Ballachulish slate research report historic environment. Welcome to ballachulish quarrying stories, a new community heritage project collecting and celebrating the stories of slate quarrying in ballachulish. Quarry cottages, ballachulish with glencoe just along the road, oban to the south and fort william to the north, quarry cottages are a great base for exploring the west highlands. Visitors to your site will appreciate you offering them help with planning their vacation. For best results, use the customized trip planning widget for ballachulish slate quarry on your website. It can be readily split and is extremely durable lasting well over a hundred years. The first is a visit to the old ballachulish slate quarries which supplied most of scotland with slates. Ballachulish slate quarry is located in ballachulish. This is really a combination of two very short and easy but contrasting walks. Ballachulish slate did have one weakness with the presence of iron pyrite crystals within the slate which meant that rust spots and holes would appear in slates exposed to the weather. The largest and most recently worked quarry is situated at east laroch, where there is also a harbour formed out of banks of quarry waste.
I remember as a child we had a book on the clans of the highlands and the tartans of the. There is a short and interesting walk around the quarry, supported by interpretation boards on the history of the quarry, the people, the nature and versatility of. Put ballachulish slate quarry into our glencoe trip planner to see other points of interest to visit during your vacation in glencoe. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. You can then either enjoy our quarry stories in advance of your visit or and we recommend this hear the stories as you explore the quarry itself. It has all the advantages mentioned above, plus users to your site can conveniently access it directly on your site.
These days, you can walk around the old quarry site and enjoy wonderful views of the area from the vantage points along the cliff top. The story goes that travelling quarriers in search of work spotted the slate in the local hills and started to dig instead of continuing their journey. On entering the village you will notice a large slate slab engraved with ballachulish. In ballachulish, they have made a wonderful park area and trail in and around the old slate quarry. Ballachulish slate quarry gc2pmte was created by bellas pack on 332011. Ballachulish slate quarry 2020 all you need to know.
Ballachulish slate quarry 2020 all you need to know before. In the late 1600s slate was quarried for the first time in the area and it soon became the areas main industry. Slate was first quarried from the ballachulish quarries in 1693, the year after the infamous glencoe massacre of 1692. Ballachulish slate research report extraction and testing of slate from khartoum quarry, argyll. The slate workers who had their weekly wages docked to pay for the services of the doctor were unhappy with this decision and decided that they would employ dr grant themselves and refused to pay the companys levy. Ballachulish slate quarry was established in 1692 and thrived during the 18th century producing many of the slate roof tiles for surrounding areas and those destined for edinburgh and glasgow. Ballachulish, scotlands largest slate quarry, had an annual output of 25 million slates by the mid1800s.
The arch is owned by the highland council and leader of the lochaber area committee, councillor thomas maclennan, said. Information, photographs and plans for ballachulish slate quarry on the mine. Ballachulish slate quarries and loch leven, ballachulish. The slate arch is of national significance as it represents the last visible structural relic from the operational history of the ballachulish slate quarrying industry, which dates back to the late 1600s and which, at its. For more information on the history see the history page. Pictures and notes, above and below ground, of the last operational slate quarry in the dyfi valley area. A short history of ballachulish slate quarry paperback january 1, 1974 by barbara fairweather author. The ballachulish slate quarry is now a peaceful place, surrounded by magnificent mountains, with ducks swimming on the water and lots of other birds too. It is one of our favourite spots for taking in ballachulishs history. Ballachulish slate quarry was established in 1692 and thrived during the. The walk around the quarry is excellent to see the history of the quarry and also. Ballachulish slate quarry updated march 2020 top tips.
