Aberllefeni Slate Quarry

Aberllefeni Slate Quarry

A History of the Last Underground Slate Working in Wales.

The culmination of over 15 years of exploration underground and archival research, this book traces the history of Aberllefeni Slate Quarry from its inception to 2016. The quarry was one of the oldest, and certainly the last worked underground, in Wales.

Jon Knowles was born in South Devon where his grandfather had a monumental masons business. Visits to granite quarries on Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor to collect stone for this business led to Jon developing a lifelong interest in quarrying and mining. This interest was nurtured by family holidays to North Wales which included visits to the Llechwedd Slate Caverns. Since 1985 Jon and a group of like-minded colleagues have been systematically exploring the mines of the area in their spare time.

After 30 years working in heavy engineering Jon relocated to Penrhyndeudraeth and is employed locally by J.W.Greaves and Sons Ltd of Blaenau, owners of the Llechwedd Mine (amongst others), the mine where it all started for Jon.