Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Bell dated 1837 and used at Moeltryfan slate quarry, Dyffryn Nantlle, to denote blasting times at the quarry. In 1837 Sir John Kennaway’s ‘Moel Tryfan and Penybryn Co’ was granted a lease of the Moel Tryfan southern slopes. A gentleman named John Collins became manager of the Moeltryfan quarry, and spent a lot of money developing 7 or 8 development adits. However these were largely unsuccessful, and the only tangible bequest of this period was the quarry bell.

The bell was moved from the quarry to Eglwys Sant Ioan in Talysarn. It is believed that the bell was moved circa 1871, as the Church was opened in 1872. The bell was used as the Church bell until its closure in 2015. The last service at the Church was held on 1 February 2015 at 11am, and was led by The Rt Rev Andrew John, Bishop of Bangor. The Church was subsequently sold to a private buyer.