The pillars that form the centrepiece of the Blaenau Ffestiniog regeneration scheme are inspired by the distinctive triangular shape of the slate splitter’s chisel. Each pillar is over 7.5 metres high and each is built with approximately 15,000 slates from Llechwedd slate quarry. The slates are laid at 30 degrees, the angle of the slate beds in the quarry. This geological reference is complemented by a cultural one: like veins in the slate beds, bands of polished slate run through the pillars, engraved with poetry and quarry sayings.
Because of the long walk in to the deep chambers where the rock was worked, the quarrymen stayed underground for their lunch, holding poetry competitions and discussing political events. Words once spoken underground are now embedded in the strata of the pillars, a reminder of the Welsh culture that the slate industry nurtured. Climbing up the steps between the pillars is like climbing out from the slate chambers at the end of the day’s work.