Porthmadog, The Harbour 1908

Photo ref: 60721

More about this scene

Portmadoc was originally intended to be the port of Tremadoc, a new town that never got beyond a village; it was planned by the speculator William Madocks, who had a grand scheme to persuade the Government to ditch Holyhead as the principal port for mails to Ireland. However, thanks to the slate industry, Portmadoc developed on its own. In 1836, a narrow gauge railway nine miles long opened to connect the quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog with Portmadoc harbour. Here slate schooners line the wharves, and slates awaiting shipment are stacked in their thousands.