Press Releases

The original Victorian workshops, now home to the Museum, were closed in August 1969 when the Dinorwig slate quarry closed unexpectedly. Everything to do with the works was to be sold by auction to the highest bidder!  Seeing everything tagged and numbered for the auction – the engines, the machines, even the enormous waterwheel - nearly broke the heart of the late Hugh Richard Jones, the quarry’s Chief Engineer as he explained:

‘…what frightened me most was to see them up on the big waterwheel…they were going to burn it as scrap.  I got the chance to stop them doing that, and talked to the auctioneer and the receiver and they closed the whole lot up and got the ‘vultures’ out of there. ‘

A busy time followed of negotiations and correspondence between enthusiastic individuals, national establishments, the county council and the Welsh Office.  It was decided that Caernarfon County Council was to buy the building, Department for the Environment to look after it and the National Museum to develop it as a museum, which opened on 25^th May 1972!

As the workshops were developed into a museum, there was a real desire to preserve the character and feel of the place, that is still important today. Today the National Slate Museum is not a shell of a building full of memories of the past but a hive of activity!  Every year, thousands of people of all ages, from all over the world, marvel at the skill of the quarrymen and blacksmith, enjoy reminiscing at in the Quarrymen’s Houses and are inspired by the ingenuity and tenacity of the workers.

Celebratory activities include an exhibition of archive photographs over the year and artwork by local school children, a series of talks by current and former museum staff, and family activities celebrating the site's traditional crafts. The museum will also introduce a new ‘Museum character’ during the birthday week called  ‘Wil Ffitar’! Wil is a former machine fitter in the engineering workshops – and he will be telling visitors all about the history of the engineering workshops as he prepares for his first day of work as a museum assistant when the brand-new museum opens! 

Elen Roberts, Head of Museum explained: "Since that day in 1972, a great deal has changed here at the Museum – the name being one of them - it was opened as the North Wales Quarry Museum at that time. Over three million people have now stepped through the impressive entrance archway and experienced the history of the slate industry! 

"We want this 50th birthday to reflect and celebrate all the activity this special place has seen over recent decades - from the opening days in the seventies to the re-development of the late nineties to Free Admission in the millennium – and now its part in the World Heritage Status in the wake of last year's recent designation – and all this of course whilst retaining and celebrating its original purpose as the engineering workshops supporting Dinorwig Quarry".

The birthday celebrations will be held between 25^th and 31^st May 2022.

25 May: Half a Century of History Exhibition opening / Performances by WIL FFITAR

26 May:

• 50 years of collecting: ONLINE Talk by Cadi Iolen, Curator
• What’s Wood got to do with it: Former museum carpenter Pred Hughes looks at the role of wood in the workshops.

27 May: Unique Inclinations & Wonderful Waterwheels site talks  

28 May: Celebrating Traditional Crafts Day

Traditional crafts of wood, slate and metal have always been essential to the Gilfach Ddu workshops. Discover more about these crafts and try your hand at some of their modern versions.

• Slate Art with Siân Owen - Create your own artwork inspired by the folk art of quarrymen.
• Willow Weaving with Eirian Muse - Try your hand at creating a willow bird feed holder
• Strike-Off! Come and see the hustle and bustle of the Forge alive with sparks again with our resident blacksmith Liam and three other craftsmen at work.
• Workshops and activities for children   
• Performances by Wil Ffitar!   

29 May:

• 50 years of collecting: Talk by Cadi Iolen (In the Museum)  
• Crafts and activities for children
• Performances by Wil Ffitar

30 May:  MUSEUM LATES: A special event including all sorts of activities for young people aged 12-15

31 May:  In Conversation with former museum keeper Dr Dafydd Roberts and curator Cadi Iolen about his career and the role of the museum in interpreting the history of the slate industry.

*Some events are Free and Drop-In and some are charged and must be booked in advance by visiting:   50th Anniversary: Half a Century of History | National Museum Wales

ENDS

For more information please contact Juliewilliams@museumwales.ac.uk /  02920 573707

As a registered charity, Amgueddfa Cymru is grateful for all support and donations.