National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Dinorwic Quarry
Centuries of formidable labour and engineering could not halt the slate industry's decline as evidenced here by the once mighty Dinorwic.
From the collection of:
Overview
On a cold, wet day, Len Vaughan Williams – an electricity board employee and later deputy head of Bangor's Ysgol Cae Top primary school – took his camera to Dinorwic Quarry, anxious to capture some footage for posterity (e.g. blasting, transportation, dressing and splitting) as the writing was on the wall - closure was effected in 1969. A handful of men can be seen at work, their number as nothing to the 3,000 that would have been employed during the quarry's heyday.
After closure in 1969 the quarry buildings became the National Slate Museum (part of the National Museum Wales) and the quarry itself houses a pumped storage power station.
Related
Watch for free
Dinorwic and Penrhyn Slate Quarries Dinorwic and Penrhyn Slate Quarries
Home movie 1960 18 mins Silent Location: Llanberis
Here are the locomotives – the iron horses – that enlivened the workings of the neighbouring quarries e.g. Cackler, Cegin, Ogwen and Winifred.
Watch for free
Mr Bealing's Wales II - slate quarrying, Llanberis Mr Bealing's Wales II - slate quarrying, Llanberis
Home movie 1950 14 mins Silent Location: Llanberis
The road from Southampton to Snowdonia was well trodden by Frank and Nancy Bealing who enjoyed holidaying amongst the mountains and lakes.
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.