The site lies to the west of Llyn Sarnau. Adjacent the car park is a collapsed adit driven along the Principal lode. To the south west the nearby Sarnau cross cut, driven to intercept the same lode is also collapsed. Fenced shafts on the same lode are however still open.
Probably worked as early as 18 and even 17C.
| Year | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1828 | Take note by Edward Parry who weighed off a ton of ore. |
| 1829-37 | No records. |
| 1938 | 4 men working underground under Messrs. Frank & Company. |
| 1840s-50s | A succession of small partnerships work sett. |
| 1861-74 | Together will Alltwen, leased to Adam Ayton, who did not do much with the sett, 11 tons of ore in total being produced. |
| 1875 | Briefy bought together with Alltwen by Howard C. Parkes, passed to Whitecliff Lead Mining Company (1876) |
| 1878 | H. Tudor Owen become leaseholder, company concentrating mainly on Gorlan. |
| 1879 | Report on Gorlan by Morris Evans, Inspector of Mines notes work on Engine Shaft stopped, a 10fm shaft to the west being sunk instead, from which a level was driven south. |
| 1880 | 80 tons of lead weighed. |
| 1883 | Company in liquidation. |
| 1886 | Taken over by Thomas Evans of Aberllyn, with only occassional ton being raised every few years. |
| 1898-1894 | Mine at standstill. |
| 1905 | Along with Alltwen, Llanrwst and others, leased to C.R. Holmes though no work done. |
| 1911-17 | Men allowed to work Grolan on tribute. |
External Links
Publications (4)
- (1922); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XXIII - Lead & Zinc: Pre-Carboniferous Shropshire & North Wales; 111 pages
- Bennet & Vernon (1989); Mines of the Gwydyr Forest, Book 1 - Llanrwst Mine and its Neighbours
- BGS - Mine Plans (large, zoomable) - Llanrwst And Gorlan Mines Section Of Principal Lode; 1 pages
- Shaw, Donald L. (1971); Gwydyr Forest in Snowdonia - a History (of Forestry); 140 pages
