I have just completed a week at Plas Tan Y Bwlch on the practical industrial
archaeology course (e-mail [log in to unmask] for details of next summers
project).  This years subject was Dorothea Slate Quarry and one of the
course tutors was Dr.Gwynfor Pierce Jones, the unofficial guardian of the
Dorothea Engine and it is he who has provided the following information.

Firstly the Holman's Film Unit, from Russell Bennett's question last month.
The Engine was built by Holman's between 1904 & 1906. It was replaced by
electric pumps in 1951 although the engine was left intact and was used when
required until at least 1956. When Holman's heard that the engine was being
replace they sent a camera man down to film the engine in action. The film
shows the engine in close up with most of the film being of the valve gear
inside although there is also a shot of the external air pump and feed pump.
Gwynfor did not know of the 'film unit' and the implication that other
engines had been filmed.

The film was given to the Museum of Wales when the Holman's Museum closed
and it was last know to be in the museum in Cardiff.

Secondly, the status of the Beam Engine. The engine is Scheduled and
officially in the care of Caddw. The engine house has been secured with
Perspex over the upper windows and heavy steel grilles and steel sheeting
covering the lower windows and doors. The most recent work is the removal of
the asbestos insulation from the cylinder and replacement with modern
'Rockwool' style insulation. All the wooden cladding has been put back.

The scheme to remove all the ivy and completely re-point the engine house
has been abandoned because of 'red tape' and fund raising difficulties,
however some undergrowth has been removed from the boiler house. Fortunately
the engine house roof is still secure but there are concerns over the beam
being 'in house' allowing an amount of water to run down it into the engine
house. Also the timbering over the pumping shaft is in a poor condition, the
advice is therefore to have a good look where you are treading if you make a
visit (the shaft is about 100ft to the water and then another 500ft to the
bottom.

There is no real possibility of public open of the engine at this time as
there is no insurance cover for the visiting public, however I am
considering constructing a web page of photographs with a little history,
including views inside.

If anybody reading this has relevant information about the engine, please do
pass it on to me as all information gathered will be not only put in the
mini achieve at Plas Tan y Bwlch (with the other Dorothea information), but
also eventually into the County achieve. Also if people let me know if there
is any interest I might be able to arrange a walk around the Dorothea quarry
area with the possibility of the odd interesting diversion!

Andrew Hurrell