Wessex Archaeology The Maritime Archaeology of the Welsh Slate Trade Archaeological Desk-based Assessment Ref: 53111.02s-4 April 2009 THE MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE WELSH SLATE TRADE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Prepared by: Wessex Archaeology Portway House Old Sarum Park Salisbury SP4 6EB Prepared for: Cadw Welsh Assembly Government Plas Carew Unit 5/7 Cefn Coed Parc Nantgarw Cardiff CF15 7QQ Report ref. 53111.02s-4 April 2009 © Wessex Archaeology Limited 2009 Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No. 287786 The Maritime Archaeology of the Welsh Slate Trade Report ref: 53111.02s-4 THE MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE WELSH SLATE TRADE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Report ref: 53111.02s-4 Summary Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Cadw to undertake a thematic desk-based assessment of the maritime archaeology of the trade in Welsh slate. This work was undertaken as part of the Contract for Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The Welsh slate industry reached its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, employing up to 17,000 people in numerous quarries, mainly located in North Wales. This peak was the culmination of a long history of slate extraction in Wales; the earliest evidence of slate as a roofing material dates to the Roman period. The exploitation of slate was carried out on a small-scale basis throughout the medieval and most of the Post-medieval period. Slate was shipped from small harbours and beaches in Wales on to the larger ports of Britain and Ireland. Towards the end of the Post-medieval period the small slate workings were amalgamated into large industrialised operations to meet the increasing demand for slate. This resulted in a large increase in slate output and the development of harbours, settlements and infrastructure. By the middle of the 19th century the slate industry was the driving force in North Wales, with industries such as shipbuilding and exporting harbours existing to support the trade. This report provides a synthesis of available information concerning the history of the slate industry and its maritime aspects. Primary and secondary data sources were reviewed to compile lists of known wrecks and recorded losses. Information on losses connected with the worldwide shipment of slate was also included to reflect the international character of the trade. This assessment identified 126 recorded losses of slate-carrying vessels off the coast of Wales. However, only 29 known wrecks of slate-carrying vessels are known from UK territorial waters, of which 23 lie off Wales. Information regarding known wrecks was found to be limited, as the identity of the majority of these wrecks is unknown. Documented losses were generally recorded with additional information and these have been analysed based on vessel type, ports of registry and voyages to see how they fit within the context of current knowledge about the shipping of Welsh slate. Known wrecks and recorded losses have also been analysed with regard to their spatial distribution in order to highlight areas of high archaeological potential. During the course of this assessment it was found that there is a relative lack of information with regard to the maritime archaeology of the Welsh slate trade. The report seeks to address that information gap and makes recommendations on how to further enhance the understanding of this industry. i The Maritime Archaeology of the Welsh Slate Trade Report ref: 53111.02s-4 THE MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE WELSH SLATE TRADE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Report ref: 53111.02s-4 Acknowledgements This investigation was commissioned by Cadw and the assistance provided by Sian Rees is gratefully acknowledged. Wessex Archaeology would also like to thank the following people and organisations for their input during the course of conducting this assessment: • British SubAqua Club Forum; • Cadi Iolen, Curator, Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru, National Slate Museum; • Chris Holden; • Dive Pembrokeshire; • Diver Magazine Forum; • Grant Luckman, Maritime Heritage Section, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australia; • Gwynedd Archives Service; • Ian Cundy; • Len Bateman; • Martin Segschneider, Archaeological State Service, Schleswig-Holstein; • Paul Downey, • Paul Oliver; • Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW); • United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO); • UK Diving Forum. The assessment was carried out by Niall Callan with contributions from Graham Scott. Kitty Brandon prepared the illustrations and Steve Webster edited the report and managed the project for Wessex Archaeology. Data Usage and Copyright Details of charted wrecks were obtained from the UKHO. Material derived from the UKHO is subject to licence 820/020220/11 and the conditions on end-users and third parties contained therein. The information supplied is © Crown copyright. Details of known losses were obtained from the National Monuments Record of Wales. The information supplied is © Crown copyright or © RCAHMW copyright. The images used in Plates 1 and 3 are reproduced with the permission of the RCAHMW. The images used in Plates 2, 4 and 5 are reproduced with the permission of the Gwynedd Archives Service. The image used as background to the front cover is reproduced with the permission of Mr. Paul Downey. ii The Maritime Archaeology of the Welsh Slate Trade Report ref: 53111.02s-4 THE MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE WELSH SLATE TRADE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Report ref: 53111.02s-4 Table of Contents 1. ASSESSMENT BACKGROUND.................................................................................. 1 1.1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.3. Document Parameters .................................................................................................... 1 2. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 1 2.1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1 2.2. Data Sources....................................................................................................................2 3. BACKGROUND TO THE WELSH SLATE TRADE ................................................ 3 3.1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 3 3.2. The Slate Deposits of Wales ........................................................................................... 3 3.3. History.............................................................................................................................. 4 3.4. Ports and Settlement..................................................................................................... 10 3.5. Social and Cultural Implications................................................................................. 15 4. MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY....................................................................................... 19 4.1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 19 4.2. Known Wrecks in Wales and the UK ......................................................................... 19 4.3. Known Wrecks outside UK Territorial Waters......................................................... 26 4.4. Recorded Losses............................................................................................................ 27 4.5. Spatial Distribution of Known Wrecks and Recorded Losses.................................. 30 5. ARTEFACTUAL AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE......................................... 34 5.2. Artefactual Evidence .................................................................................................... 34 5.3. Documentary Evidence................................................................................................. 36 6. DISCUSSION................................................................................................................ 36 6.1. The Importance of the Welsh Slate Industry ............................................................. 36 6.2. Suggestions for Further Work..................................................................................... 37 7. ARCHIVE...................................................................................................................... 40 8. REFERENCES.............................................................................................................. 41 8.1. Contemporary Sources................................................................................................. 41 8.2. Published Sources ......................................................................................................... 41 8.3. Unpublished Reports .................................................................................................... 43 8.4. Online Sources............................................................................................................... 44 APPENDIX I: KNOWN WRECKS IN WALES AND THE UK....................................... 45 APPENDIX II: RECORDED LOSSES IN WALES..........................................................