Full Report for Listed Buildings
Summary Description of a Listed Buildings
Date of Designation
01/02/1996
Date of Amendment
01/02/1996
Name of Property
Quarryman's Cottages
Unitary Authority
Gwynedd
Locality
Gloddfa Ganol Quarry
Location
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..
History
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.
Reason for designation
A good representative quarry terrace retaining much of its historic and sociological interest.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]