the courtyard of the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, north Wales, with stone factory buildings surrounding a courtyard with industrial equipment for processing slate, and the slate mine visible in the background

Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru – National Slate Museum originally opened in 1972. Photo: Aled Llywelyn.

National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £250,000 to £5million

Date awarded

27/03/2024

Location

Deiniolen

Local Authority

Gwynedd

Applicant

The National Museum of Wales (Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru)

Award Given

£412565

The museum will be transformed into a world-class visitor attraction at the heart of the Wales Slate Landscape in north west Wales.

The project has been awarded development funding to progress its plans and apply for a full grant of over £9million from the Heritage Fund at a later date.

Housed within the Grade I listed Victorian workshops of the historic Dinorwig Quarry, the museum features quarrymen’s cottages, working locomotives and an inclined railway alongside the UK’s largest working water wheel.

The museum tells the stories of the men and women who shaped the landscape of Wales and contributed to global architecture and infrastructure.

We will be able to bring the national collection and new exhibitions to north Wales for the first time.
Jane Richardson, Chief Executive for Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

The project, led by Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, will conserve and improve the condition of the site’s built heritage, transforming it into an interpretation hub for the Wales Slate Landscape. The area became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021 in recognition of its role in roofing the 19th-century world.

Two people do an interactive activity inside an industrial building at the National Slate Museum. In the background large cart wheels hang on the wall. — Visitors in the Foundry at Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru – National Slate Museum.

Jane Richardson, Chief Executive for Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, said: “This will transform, not only our museum, but the way we can tell the story of the world heritage slate landscape of north west Wales.

“Through the development of new creative spaces, we will be able to bring the national collection and new exhibitions to north Wales for the first time. We will also create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to enjoy, learn and develop traditional craft skills, increasing employment, wellbeing and better connecting people and communities with our fantastic collections.”