Cwm Machno Page 01

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Cwm Machno Page 2

On the extreme north eastern edge of what i call the Ffestiniog group of quarries, and close to the secluded village of Cwm Penmachno, is the large isolated Cwm Machno quarry. Mostly developed in open workings, there were also ventures underground on several levels. Despite a very constricted site there was internal use of Loco power but the quarry never had an external rail connection - which was a constant problem throughout the workings history.

[Pic 1] Cwm Machno Quarry - Entrance through to the workings (Aug 1982)

Visitors arriving at the quarry must have wondered if they'd come across a remote castle with a seemingly walled entrance (see Pic 1 above) through which a short tunnel pierced through to the workings. This elaborate walling infact carried a rubbish tramway across to tips on the eastern side of the quarry. The structure had however become unsafe and was totally removed during the 1980's landscaping project - more of which later.

[Pic 2] Cwm Machno Quarry - View of the main workings (Aug 1982)

As can be seen from Pic 2 (above) the main workings were a large pit (partially infilled by later tipping) with adits leading into the underground sections - one opening can just be viewed in the lower pit wall - and the walled rubbish route (with main entrance tunnel) seen in Pic 1 runs across between the two mill buildings. Note the two uphaulage inclines just sticking out of the later waste (to the left of the nearest mill) and the unusual 'A2' incline head - more about which below.

[Pic 3] Cwm Machno Quarry - 'A1' Incline winding house (Aug 1982)

One of the main balanced inclines around the site was the 'A1' * incline (Pic 3 - above) which dropped down 2 levels to the main mill level, and connected at its lower end to a tramway (running along the newer waste in the pit bottom) with neat slab flooring along part of its route to the mills. The incline itself was twin tracked, with the eastern track on a slightly lower level as presumeably it carried a counterbalance. Note the relatively intact condition of the winding house and the water pipe entering the rear wall.

* Labelling of these inclines is purely of my invention, and used as reference only in the absence of other sources.

[Pic 4] Cwm Machno Quarry - 'A2' Incline and raised winding house (Aug 1982)

Pic 4 (above) shows the 'A2' incline head with its unusual raised winding house and remains of pillars which once supported large metal pipes that carried water from a reservoir located to the south, and above, the quarry. Balanced inclines abound in a lot of quarries but this example is one of the strangest i've seen, and further down its course (on an intermediate level) is another raised section which is pierced by a neat arched tunnel through to the waste tips on the eastern side. Note the neighbouring Rhiwfachno quarry in the background - which was often worked as part of Cwm Machno, and connected to it by a tramway that led to the latters main mill level.

[Pic 5] Cwm Machno Quarry - The 3 inclines (Aug 1982)

Not the best quality photo ever taken but chosen simply because it manges to show the layout of all 3 main inclines as they drop down the hillside to mill level. Nearest (and lowest) is 'A1' - seen in pics 3 & 6 - with behind it the (rare) 'A2' - seen in pic 4 - , then further up (and over to the right) is 'A3' - seen on page 2.

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