The World Heritage projects putting county on the map

FROM the ambitious restoration of the world’s oldest railway workshops, to the rescue of a quarry hospital and the transformation of a top music venue... it has been a busy year for the slate landscape communities of north Wales.

- By DALE SPRIDGEON

It is now four years since the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales was granted World Heritage Site status.

‘The region's latest achievements, developments, investments and conservation work have been highlighted in the Llechi Cymru Partnership Board annual report for 2025.

A number of projects have been implemented, including exciting conservation schemes, such as the rescue of the old Penrhyn Quarry Hospital at Bethesda.

‘The hospital played an important part in the story of Welsh slate, and in particular the role of health and welfare within the slate society.

Following urgent work on the structure in 2024, an ambitious plan got underway to ensure its long-term stability, with the ambition of making the site publicly accessible with on site interpretation.

‘The project is a partnership between Cyngor Gwynedd - through the Llewyrch o’r Llechi scheme funded through UK Government, Cadw and Weish Slate (Breedon).

Site visits have been organised in collaboration with Partneriaeth Ogwen, inviting Dyffryn Ogwen residents to visit the structure, learn about its history and understand more about the conservation techniques being used to protect the building.

‘The report also describes how in 2025, an ambitious Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways project came to an end.

Between 2022 and 2025, the report notes work on Boston Lodge at Porthmadog - where work on the oldest railway workshops in the world ~ helped save heritage buildings, skills and assets. Activities saw some of the “most significant heritage buildings” preserved and recreated, and gave opportunities provided for staff and volunteers through a project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.