Moel Fferna slate mine, Wales 2012

[the kwan]

I visited here with Walsh and as usual we had a fantastic visit but not without drama. I found Moel Fferna to be a bit like Penarth, cold and unfriendly it was so huge that taking pictures and video was very difficult due to every lumin being sucked into the chasmic spaces and dark slate.

here is some video that I took although due to there being very little I have padded it with some earaching techno music:thumb
but check out walsh's carbide headlamp in the video

http://youtu.be/DKkaAixqtOs


History


Early workings tended to be in surface pits, but as the work progressed downwards, it became necessary to work underground. This was often accompanied by the driving of one or more adits to gain direct access to a Level. In some rare instances, such as here (Moel Fferna), there is no trace of surface workings and the workings were entiely underground.

Moel Frerna has chambers which follow the slate vein, connected via a series of horizontal Floors (or 'Levels'). The chambers vary in size and are divided by 'pillars' or walls which support the roof. The floors are connected by 'Inclines' which used wedge-shaped trolleys to move trucks between levels.

At Moel Fferna a team could produce up to 35 tons of finished slate a week. In 1877 they received about 7 shillings a ton for this. After paying wages for the manager, clerks and 'trammers' the company could make a clear profit of twice this amount. This system was not finally abolished until after the Second World War.


getting in was fun via an electron ladder that kept catching the eye hooks on my boots.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1851.jpg


The cog and pipeline

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1797.jpg


A huge chamber, the size of these spaces has to be seen to be believed

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1784.jpg

shonkey bridge

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1835.jpg


et moi

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/mecrop.jpg


some really old graff....Im sorry miss jackson Oooooh!

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1833.jpg


Wild woodies
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1814.jpg

top of an incline, we found what was once a wooden winch

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1821.jpg


Walsh lining one up...check out the roof which was one of its best features

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1795.jpg


Tunnels off in all directions, Moel Fferna was awesome in its massiveness
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1803.jpg


http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1791.jpg

cold and unfriendly
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1779.jpg


The way out

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/paulc_2007/Moel%20fferna%20in%20wales/300_1767.jpg

Thanks for looking

check the video..earplugs advisory:thumb

http://youtu.be/DKkaAixqtOs



.

[Clough]

That look v. dangerous indeed! Your ranking these mines up mate soon you'll be the "Ojay of Mines" as he is to drains.

[SAt]

Good work here man! Looks an amazing trip, gutted i couldn't make it! Nice vid too, had to turn the volume down though hahah!

[the kwan]

Thanks for the comments Peoples..it was a good trip and one day young Clough, you should come along to a mine :)

[Rebel]

Liked the video and great set of pics too! Epic satnav fail is never good :lol: Must be mad crossing that bridge without being attached to the harness!

[the kwan]

Thanks for the comments..Rebel satnav is shit sometimes lol and I would never have set foot on that bridge without being clipped onto something cos its just a drop into the darkness.

[ROYALBOB]

Top notch fella, wish I had the nutz for these mines..