Ar fynydd Cilgwyn, mae’n debyg, y cychwynnwyd cloddio am lechi gyntaf yng ngogledd Cymru nôl yn y 12 ganrif. Yn wahanol i’r amryw o’r ardaloedd llechi eraill, pobl leol agorodd y chwareli hyn gan mai o dan dir comin y gorweddai’r llechfaen. Am gannoedd o flynyddoedd, tan ail chwarter y 19g pan agorodd rheilffordd, cludwyd y llechi o chwareli’r Cilgwyn ar gefnau mulod, mewn dwy fasged (neu gawell) a rwymwyd naill ochr i’w boliau. Wedi llenwi’r basgedi â llechi, eid â’r mulod a’u llwythi i lawr i draeth Y Foryd Fach (Harbwr Llanfaglan) oherwydd dyma'r lle agosaf y gallai llongau bychain a fedrai gludo llechi, gyrraedd at chwareli’r dyffryn....a dyma sydd wrth wraidd hen ddywediad ymysg chwarelwyr lleol : “Wnes i ddim llond cawell o gerrig”.
Ymunwch ag Eirian Muse o Helyg Lleu i wehyddu eich basged eich hun. Mi fydd panad ar gael o Coffi Poblado gerllaw yn ystod y bore ond dewch â chinio efo chi.
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It’s believed that the first quarrying for in north Wales began in the 12th century on Cilgwyn mountain. Unlike various other slate areas, local people opened these quarries because the slate lay beneath common land. For hundreds of years, until the second quarter of the 19th century when the Nantlle Railway opened, the slates from the Cilgwyn quarries were transported on the backs of donkeys, in two baskets (or creels) tied to their sides. After filling the baskets with slates, the donkeys would carry their loads down to the beach at Y Foryd Fach (Llanfaglan Harbour) as this was the closest place that small ships capable of carrying slates could reach the quarries of the valley... and this is the root of an old saying among local quarrymen: "I didn't have a basketful of stones."
Join Eirian Muse from Helyg Lleu to weave your own basket. There will be coffee available from nearby Coffi Poblado during the morning, but please bring your lunch with you.
