Braichgoch Slate Mine
Braichgoch Slate Mine was a large slate mine located in Corris Uchaf, North Wales. It was worked from 1787 until closure in 1970.
In 1787, David Williams leased the quarrying and mineral rights at Gaewern and Braich Goch from John Edwards, representing the Vanes Estate. The early mining took place at Gaewern, the northern of the two quarry areas, under the management of the Merionethshire Slate Company.
In 1836 quarrying began at Braich Goch proper, under the name the North Wales Slate & Slab Company. By 1838 the lease was expanded. In 1843 the company surrendered the lease to Arthur Coulston a civil engineer. He obtained a new lease directly from the Vanes Estate, thus removing the sub-leasing arrangement with John Edwards.By the mid 1840s, Braich Goch quarry maintained a wharf at Machynlleth, slate being shipped there by horse cart.
In 1851 new partners were brought in to the North Wales Slate & Slab Company, which was reformed under the name Braich Goch Slate and Slab Company. An attempted floatation of the company failed to attract enough investors and the partners were brought out by John Rowlands, who owned Gaewern and Ratgoed quarries. At this time Braich Goch quarry included 2 waterwheels, 6 planning machines, 9 sawing engines, 2 miles of tramway and inclined planes and 6 hand sawing machines amongst other equipment.
In 1859 the Corris Tramroad opened, connecting the Corris district with Machynlleth and the River Dyfi beyond. The Birley family saw the opportunity of this new transportation route for improving profitability of the local quarries and purchased the lease for Braich Goch from Rowlands, forming Braich Goch Slate Quarry Ltd in 1864. Rowlands continued with Gaewern, though without financial success and in 1868 sold it to the Talyllyn Slate Company. That same year employment at Braich Goch had grown to over 200 men.
Braichgoch early 1900s
In 1878, the quarry employed 250 men and produced 7,000 tons of slab and roofing slate. In 1906, the company collapsed. Another five companies worked the mine intermittently until 1962. It then had an 8 year productionbefore finally closing.