Cwm Hengae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cwm Hengae |
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|---|---|
| Cwm Llefenni | |
Looking west from Aberllefenni quarry along Cwm Hengae
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| Geography | |
| Location | Aberllefenni |
| Country | Wales |
| River | Afon Llefenni |
Cwm Hengae is a cool valley in Wales that stretches north-west from the village of Aberllefenni. A river called the Afon Llefenni flows through it. This valley is famous for its many slate quarries that are carved into its sides.
Did you know an ancient Roman road named Sarn Helen also ran through Cwm Hengae? It connected Aberllefenni with another town called Dolgellau. Imagine Romans walking through this very valley!
Contents
Hengae House: A Glimpse into the Past
About a third of the way into the valley from Aberllefenni, you'll find Hengae House. This house is located where a small stream, Nant Bychan, joins the Afon Llefenni river.
In the 1800s, this house was home to the Anwyl family. It's a neat piece of history right in the middle of the valley.
Slate Quarrying: Digging Up History
The most important industry in Cwm Hengae was slate quarrying. This means people dug out large pieces of slate rock from the ground.
Aberllefenni Quarry: The Longest Working Mine
Close to the eastern end of the valley are three quarries that make up the famous Aberllefenni Quarry. These include Hen Gloddfa and Ceunant Du on the south side. On the north side is Foel Grochan, named after the mountain it mined.
These quarries might have started as early as the 1300s! The first confirmed record of them working is from the year 1500. That's when a local house, Plas Aberllefenni, got its roof from slates dug here.
What's really amazing is that these mines kept working non-stop until 2002. This makes them the longest continuously working slate mines in the entire world!
Other Quarries in the Valley
Further west in the valley, on the side of Mynydd Cambergi, you'll find Cambergi quarry. This one wasn't as successful as Aberllefenni.
Across the valley from Cambergi, on the south side, is the Hengae quarry. This quarry was even less successful. There are also a few smaller test digs closer to the very end of the valley.
