Recent ‘landscaping’ has removed many features, but remains of leat, wheel pit, ore slide and crusher house are visible.
At valley bottom is the 1638 adit, much of it cut and cover. Its existence was forgotten until 1975. It appears the Taylors never used it, and Lewis Morris was unaware of its existance.
| Year | Activity |
|---|---|
| early 17C | Worked for Sir Hugh Myddleton by Thomas Bushell. It was old at this time, and Lewis describes it as ‘an Antient British Open Cast and tho’ the upper ENd seems to have been wrought by the Patentees (Myddleton & Bushell). yet this work hath not been mentioned by any Mineral Writer … It is worked between 30 and 40 yards deep and to good Profit; but seems not yet to be deep enough’. |
| 1795-1810 | Mine lay idle. |
| 1840s | Re-started during the great mining revival, by which time working were only 20fm under adit, a 20ft wheel driving 4 inch pumps. Results disappointing. |
| 1850 | At the AGM, Taylor stated that £8,000 of ore was within sight, but complained about the former agent - calling the machinery ‘ill placed and ill constructed’. |
| 1851 | Sinking down to 45 fathom level, but no profits. |
| 1862 | A rich orebody was discovered when ait pushed to the east on south branch of the ore lode, the orebody rising almost to the surface. This could then be reached by driving adits into the hillside. |
| 1863 | 119 men at work underground, and mine reached it’s final depth of 69 ft, at which the lode was barren. |
| 1877 | Last returns of lead ore. |
Output since 1849 - 9,919 tons, with 200,000 ounces of silver.
Landowner lives above the site and is very sensitive about anyone looking around. (see Buddepit forum link)
External Links
Publications (11)
- (1922); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XX - Lead and Zinc: Cardiganshire & West Montogmeryshire; 242 pages
- Bick, D.E. (1991); Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales, The; North of Goginan - Part 3; pp. 6-8
- Bick, D.E. (1991); Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales, The; South of Goginan - Part 2; pp. 38-39
- Claughton, Peter (1994); PDMHS (Peak District Mines Historical Society) 12-3 Sum - Silver-Lead - A Restricted Resource - Technological Choice in the Devon Mines; 6 pages (54-59)
- Hughes, Simon J.S. (1971); BSA Proceedings Vol VI, No 46 - Mineral Field of Mid Wales, The; 8 pages
- Hughes, Simon J.S. (1976); Cardiganshire - Its Mines and Miners; 52 pages
- Hughes, Simon J.S. (1988); UK Journal of Mines & Minerals No 5 - Decline of Mining in Mid Wales and Prospects of Revival, The; 10 pages
- Liscombe & Co (1880); Mines of Cardiganshire, Montgomereyshire & Shropshire; 52 pages
- Murchison, J.H. (1869); Lead Mines as an Investment; 34 pages
- Naylor, Peter (1981); PDMHS (Peak District Mines Historical Society) 08-1 Jun - Sir Hugh Myddelton The First Mines Adventurer; 6 pages (54-59)
- Rieuwerts, J.H. (1980); PDMHS (Peak District Mines Historical Society) 07-5 - Earliest Lead-Mine Soughs in Derbyshire, The; 74 pages (241-314)
