‘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.

Gwyn, D. (2023). ‘The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales’ — A New Industrial World Heritage Site. Industrial Archaeology Review, 45(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/03090728.2023.2172253