History in Structure

Powered Incline Drumhouse including chimney

A Grade II* Listed Building in Ffestiniog, Gwynedd

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Coordinates

Latitude: 53.0014 / 53°0'5"N

Longitude: -3.9168 / 3°55'0"W

OS Eastings: 271464

OS Northings: 346619

OS Grid: SH714466

Mapcode National: GBR 5Z.GWJF

Mapcode Global: WH559.TT1D

Plus Code: 9C5R232M+H7

Entry Name: Powered Incline Drumhouse including chimney

Listing Date: 1 February 1996

Last Amended: 1 February 1996

Grade: II*

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 16892

Building Class: Industrial

ID on this website: 300016892

Location: At the end of a short rock tunnel linking the main Maenofferen level with the underground incline 100m E of the slab mill.

County: Gwynedd

Community: Ffestiniog

Community: Ffestiniog

Locality: Maenofferen Slate Quarry

Traditional County: Merionethshire

Tagged with: Building

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Blaenau-Ffestiniog

Exterior

History: Up-haulage incline drumhouse, shown on the 1888 O.S. map; originally water- and subsequently steam driven, the former engine house and the large kinked chimney are adjacent. Converted to electric power c1911, the contemporary machinery and motor survive intact and are still in use. Originally a triple-drum incline serving 3 rail tracks, only one track is currently in operation (June 1995).

Exterior: Slate construction throughout; single-storey and of three sections. The central section is the drumhouse and operating platform and lies above the tracks; inclined multi-pane glazing to the latter. To the L the former engine house, advanced and partly built against a rock outcrop; steps up to entrance with boarded door. To the rear of this a blocked entrance leading to a ruined enclosure, presumably the former wheel pit. The third section is a recessed locomotive shed with boarded entrances to the advanced rear gable (downhill facing) and inner face; lean-to to front gable end, partly built against the rock..

Interior: Former engine house with 3 brine bath rheostats for speed regulation, operated by overhead crankshafting. 3 cabled drums with contemporary housing, clutch and brake controls. Contemporary stove to observation platform. Boxed generator in upper locomotive house.

Standing immediately to the W of the drumhouse and adjoining the ruined former engine/ wheel house, a large, square chimney, kinked half-way up where it passes under a rail track. The chimney is built of slate against the blasted rock; plain cornice to gently-tapering upper section.

Included at Grade II* as an extremely scarce electric winding house with its machinery and controls intact; one of very few still in operation.

Group value with other listed items at this exceptionally complete example of a slate quarry level.

References: D. Rh Gwyn and A. Davidson, 'Gwynedd Slate Quarries', Gwynedd Archaeological Trust Report No. 152, (forthcoming).

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Former Weighbridge Hut
    Located immediately to the S of the powered incline drumhouse, at the mouth of the connecting tunnel to the main level; built against the rock facing the railtrack.
  • II Remote Incline Drumhouse
    Located approximately 150m NW of the slab mill on the main level of the quarry, on a bend and at the top of a long disused incline.
  • II Booster Station
    Located immediately to the E of the slate dressing mill and S of the smithy/workshop.
  • II Former Engine House
    Located immediately behind the electric booster house on the main level, NE of the slab mill.
  • II Smithy and Workshop Range
    Immediately NE of the dressing mill on the main level of Maenofferen, a working quarry high above Llechwedd..
  • II* Slate Dressing Mill
    On the main Maenofferen level, a working underground quarry, high above Llechwedd.
  • II Hydro-electric Powerstation
    Located 1km to the NW of the main Maenofferen level, in a sheltered hollow beneath the summit of Moel Bowydd; N gable into the rock.
  • II Tai Uncorn
    Set back behind a low walled garden on a slight rise at the NE end of the street.

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