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Penrhyn slate quarry, detonator box
Squared shaped box used for storing detonators at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda.
Detonators (or ‘caps’ as they were known in the quarries) were used in the blasting of the rock face at slate quarries - they were placed at the end of a length of fuse. Detonators were commonly used with blasting gelatine to shatter the rock face. Black powder was more commonly used as it would gently heave the rock face, rather than break it into small pieces. Explosives, fuses and detonators for use in quarries were stored in specially built magazines, located at a number of isolated points within the quarries. This storage box was used in one of the powder magazines within Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda.
Collection Area
Industry
Item Number
2012.53/7
Historical Associations
Association Type: company name
Date: 20th century
Acquisition
Donation, 14/8/2012
Measurements
Length
(mm): 225
Width
(mm): 183
Height
(mm): 167
weight (kg):
Material
wood
Location
In store
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