Slate

This is a short overview. For the background — history, value over time and notable mines — see Slate →

Occurs in: Slate and Regional Metamorphism →

A fine-grained metamorphic rock that splits cleanly into thin sheets, worked by quarrying and then splitting and dressing by hand or machine. Used above all for roofing, and also for flooring, cladding and gravestones.

Mines

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Mine	Region	Worked
Abercorris Slate Quarry	Gwynedd	Mid-1840s–Early 1950s
Abercwmeiddaw Slate Quarry	Gwynedd	1840s–1938
Aberfoyle Slate Quarries	Stirling	1625 (first record)–1954 (some accounts 1958)
Aberllefenni Slate Quarry	Gwynedd	By 1500–2003
Alexandra Quarry	Gwynedd	1861 (lease)–1914 (closure)
Applethwaite Fell Slate Works	Cumbria	from Working by 1888
Bagalow Quarry	Cornwall	1834–Early 20th century
Ballachulish Slate Quarries	Highland	1693–1955
Bank Wood Quarry	Cumbria	1902–By 1905
Banks Slate Quarry, Chapel Stile	Cumbria	By 1882–After 1922
Bellstone Quarry	Pembrokeshire	1825–By 1891
Belnahua Slate Quarries	Argyll and Bute	1632–1914
Blaen y Cwm Quarry	Gwynedd	c. 1818–8 May 1914
Blaenycae Quarry	Gwynedd	Around 1830–1930s
Booze Mine	North Yorkshire	1872–late 19th century (lead)
Boscastle Slate Quarries	Cornwall	—
Bowithick Quarry	Cornwall	By 1870–c. 1913
Braichgoch Slate Mine	Gwynedd	1787 (lease)–1970 or 1971
Bryn Eglwys Quarry	Gwynedd	1847–1946
Cambergi Quarry	Gwynedd	1875–c. 1900
Cambrian Quarry	Wrexham	1857 (company–15 March 1947
Cann Quarry	Devon	1671–1915
Cedryn Quarry	Conwy	1827 (first record)–c. 1880 (company dissolved 1885)
Chwarel Ddu Quarry	Conwy	c. 1800–c. 1929 (after a 1920s revival)
Cilgerran Quarries	Pembrokeshire	from By the 19th century
Cilgwyn Quarry	Gwynedd	worked from the 12th century–1956
Cloddfacoed Quarry	Gwynedd	late 18th century–1940s (acquired, unworked)
Coedmadoc Quarry	Gwynedd	from by 1870s
Coetmor Quarry	Gwynedd	Before 1850–1860s (absorbed by Pantdreiniog)
Conglog Quarry	Gwynedd	1854–1910
Cove Quarries, Coniston	Cumbria	By c. 1855–1934
Croesor Quarry	Gwynedd	1846–1930
Cwm Ebol Quarry	Gwynedd	From around 1860–1906
Cwm Eigiau Quarry	Gwynedd	Before 1840–1885
Cwmorthin Slate Mine	Gwynedd	1810–1997
Cwt-y-Bugail Quarry	Gwynedd	c. 1840–1961 (sporadic extraction to 1972)
Cymerau Quarry	Gwynedd	Around 1860–October 1946
Deeside and Moelfferna Quarries	Denbighshire	1870–1947
Delabole Slate Quarry	Cornwall	from From mid-1200s
Dinorwig Slate Quarry	Gwynedd	1787–1969
Diphwys Casson Quarry	Gwynedd	1760s (Methusalem Jones)–1925 (sources differ)
Dolgoch Quarry	Gwynedd	January 1868–April 1884
Dorothea Quarry	Gwynedd	1820s–1970
Dria Quarry	Cornwall	By the 1880s–Early 1900s
Dubs Quarry	Cumbria	By 1870, possibly earlier–1927 or 1932 (sources differ)
Easdale Slate Quarries	Argyll and Bute	1745–1911
Elterwater Quarry	Cumbria	From mid-19th century–Still active
Fron-Boeth and Pant Mawr Quarry	Gwynedd	Around 1850–1918
Gaewern Quarry	Gwynedd	1787–From 1884
Gartheiniog Quarry	Gwynedd	1873 (exploration)–October 1937
