Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Wales Office, Gwydyr House, Whitehall

Looking directly at us, a sheep perches at the foot of a ruined slate building, one of many abandoned structures from the remains of a once-thriving slate mine in the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, north-west Wales. To the left of the scene is the remains of what appears to be a chimney stack, another reminder of the area’s industrial past.

From the late 18th century until the end of the 19th century, the slate industry was the dominant activity in north-west Wales, with quarrying in some areas, and solely mining in Blaenau Ffestiniog. A thriving industry, slate was used widely as roofing tiles and other uses in the construction trade, as well as for funerary headstones. By the beginning of the 20th century the industry began to decline, and this rapidly increased at the start of the First World War when many men enlisted.

This is one of two photographs by Sue Wells in the Government Art Collection that were purchased directly from the artist in April 1977.

Places

Wales

Subjects

topography, landscape C20th, grass, sheep, stone wall, tower

Materials & Techniques

photograph (as object name), black & white photograph

Artist

Sue Wells

Title

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Date

1976

Medium

Black and white photograph

Acquisition

Purchased from the photographer, April 1977

GAC number

13244