Facilities at Llechwedd

Victorian Village

At its peak, in 1904, Llechwedd employed 639 men, and Pentre Llechwedd was the hub of the operation, with offices in what is now the Slates to the Sea exhibition.

The rear extension is still known as the "Lloyd George office" - added for the extra administration arising out of his health insurance legislation of 1911, which introduced sick pay of 10s (50p) a week, reduced by half after 13 weeks.

The most prominent building on Y Maes (the local Welsh name for the village Square) is Crimea House, bearing the date 1854 - the year of the Crimean War, when the first turnpike road was laid from Beaver Pool toll house, near Betws-y-coed, to Penrhyndeudraeth, through what is now known as the Crimea Pass. J.W.Greaves, founder of Llechwedd, paid the turnpike trustees £75 to bridge their road over his new incline connecting his mills to the Ffestiniog Railway.

Beside Crimea House is Siop y Gomel (i.e. Corner Shop) of Angharad Ellis. Both sell a variety of confectionery made to Victorian recipes.

Remember how sweet shops used to be years ago? Well go ahead, indulge yourself - for you may never see such a variety elsewhere.

Behind the, shops is Victoria Street, beside which the Victorian river-flushed privies are preserved as an exhibit.

Steps by Siop y Gomel lead to Tavern Row where there are two small workshops, one labelled Swyddfa'r Herald, meaning Herald Office, to remind us that Llechwedd was the editorial agency for the Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald during 1858-1908.

The village Smithy, still functioning, is where the miners used to have their tools sharpened - there was a competing smithy at the top of the incline.

The oldest house for miles around is the birthplace of David Francis. This can be found to the right of the old post box - just follow the soothing sound of the harp...

Why not visit the Miners Arms while you are here?

Tours

Location

Slate Engineering

Facilities

Wildlife