Gate Crag Quarry	Cumbria	Working by 1929–1929
Gillow Slate Quarry	Cornwall	Possibly from the 17th century–By 1896
Gloddfa Ganol Quarry	Gwynedd	to 1997
Glynrhonwy Quarry	Gwynedd	early 1700s (Lower Glynrhonwy)–25 January 1930
Gorseddau Quarry	Gwynedd	1854–c.1867
Graig Ddu Quarry	Gwynedd	c.1800–1946
Hafodlas Quarry	Gwynedd	from Working by the early 19th century
Hendreddu Quarry	Gwynedd	1856–1941
Hodge Close Quarry	Cumbria	By the 1780s, possibly earlier–1964
Honister Slate Mine	Cumbria	from Late 17th century
Kirkby Slate Quarries	Cumbria	By the 16th century–Still active
Kirkstone Slate Quarry	Cumbria	1949–2012
Lag Bank Quarry	Cumbria	From 1927–1945
Lambshouse and Gull Point Quarry	Cornwall	17th century–By 1907
Lanterdan Quarry	Cornwall	Late 15th century–Early 20th century
Llechwedd Slate Caverns	Gwynedd	1846–1970s
Llwydgoed Quarry	Gwynedd	—
Llwyngwern Quarry	Powys	By 1828–1941
Long Grass Quarry	Cornwall	By 1884–1937
Lords Quarry	Cumbria	from By 1882
Loughrigg Fell Slate Quarry	Cumbria	from Working by 1888
Luing Slate Quarries	Argyll and Bute	Worked from the mid-18th century–1965
Maenofferen Quarry	Gwynedd	After 1800–1998 (production)
Maesygamfa Quarry	Gwynedd	1860s–1909 (closure)
Manod Quarry	Gwynedd	1780s–1960
Marchlyn Quarry	Gwynedd	to 1969 (with Dinorwic)
Minllyn Slate Quarry	Gwynedd	Before 1793–1925
Moel Tryfan Quarry	Gwynedd	1745 (lease)–1972
Moelwyn Quarry	Gwynedd	1841–1897
Nyth-y-Gigfran Quarry	Gwynedd	Worked from around 1840–1870
Oakeley Quarry	Gwynedd	1818–1969 (underground)
Palmerston Quarry	Gwynedd	1825 (Welsh Slate Company lease)–1883
Pantdreiniog Quarry	Gwynedd	From around 1825–1930
Parrock Quarry	Cumbria	By 1894–1930
Pen-y-Bryn Quarry	Gwynedd	By 1808–1950
Pen-yr-Orsedd Quarry	Gwynedd	1816–1979
Penmachno Quarry	Conwy	1818–1962
Penrhyn Quarry	Gwynedd	1770s–Still active
Plassddu Quarry	Gwynedd	from By 1855
Prince of Wales Quarry	Gwynedd	1873–By 1886
Prince of Wales Quarry, Trebarwith	Cornwall	1871–1890s
Quay Foot Quarry	Cumbria	Working by the mid-19th century–After 1930
Ratgoed Quarry	Gwynedd	Before 1844–1946
Rhiwbach Quarry	Gwynedd	Around 1812–1952
Rhosydd Quarry	Gwynedd	From 1840–1948
Rigg Head Quarry	Cumbria	from Working by 1930
Rosebush Slate Quarry	Pembrokeshire	1842–1914
Swithland Slate Quarry	Leicestershire	Roman–1887 (Great Pit
Tal-y-sarn Quarry	Gwynedd	1845–1934
Tilberthwaite	Cumbria	worked from the late 16th/early 17th century (Elizabethan)–1942 (copper)
Tintagel Slate Quarries	Cornwall	15th century–1937
Troutbeck Park Green Slate Works	Cumbria	From 1883–By 1894
Ty'n-y-bryn Quarry	Conwy	1840s–1914 (Penllyn via its mill to 1924)
Tymawr East Quarry	Gwynedd	Around 1860–Around 1910
Tymawr West Quarry	Gwynedd	By 1860s–1930s
Vivian Quarry	Gwynedd	1870s–1960
Votty and Bowydd Quarry	Gwynedd	c. 1800–1963
Vron Quarry	Gwynedd	By 1815–1950
Wrysgan Quarry	Gwynedd	1830s–1946
Wynne Quarry	Wrexham	c. 1770–1928 (Coflein gives 1920)
Yew Craggs Quarry	Cumbria	Working by the early 18th century–1963