Tan-y-Graig granite

The Tan-y-Graig quarries first opened in 1864 for granite sett production and after a number of unsuccessful incarnations were amalgamated with the nearby Tyddyn Hywel Quarry into the ownership of Enderby & Stoney Stanton Granite Co Ltd in 1916 and were by now producing macadam chippings rather than setts. These were exported from a pier at Bryn-yr-Eryr at the end of a 2ft gauge railway. In 1918 this was replaced by the Enderby (Welsh) Granite Co Ltd and after this firm was wound up in 1928 Thomas W Ward Ltd of Sheffield took over in 1930 and operated the quarries until c1947. It is a long climb up to the quarries at around 750ft above sea level but it is well worthwhile for the extensive remains still to be seen up there. This view is in Tan-y-Graig No.2 Quarry where a new incline was constructed c1905 to link into another new incline down to meet the Tyddyn Hywel railway inclines. The drum house of the top 1905 incline survives in fairly good order minus roof. The water tank stands in front of a roofless sett dressing shed. It is clear that very few people make the climb up here and it is likely that these relics will survive for many years yet.