In 1903 the ballachulish slate quarry, who employed the doctor, decided to. The quarries at ballachulish are a very large part of the history of our village and community. Its a other size geocache, with difficulty of 2, terrain of 1. Quarry cottages are three purpose built cottages ideally located in ballachulish village offering excellent holiday accommodation in a great location this. Visit ballachulish slate quarry on your trip to ballachulish. A short history of ballachulish slate quarry barbara fairweather on. A short history of ballachulish slate quarry paperback january 1, 1974 by barbara fairweather author visit amazons barbara fairweather page. At the east end of the village of ballachulish are the fascinating and, it must be said, starkly attractive remains of the ballachulish slate quarries. In 1903 the ballachulish slate quarry, who employed the doctor, decided to dispense with his services. Iron and sulphur deposits have imparted a bluish hue to the slate. Feb 28, 2011 ballachulish slate from the east laroch and khartoum quarries is greyblack with a slight sheen. Another john mckenzie at belloch and donald mckenzie ay keylart both on the airds estate belonging to campbells. Sep 29, 2017 his brother john was a farmer and less the man of letters an infant when the family left ballachulish in argyll province for wilmington, nc in 1790.
The first quarry opens at ballachulish just a year after the infamous massacre of glencoe. The quarry was the famous slate quarries of ballachulish overlooking the holy burial. Home ballachulish visitor centre the quarry centre. Ballachulish people invited to get involved with slate.
Historic ballachulish slate arch project gets underway. John seonaidh mackenzie just over 30 years ago my father and i delivered a train back to that station. Gc2pmte ballachulish slate quarry earthcache in northern. Writers steve forrest, brian molko, stefan olsdal, william lloyd.
My understanding of the history of the macinnes surname. Quarrying started at the west quarry in west laroch, but later spread to the east quarry, perhaps as early as 1694, and then up to the brecklet quarries. A short history of ballachulish slate quarry fairweather, barbara on. Just a 10 minute drive from our front door you will find the brecklet trail where you can explore. But the industry had dwindled by the early 20th century. Ballachulish slate quarries feature page on undiscovered. It is my understanding that the slate quarry jobs at ballachulish attracted them in the late 18th century as the stewarts estates were sold off and the tenants methodically removed. Sep 27, 2017 another john mckenzie at belloch and donald mckenzie ay keylart both on the airds estate belonging to campbells. It is coarsegrained, giving the slate a gritty texture. The first is a visit to the old ballachulish slate quarries which supplied most of scotland with slates for generations.
Its one of our top 10 things we love the brecklet trail. The 15 best things to do in ballachulish updated 2020. Quarry cottages, ballachulish take their name from the once world famous. Learn about the history of ballachulish from pre1800 to the current day on the. Ballachulish slate quarry 2020 what to know before you go.
Ballachulish quarry much of glasgow and edinburghs skyline is made from the hardwearing slate from the several quarriers around the village. Ballachulish slate from the east laroch and khartoum quarries is greyblack with a slight sheen. The outbreak of war was to put an end to this run of success and the club has never quite achieved these heights again. Ballachulish slate had one major drawback compared with some of its competitors. Hugh may have worked in the slate quarry at ballachulish, scotland, for he came to america with finances enough to get him and his family across the ocean and to purchase property upon his. Roughly three quarters of the material quarried was wasted due to. One of the sports most famous clubs, they won the camanachd cup four times before world war i. Founded in 1893, and built on the strength of the men who worked the ballachulish slate quarry, the club won the scottish cup in 1899, 1901, 1911 and 1912. This volume, along with macduff slate research report, have been published following research work by the scottish stone liaison group in considering the viability of reinstating a. Robert louis stevenson based his novel kidnapped around the story of the. Ballachulish slate quarry 2020 what to know before you. Ballachulish slate quarry all you need to know before. The local history project is part of a wider package of projects focused on the ballachulish slate arch including conservation works, improvements to paths in the quarry and to the arch, new onsite and digital interpretation, and a slatebuilding training course.
