You’ve heard of the Ashmolean and you’ve heard of the V&A, but the National Slate Museum? That one might have flown under the radar.
Not for much longer though – this little museum in Wales, known locally as Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru, welcomes thousands of visitors annually, and thanks to funding from the government and the National Lottery Heritage Grant, it’s in for a ‘world class’ glow-up.
The National Slate Museum is housed inside what were originally engineering workshops, at the bottom of the Dinorwig Quarry, which was once one of the largest quarries in the world. The quarry closed in 1969, though the workshops reopened as a museum in 1972. The place has showcased the ins and outs of the slate industry ever since.
The slate landscapes were awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2021, recognising Wales’s role in ‘roofing the nineteenth century world’. About the museum, Lesley Griffiths, cabinet secretary for culture and social justice told North Wales Live: ‘The slate industry is an important part of the communities, landscapes and heritage of this part of Wales and the National Slate Museum offers a unique opportunity to glimpse into the lives of the slate workers and their families.’
So, what’s actually the plan for old Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru? Well, the money (£1 million from the Welsh government, £10 million from the National Lottery) has already helped maximise the museum’s collection space and improve the office area for employees.
There are also plans to develop new creative spaces for local community learning and wellbeing activities, and to help make the site a hub for the heritage site.
So, no slating the Slate Museum – this sounds like an exciting project for the community, and big slate fans. We don’t yet know when the works will be complete, so in the meantime, check out our list of the best things to do in Wales.
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