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* [Pic 4] Ratgoed Slate Quarry - Middle Mill (Sept 1987) *

[Pic 4] Ratgoed Slate Quarry - Middle Mill (Sept 1987)

Strangely for a quarry of this size (Ratgoed could by no means be termed large) there was at various times 3 mills - the 'Upper' mill* was on level 6, then close to the main exit incline head (on level 8) was the 'middle' mill (see Pic 4 above) and down on the valley floor was the (appropriately named) 'Lower' mill - which stood close to the foot of the main exit incline amongst a small group of buildings, all of which are derelict and roofless. When 'Middle' mill, the newest of the 3, was built an adit had opened just a few yards to its south (connected by a tramway along a short shelf) and this was the outlet for 2 shafts down from the level 7 underground workings. This adit contained no workings of its own and was, at least latterly, the sole exit route for level 7 produce after it became marooned by waste from above.

Middle Mill was the last mill to be used and probably ended with power from an internal combustion engine - the base for which still remains. At various stages all three mills used Pelton wheel power and this mill has an unusual pit for housing one. Like a lot of quarry buildings built on waste land this one has a small buttress to contain a bit of wall subsidance ! Just to the right (off camera) is the foot of the next incline up and a short distance south is the level 8 adit site.

* There are few remains of this mill.
* [Pic 5] Ratgoed Slate Quarry - Chopped down drum  (Sept 1987) *

[Pic 5] Ratgoed Slate Quarry - Chopped down drum (Sept 1987)

At the head of the level 7 down to level 8 incline is this modified drumhouse, complete with a shortened drum propped up on a new set of walls inside the old ones! Off to the right (round a curve) ran the tramway to the foot of the level 6 down to level 7 incline, while heading left (Nth West) was an old tramway route to the head of the original (abandoned) incline that descended down to the valley floor.
* [Pic 6] Ratgoed Slate Quarry - Level 7 tramway (Sept 1987) *

[Pic 6] Ratgoed Slate Quarry - Level 7 tramway (Sept 1987)

The level 7 tramway route (previously mentioned) heading towards the foot of the level 6 down to level 7 incline. Cut off by the large tips (right of pic) is the level 7 adit, the tramway route (originally curving off to the right from close to the first upturned truck above) to which is buried under a few thousand tonnes of waste rock ! Note the neat steps beside the incline and the two rusting waste truck remains.
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