Quarry cottages, ballachulish take their name from the once world famous ballachulish slate quarry. A short history of ballachulish slate quarry paperback. The entrance to the quarries are opposite the ballachulish visitor centre, which is convenient as there is ample parking close by. Feb 24, 2015 the local history project is part of a wider package of projects focused on the ballachulish slate arch including conservation works, improvements to paths in the quarry and to the arch, new onsite and digital interpretation, and a slate building training course. Slate building materials scotlands building conservation.
Welcome to ballachulish quarrying stories, a new community heritage project collecting and celebrating the stories of slate. Just a 10 minute drive from our front door you will find the brecklet trail where you can explore ballachulishs slate quarry. Ballachulish to south mississippi from ballachulish to. Slate was first quarried here in 1693, with work continuing until the quarries finally closed in 1955. Ballachulish slate quarry information and photos aditnow. Ballachulish slate quarry was established in 1692 and thrived during the 18th century producing many of the slate roof tiles for.
Quarry for slate began in ballachulish in 1694 and production peaked in 1875 when 587 men were employed and 26million slates sent all over the world. Hoolish, from scottish gaelic baile a chaolais balxl. Ballachulish slate quarry all you need to know before you. Just to the south of the a82 and at the east end of the village of ballachulish are the fascinating and, it must be said, starkly attractive remains of the ballachulish slate quarries, which employed up to 300 men at any given time for over two and a half. Mar 03, 2011 ballachulish slate quarry gc2pmte was created by bellas pack on 332011. It was a shunt engine from the smelter in the fort and we. In 1693 slate was first quarried in the ballachulish slate quarry only a year after.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Just to the south of the a82 and at the east end of the village of ballachulish are the fascinating and, it must be said, starkly attractive remains of the ballachulish slate quarries, which employed up to 300 men at any given time for over two and a half centuries until 1955. By the early 1700s this had developed into a major slate quarrying operation which continued for over 250 years until 1955, when the quarries closed. The presence of iron pyrite crystals within the slate meant that rust spots and holes were prone to appear in slates exposed to the weather, which of course is a drawback on a roof. Jun 27, 2015 established two years after the 1692 glencoe massacre, the ballachulish slate quarry supplied slate mainly for edinburgh and glasgow in the following centuries until its closure in 1955. Ballachulish slate quarry slate from the east laroch quarries, established just two years after the infamous glencoe massacre of 1692, was used to provide the roofing slate for much of edinburgh and glasgow s skyline in the succeeding centuries.
Words between sisters from ballachulish to south mississippi. The club was founded in 1893 the same year as the camanachd association. These cottages enjoy open views across the shinty park and. Established two years after the 1692 glencoe massacre, the ballachulish slate quarry supplied slate mainly for edinburgh and glasgow in the following centuries until its closure in 1955. Slate from the east laroch quarries, established just two years after the. His brother john was a farmer and less the man of letters an infant when the family left ballachulish in argyll province for wilmington, nc in 1790. With the arrival of a railway line from oban in 1903, the quarry was given a further boost, and the quarry remained in business until finally closing in 1955. The mackinnon collection scotland at work from 1840 to 1940. In 1693 slate was first quarried here in the ballachulish slate quarries only a year after the glencoe massacre took place nearby. Slate quarries and workers dwellings, ballachulish. Today the quarries have been opened up as a scenic attraction in their own right, and are well worth a visit. Ballachulish slate quarry tourist attractions in lochaber. Ballachulish camanachd club is a shinty team from ballachulish, lochaber, scotland. One of the most distinctive characteristics of this type of slate is the strong mineral lineation clearly visible on the surface.
The club is also the most northerly of teams playing in the south district, the kyle at ballachulish being the traditional demarcation point. Ballachulish slate quarries feature page on undiscovered scotland. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in ballachulish, glencoe on tripadvisor. Ballachulish is the best known of all scottish slate, both in terms of quality and quantity. The village of ballachulish grew up around these works since the first slate was produced in 1693. The traditional rivalry between ballachulish and glencoe allegedly stems from the days of the quarry strike.
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