Work and transport

There were no cars or buses in Snowdonia in 1890 so the men would have to walk miles to get to work in the quarries, whatever the weather. Their working lives were hard, and accidents were common at the slate quarries.

Railways began to reach north Wales in 1870, and heralded big changes in nineteenth century life. They linked the quarries with the sea so that slate from the area could be transported across the world. And even though ordinary families like the people living in Tal y Braich would not have been able to afford the tickets to go on the train often, the railways were slowly changing nineteenth century life.