retaining much of its historic and sociological interest.  

Nos 1-3 Quarryman's Cottages, Ffestiniog Exterior: Single storey terrace of three identical units; whitened slate-rubble construction with renewed decorative slate roof. 4 equally-spaced squat stacks with slate capping and weather-coursing. Central entrances with narrow flanking 12-pane recessed sash windows to each cottage; slate cills, modern boarded doors. Adjoining no1 (to the L) and set back slightly, a later C19 wash house lean-to with slate slab roofing and (partly) similar walls to side. Here a reduced 4-pane window and a boarded door to the L. Further entrance to the front and a small adjoining, part-open coal-store. Further, more substantial later C19 lean-to to R gable adjoining no 3; this slightly recessed with contemporary boarded door; modern slate roof. The upper gable end of the terrace here is hung with decorative slates. Adjoining this to the front, a near-contemporary ty bach with slab roof as before and boarded door. Interior: Each cottage retains its original internal arrangement of a hall and small parlour to the ground floor and two attic bedrooms, accessed via a simple straight-flight stair from the hall.. The latter spaces are flagged and have simple beamed ceilings. Large fireplaces to L with slate lintels and mantel shelves. Nos 2 and 3 retain late C19 ranges, the latter with a grained fireplace surround. To its L, enclosed cupboards to a recess, the upper doors of which are missing. All save no1 have a boarded draft screen behind the entrance with shelves to the reverse. Small original slate fireplaces to the parlours of nos 1 and 2, with inscised decoration and the former with late Regency-style reeded and rosette decoration. To the rear of each parlour, a small pantry, nos 2 and 3 retaining some shelving and fittings.