With the summer season in full swing, Inigo Jones Slate Works is brimming with visitors from all over the globe. Day Trippers from near and far, visiting the site are keen to visit ‘The Great Slate Tour’, which allows behind the scenes access to the original and still functioning workshops established in 1861 at Groeslon, 6 miles south of Caernarfon.

With recent improvements to the Tour, new personal Audio Devices featuring several languages now tells the story of the origins of Slate in North Wales and how its uses have evolved over the years, using the preferred language of the listener. On offer is Welsh and English for home visitors, or German, French, Spanish, Mandarin or Japanese for overseas guests.

A self-guided approach to the tour allows participants to take their time in discovering more about the rich heritage and skill of working slate. But not only can you learn about such skills here, you can also try it for yourself! With Interactive elements to the tour, you can brush up on your calligraphy skills and even try hammering the designs out on slate, with the letter cutting exercise! It’s easy to be lost here for hours!

As a working factory, you may also see the workmen crafting new and bespoke products before anyone else! Recent commissions have included the slate peace plaque at Treborth and Llanberis, the Memorial plaque at Ffestiniog Highland Railway commemorating railway staff who served during the Great War, and a slate plaque in recognition of Chris Gunter’s record 93 caps for Wales! Any questions you may have the workmen are happy to talk and answer them.

If travelling the country as a couple, or in a group with little ones searching for something different to do, the tour is a perfect means of whiling away a few hours in wet or sunny weather. For families a quiz is made available and if completed a slate prize presented! Great beaming smiles have left Inigo Jones as of late clutching their very own prize!

Verified by MonsterInsights