Exploring The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales: A Celebration of Wales’s New World Heritage Site

by Louise Barker

On 28 July 2021 The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The successful Nomination bid was led by Gwynedd Council on behalf of a partnership which includes the Royal Commission and was the culmination of over 15 years hard work.

The Nomination document emphasized the importance of culture as well as industry, specifying: 'the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales represents an exceptional example of an industrial cultural landscape that was profoundly shaped by large-scale slate quarrying and underground mining, and by the working and transport of slate for national and international markets.'

This is the time to celebrate the heritage of the Northwest Wales slate industry in all its rich diversity. The communities of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales continue to be innovative, and this designation as a World Heritage site recognises the distinctive cultural landscape of Welsh slate and its contribution to world history.

The Royal Commission’s extensive archive and expertise, led by senior archaeologist Louise Barker, made a fundamental contribution to the nomination document. Join Louise on a virtual visit of the new World Heritage Site, learn about the places and monuments that form it, and its contribution to the World in our next virtual lecture, on Thursday 7th October at 5pm.

7 October, 2021, 5pm

This free lecture will be delivered via Zoom and the invitation will be sent to you once you have booked your place. Please don’t forget to download Zoom if you haven’t already!

Tickets will be limited and must be booked in advance.

Please reserve one ticket per household.

During 2021 we will be holding special events and regular presentations on our current research projects. All are welcome to these free online events. All talks will be recorded, becoming available in due course on the Royal Commission’s YouTube channel.