Prototype: Abereiddi and Porthgain tramway...

A walk a little further along the coast from Porthgain this morning, to the 'blue lagoon' at Abereiddi...

The slate quarry at Abereiddi was operational at the turn of the 20th century, closing in 1910. The slate produced was of particularly poor quality, and the with access difficulties was never a success. The beach wasn't suitable for landing vessels, so the slate was taken around to Porthgain and it's sheltered harbour, leading to the construction of a horse drawn tramway.

'The street' on the beach at Abereiddi is a row of small single room dwellings, ravaged by the weather over the years. It must have been a grim and tough existence.

The inland foot path to Porthgain climbs up behind the public toilets, across the field to what I assume is the old route of the tramway. However, apart from this and a few sections closer to the harbour not much is left and visible. At the quarry a few structures exist, but I've never managed to find plans or photographs, and since the quarry was blasted and flooded it is difficult to know what lies beneath the water in the pit, which may piece together some of the other structures.

Apparently the old sea defences at Abereiddi, on the beach, were constructed from material re-claimed from the 'railway'. I assume this must have been metal rails from the actual Porthgain railway on the cliff tops, as the tramway was abandoned so early.

Some remnants of rail are still around, I found this one on a gate post on the path back towards Porthgain. I hope this latest instalment is a teaser and leads you to learn more. I thoroughly recommend a pair of books, if you can get them, 'Porthgain and Abereiddi, a century of industry' and the Oakwood Press book 'The Railways of Porthgain'. More soon...