The River Machno

The River Machno: The Quarries, Part 1

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Part 1
Part 2

The Quarries
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Cwm Penmachno
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

No one is sure when Rhiw Machno Quarry was opened, but according to "Llyfr Gethin", the first Quarry in the area was opened in 1819 (Rhiwbach Quarry). At one time there used to be 4 Quarries working in the vicinity, when the industry was in its prime. Today of course no Quarry in Cwm is operational, the last one closing in 1962.

We shall now go on a short journey around the Quarries, starting at the entrance to the Quarry.

Entrance to the Quarry

This is the entrance to Rhiw Machno Quarry, and also to the road that leads up to Rhiwbach Quarry.

In the following pictures you will see a snapshot of Cwm Penmachno's Quarry — today and as it was in the past.

In this picture you see what used to be called "Bonc yr Injan Goch" (Red Engine Bank).

A picture of the three mills, the Quarry Office and the power hut.

The foot of the bank as it is today; it is possible to walk onwards to Foel Mountain.

At the bottom of the bank was the Explosives Hut, now demolished.

Hill 60 Incline

This was the method used to bring the rock down to the mill from the top of the mountain: on an incline. It was very dangerous working on the incline as the trucks sometimes turned over and went off the rails. Several injuries were caused to people working here.

This was the cost of building an incline with a length of 500 yards.

This was the cost of building an incline with a length of 308 yards.

This part of the Quarry used to be known as "Hill 60", named after an important strategic point in the battle of Ypres in the First World War. It is an early picture of the Quarry that you see.

The Top of Rhiw Machno Quarry

The Quarry Office in the golden age.

The same Office as it is today.

The Quarries Part 2 | Main Page

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