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Harlech Tramway

Closed railway lines in WalesHarlechUse British English from March 2018
Harlech Tramway on an 1887 six inch OS map
Harlech Tramway on an 1887 six inch OS map

The Harlech Tramway was a horse drawn railway that ran from near the Cambrian Railways' Harlech station 600 yards (550 m) west to the beach from approx 1878 to 1886.The tramway was developed by Mr Godfrey Morton of Tremadog (1810–1880). It was probably mainly used to facilitate beach loading of ships with slate from the Noddfa slate quarry, although tourist facilities in the Harlech area were being developed at this time, sponsored initially by Samuel Holland, the county's M.P.Photographs and precise details of the line, its gauge and services have so far eluded historians, though it is shown on a 6" OS map. This map shows that the tramway started next to Quarry Cottage approximately 660 yards (600 m) south of Harlech station, running through what in 2016 was the Royal St. David's golf course. Boyd mentions the line and offers a map but in later correspondence acknowledges that his map was a misunderstanding.The line's location south west of the village is corroborated by Rail Map Online, which shows it in the same place as the OS map, but it names the line "Harlech Quarry".The line is not to be confused with the Second World War Harlech Military Railway which was north of Harlech.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Harlech Tramway (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Harlech Tramway
Glan Gors,

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Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 52.859698 ° E -4.116268 °
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Address

Royal Saint Davids Golf Course

Glan Gors
LL46 2NX , Harlech
Wales, United Kingdom
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Harlech Tramway on an 1887 six inch OS map
Harlech Tramway on an 1887 six inch OS map
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Harlech Castle
Harlech Castle

Harlech Castle (Welsh: Castell Harlech; Welsh pronunciation: [kastɛɬ ˈharlɛχ]) in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, is a Grade I listed medieval fortification built onto a rocky knoll close to the Irish Sea. It was built by Edward I during his invasion of Wales between 1282 and 1289 at the relatively modest cost of £8,190. Over the next few centuries, the castle played an important part in several wars, withstanding the siege of Madog ap Llywelyn between 1294 and 1295, but falling to Prince Owain Glyndŵr in 1404. It then became Glyndŵr's residence and military headquarters for the remainder of the uprising until being recaptured by English forces in 1409. During the 15th century Wars of the Roses, Harlech was held by the Lancastrians for seven years, before Yorkist troops forced its surrender in 1468, a siege memorialised in the song "Men of Harlech". Following the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, the castle was held by forces loyal to Charles I, holding out until 1647 when it became the last fortification to surrender to the Parliamentary armies. In the 21st century the ruined castle is managed by Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service, as a tourist attraction. UNESCO considers Harlech, with three others at Beaumaris, Conwy and Caernarfon, to be one of "the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe", and it is classed as a World Heritage Site. The fortification is built of local stone and concentric in design, featuring a massive gatehouse that probably once provided high-status accommodation for the castle constable and visiting dignitaries. The sea originally came much closer to Harlech than in modern times, and a water-gate and a long flight of steps leads down from the castle to the former shore, which allowed the castle to be resupplied by sea during sieges. In keeping with Edward's other castles in the north of Wales, the architecture of Harlech has close links to that found in the County of Savoy during the same period, an influence probably derived from the Savoy origins of the main architect, James of Saint George.