Publications
A Review of History and Architecture of Roofing Slates: Impact on the Unesco World Heritage List
Roofing slates, particularly those from European quarries like Wales, France, Germany, and Spain, play a significant role in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A study reveals that 86 out of the 1248 UNESCO sites (as of December 2025) feature slate roofs, accounting for 7% of the total. The research also highlights the cultural and architectural importance of slate, tracing its use from Roman times through modern architecture. Additionally, a deep learning model employing convolutional neural networks was developed to identify slate roofs with over 85% accuracy. The study advocates for the preservation of natural slate in heritage conservation, warning against the use of artificial imitations.
‘More-than’ approaches to landscapes of heritage in the Anthropocene
Heritage landscapes, particularly those under threat from climate change, are often viewed through narrow human-centred or nature-centred lenses that overlook indigenous perspectives and non-human actors. This special issue challenges such paradigms by advocating for 'more-than' approaches to heritage, integrating multi-disciplinary insights from Anthropocene studies, critical heritage research, and more-than-human entanglements. It explores how landscapes like the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales can be reimagined through ecologies of care, reframing loss not as anguish but as an opportunity for affirmative change. The research draws on theoretical frameworks that defy traditional disciplinary boundaries, emphasizing multi-species relations and transdisciplinary collaboration to address heritage futures in a rapidly changing world.
Ruderality and refugia in the ruins: heritage, alienation, and post-industrial naturecultures in Northwest Wales
This study reveals that the ruderal ecologies thriving in the abandoned Glyn Rhonwy slate quarry in Northwest Wales possess outstanding ecological, educational, and aesthetic value, challenging UNESCO's traditional nature/culture binary framework. By integrating landscape survey data with policy analysis, inspired by feminist posthumanism, it demonstrates that these 'weeds and waste' landscapes—often dismissed as insignificant—are critical biodiversity oases. The research argues for their recognition in global heritage policy, offering a new perspective on the value of post-industrial naturecultures.
‘The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales’ — A New Industrial World Heritage Site
UNESCO's designation of the 'Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales' as a World Heritage Site in 2021 marked a historic milestone by recognizing a cultural landscape of quarrying for the first time. The site, comprising six distinct Component Parts, showcases unique visual and functional relationships with Snowdonia and the sea, while also highlighting differences in extraction, processing, workers’ settlements, and transport. This recognition underscores the significance of globally significant quarrying landscapes as potential World Heritage Sites, supported by robust landscape protection systems and strong community backing.
Bastard Rock, Bastard Landscapes
Industrial heritage landscapes, often marked by complexity and contested histories, risk being marginalized under rigid UNESCO World Heritage management strategies. This study introduces the concept of 'bastard rock'—a term for quarrying waste—to critique one-size-fits-all approaches in preserving cultural landscapes, using Penrhyn Quarry in Northwest Wales as a case example. It advocates for relational landscape approaches that embrace active industry within heritage sites and buffer zones to ensure authentic preservation. By challenging conventional frameworks, the research highlights how such strategies may inadvertently diminish the very heritage they aim to protect.
Researching, promoting and protecting Welsh toponyms – Challenges and possible solutions
A new methodology reveals a hidden palimpsest of Welsh toponyms since 1284, uncovering previously concealed histories and narratives within the protected landscapes of Snowdonia National Park. This research demonstrates that place names in Wales are under threat from social and economic changes, leading to the erosion of traditional toponyms by tourists, walkers, and climbers who often replace them with non-Welsh names. The Welsh Place Name Society (WPNS) has played a pivotal role in advocating for legal protection of place names but faced limitations during the consultation stage of the Historic Environment Bill 2016. Despite lacking legal standing, standardized spellings provided by the Office of The Commissioner for Welsh serve as useful references. This study highlights the critical need to preserve and promote Welsh toponyms through collaborative efforts between organizations and local communities.
Building the towns of North West Wales
A previously undescribed building stone for Caernarfon has been identified, expanding the understanding of quarry operations and stone sources in North West Wales. This study re-examines the use of specific stones in Edward I's Castles by identifying identical materials in later buildings, providing broader insights into their periods of operation and the local character defined by these stones. The research also summarizes building stones used in major settlements like Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris, Bangor, Y Felinheli, and Porthmadog, along with notable structures such as St Beuno's Church, slate barons' 'castles,' the Cob at Porthmadog, and key bridges. By analyzing stone materials across time and space, this work reconstructs historical quarrying practices and their impact on the architectural identity of the region.
North West Wales before Edward I
North West Wales' slate landscape reveals a rich history of stoneworking dating back to the third millennium BCE, with significant developments during the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods. The region's early use of glacial boulders and field stones, particularly at Penmaenmawr's stone axe factory, highlights innovative exploitation of local geology. By the Iron Age, advanced quarrying techniques emerged, especially in Anglesey's limestone outcrops, influencing Roman constructions such as forts and early slate roofing. The Early Christian period marked a shift towards funerary stone use, with notable churches appearing by the 12th century. Medieval Welsh Princes' castles and churches became prominent structures, potentially repurposing materials from earlier periods for later Edwardian castle construction. This study synthesizes archaeological evidence to trace the evolution of stoneworking practices across millennia.
Regional geology, building stones and quarries in North West Wales
North West Wales's geology, spanning from the Late Proterozoic to Upper Carboniferous, reveals a rich diversity of lithologies that have significantly influenced its built environment. The region's landscape, covered by thick glacial deposits, has provided a wide range of building stones, from agricultural field walls to monumental projects like Edward I's castles. Notably, the Cambrian Slate (Llanberis Slate Formation) is recognized as a Global Heritage Stone Resource. This study synthesizes the regional geology, stratigraphy, and the historical use of these stones, including the quarrying industry's role. By examining the temporal and spatial distribution of these lithologies, it highlights their enduring impact on local architecture and heritage.
Mining Things: Confronting Loss and Flux in the Slate Industry Ruins of Northwest Wales
The ruins of the slate industry in northwest Wales, once a symbol of a thriving national industry, are now recognized as 'geological scars' that serve as monuments to industrial capitalism's transformative and often destructive impact on both physical landscapes and social environments. This study highlights how prolonged absence from an area can shift perceptions, revealing the out-of-placeness of such industrial legacies. The research approach combines personal observation with a reflective analysis of the slate industry's ruins, particularly in Rhosydd Quarry and Cwm Croesor, to confront the loss and flux inherent in these landscapes. By re-examining familiar surroundings through the lens of historical context, the study underscores the enduring implications of industrial capitalism on cultural and natural heritage.
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