Broken Dreams

We decided to drive over to see a site we've visited before, as we we're staying only a few miles distant, and Carol & Kev hadn't heard of or seen the place before. I discovered it back when I was working in the area eight years ago, and Jane, James & I revisited it that year together. This rather striking ruin is the Ynys-Y-Pandy slate-slab mill in the hills above Garndolbenmaen, Pen Lleyn. Built between 1856 and 1857, it was producing over 2,000 tons of slate per year by 1860, but within seven years, the output of decent quality material was down to a mere 25 tons, with the company going into liquidation in 1871. Pictured to the right is the retaining wall for the one of the tramways which brought the slate down from the Gorseddau quarry beyond for processing. I'll try and post in a bit more detail about the place at some point, but we're off down the pub shortly for a bite to eat and a pint. Talk later. Hwyl!