Penmachno quarry

The quarry was originally known as the Tan-y-rhiw quarry, and it was recorded working in 1818. In 1937, Penmachno employed 108 quarrymen. It continued working after the Second World War, eventually closing in 1962. == Transport ==

Unlike most Welsh slate quarries, it had no railway connection to the outside world, and most of the slate it produced was taken by horse-and-cart to a wharf on the River Conwy at Trefriw. In 1868, the LNWR opened their line to Betws-y-Coed and from that date onwards slate could be hauled there, which was still a distance of nearly over rough mountain roads. In the first decade of the 20th century a traction engine was purchased to haul the carts. This arrangement was later replaced by lorries. Internally, the quarry had a number of gauge tramways and inclines. During the later years of operation a Motor Rail Simplex locomotive was purchased to work the lower tramway. Several proposals were made to connect the quarries by rail. == Geography ==

The quarry was near the head of the isolated valley of the River Machno, above Penmachno village. Its height on the mountain meant it had a relatively restricted water supply, and on several occasions work stopped due to drought, including in 1891. It was worked as a series of galleried pits, as well as underground chambers. == Geology ==

The five main veins of Ordovician slate that pass through Blaenau Ffestiniog are the North, Back, Narrow, Main (or Old) and South (or New) veins. As they head eastwards, the lower three thin out and disappear, so that by the time Cwt y Bugail Quarry is reached, only the North Vein and Back Vein are left. Immediately to the east of the Cwt y Bugail main adit, the strata are cut by the Dolwyddelan fault, and the same two veins re-appear at Rhiwbach and Penmachno, some further to the south east, and at a considerably lower altitude. == Bardic chair ==

The chair for the 2019 National Eisteddfod of Wales, held near Llanrwst, was made from slate from Penmachno quarry. ==References==