Engine house, Waunfawr, Gwynedd

Coordinates

Latitude: 53.1001 / 53°6'0"N

Longitude: -4.1852 / 4°11'6"W

OS Eastings: 253792

OS Northings: 358108

OS Grid: SH537581

Mapcode National: GBR 5M.8PTZ

Mapcode Global: WH54S.PB7R

Plus Code: 9C5Q4R27+2W

Entry Name: Engine house

Listing Date: 21 July 1999

Last Amended: 21 July 1999

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 22049

Building Class: Industrial

ID on this website: 300022049

Location: Situated in the middle of the former Garreg Fawr Slate Quarry at the head of a steep incline, much of which is submerged under slate waste.

County: Gwynedd

Town: Caernarfon

Community: Waunfawr

Locality: Garreg Fawr Slate Quarry

Traditional County: Caernarfonshire

Tagged with: House

Find accommodation in
Waenfawr

History

The Garreg Fawr slate quarry opened in 1802 when it was leased by John Evans and his partners to a group of yeomen and quarrymen. In 1882 it was worked by the Betws Garmon Slate Company with an annual output of about 80 tons and 6 men employed; it closed c1900. The engine house appears to be an early feature of the quarry.

Exterior

Square-plan structure built in the form of a castellated tower. Roughly coursed slate slab construction, formerly with gabled roof concealed by crenellated parapet but roof structure now gone. Entrance on north side through square-headed doorway with round-headed opening directly above. Twin round-headed arches to ground stage on east and west sides (latter now blocked) formerly housed shafts for winding gear. Round-headed openings to upper level on east and south sides (infilled to latter) and twin round-headed openings (also blocked) to upper level on west.

Interior

Roofless but wall sockets for joists to former first floor survive, along with extensive lime render below the former gable line. South wall has round-headed fireplace to first floor and another fireplace to ground floor with massive slate lintel.

Reasons for Listing

Included as a well-preseved engine house at the Garreg Fawr Slate Quarry, its picturesque castellated tower form also making it an unusual and distinctive feature in the landscape.

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.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II Ty-isaf
Situated in pasture fields approximately 120m to the south-west of the farm at Garreg Fawr within an irregularly shaped rubble-walled enclosure, incorporating the ruins of several outbuildings.
II Church of St Garmon
Located on level ground in a low rubblestone-walled rectangular churchyard on the north side of the A 4085 at Betws Garmon.
II Betws Inn
Set at a slight angle to the main road ( A 4085) immediately to the south of the Church of St Garmon.
II Pont y Betws
Located on the A 4085 where it crosses the Afon Gwyrfai about 200m north-west of the Church of St Garmon, Betws Garmon.
II Ystrad-uchaf
Located on the side of a hill with Y Diffws above at the end of a track off the north-east side of the A 4085.
II Cowhouse to South-east of Llwyn-bedw
Located to the south-east of the farmhouse at Llwyn-bedw.
II Cae-ysgubor
Located in a lowland position at the end of a track off the east side of the A 4085 approximately 1km south of Waunfawr.
II Detached Kitchen / Washhouse at Cae-ysgubor
Located on the other side of the small yard immediately to the north of Cae-ysgubor.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Engine house

A Grade II Listed Building in Waunfawr, Gwynedd