Industry

Quarry Proprietors - Anglesey Proprietors

Up in Anglesey

Slate mining on Anglesey was a very small concern. The quarry at Trefarthen, Brynsiencyn, which was working in the eighteenth century was part of the Faenol Estate, whilst the small quarries on the parish boundary between Llangefni and Llangristiolus were owned by the Williams-Bulkeley family of Baron Hill. They also owned the small quarry at Llanfflewyn, see map below,  and Bodegri.

This quarry was producing moss slates in 1864 and a new lease was taken out in 1875 with permission to build an engine house, stores, worker’s cottages, tramways, shafts, levels and adits. The visions of prosperity were not realised though.

The North Anglesey Slate and Slab Quarry or (Chwarel Sglaetsh) at Llaneilian commenced production in February 1870 under a company set up by men from Yorkshire and Manchester. Despite the glowing prospectus, the gleaming reports from various quarrying authorities from Caernarfonshire, and the employment of John Hughes from the Dinorwig Quarry, the great expectations were not realised. The plan to create ‘Port Dinorben’ for the export of slate had been shelved by 1872, and carts were used to carry the slate to Porth Eilian.

In 1873 the 10 workers had discovered a lode of copper and another level was planned. But interest in the company shares had waned and the directors were decrying the fact that no suitable land was available to build slate dressing sheds.  Up to June 1873:

1,940 first grade slates, 480 second grade slates, and 2,700 moss slates had been produced.