SIX months since World Heritage Site status was granted by UNESCO to the Slate Landscape of North-West Wales, a new website – www.llechi.cymru – offers the chance for people of the area to share their experiences of the slate industry.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and utilising the skills of both the IT Department and the Tourism Department, an interesting, colourful, and useful website was created.
The website shares factual stories, in an interesting manner and is easily understandable – by using videos, pictures, maps, visiting information, and other resources.
Councillor Gareth Thomas, Cabinet Member for Economy and Community at Cyngor Gwynedd, said:
“Slate is a lot more than just the roofs of houses, and we’re keen to see the website as an opportunity to connect with the people of the area by sharing their stories and experiences.
“On the website, the ‘Slate People’ page will introduce us to individuals who work or who have been inspired by all aspects of the industry or the landscape.
“We encourage contributions by local people who have a story to tell about slate with us to feature as local voices on the website by contacting us at llechi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru”
The Slate Landscape of North-West Wales contains six key locations: Penrhyn Quarry and Bethesda, Dyffryn Ogwen to Aber Cegin (Porth Penrhyn), the mountainous landscape of Dinorwig Quarry, the mining landscapes of Dyffryn Nantlle, Gorseddau and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor quarries, the Railway and the Mill, Ffestiniog: its caverns and its slate mines, the railway to Porthmadog, the quarries of Bryneglwys and the village of Abergynolwyn, & Talyllyn Railway.
The landscape tells an incredible story of the development of an agricultural society to a society that becomes dominated by the slate industry; towns, mines, and transport links carving their way through the mountains of Eryri down to the iconic harbours.
UNESCO granted the Slate Landscape of North-West Wales World Heritage Site status in July 2021. This means that the area possesses a landscape of cultural importance – that same importance as the Taj Mahal and Stonehenge. The area joins the Blaenafon World Heritage Site and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and further highlights Wales’ exceptional contribution to the Industrial Revolution. The slate landscape joins the Castle & Walls of King Edward’s Town as the second World Heritage Site that exists in Gwynedd. Cyngor Gwynedd developed the application, on the behalf of many stakeholders.
Photo : Welsh Museum
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