Parc Mine

Older workings are flooded or lost whereas the more recent adits have been gated. Parc Mine was formed by the amalgamation of older workings on the N-S trending Gors and Fucheslas lodes. During the 20th century stoping along the E-W Principal Lode became the main concern. This was done on the number Two and Three levels for about 2 miles to pass beneath the older Llanrwst and Cyffty workings. Parc is approached by following the forest road south from Nant Cottage.

Level 3

Gors Lode

The gated number 3 adit is a prominent feature disgorging ochreous water at the head of an area of ‘landscaped’ mine tailings. Just below is the smaller arched brick entrance to Adit 4 which is blocked after some distance. The large Number 3 adit was the main haulage level during this century. Both adits were driven south along the Gors Lode. Just to the south of the adits is a large open stope known as Kneebone Cuttings. Nearby is the flooded Gors Shaft which was sunk down a rich pipe of ore to a depth of over 400’. There is a choke dam a short distance up the adit, the purpose of which is to prevent catastrophic flooding should a choke on Level 3 along the Principal Lode fail.

Hafna Passage

Some 500’ along Adit 3, a fork to the right leads to recent workings on the Hafna Lode. Sections of the passage are heavily silted due to surface tailings being swept in via older workings above. A waterfall enters one of the stopes corresponding with surface shaft on the Reservoir Lode. Heavy silting and a major collapse terminate the Hafna passage.(RG I haven’t been able to verify whether this passage is connected to Hafna Mine).

Parc Shaft

Continuing along the No 3 level, a complex area is reached in the vicinity of the underground Parc Shaft. A circular section of passage surrounds the shaft, and there are extensions southerly and easterly along the Gors and Principal Lodes respectively, whilst to the west are the main 20th century workings along the Principal Lode. The southern extension was driven to within 100’ of the Gwaynllifon Deep Adit. Parc Shaft is a large bore (10m square) underground shaft that was driven 220’ below level 3. Nearby is a flooded incline to level 4. There is a large gantry above the shaft in an intermediate level between levels 2 and 3.

Principal Lode

This proceeds westwards as a large access passage in the footwall of the stope. 150’ high stopes lie to the right with ore chutes at regular intervals. Within about 1000’ a small blockage is followed by a major collapse which terminates the level and holds behind it vast tonnages of water. It was possible to bypass the choke from the level 2 adit above.

Level 2

This is one of the old workings on the Fucheslas Lode and lies 1000’ to the south and some hundreds of feet to the west of the Gors Lode. This reaches the Principal Lode at a junction about 150’ above a deep stope width dangerous false floor - see photo below). To the east, the Gors Lode is reached. Further to the east again is the remains of the Bidston Tidal Experiment – an attempt to measure the tilting of the earth due to the incoming tide. Just further on is the bottom of the Air Shaft. The Gors Lode is driven southwards for some distance to where the load deteriorated as evidenced by three short passages searching for the lode. Near the junction is an old ladderway shaft which leads to the Parc Shaft gantry. From here a 40’ pitch bypasses the Parc Shaft entering level 3 via an ore hopper.

Principal Lode

Every few hundred feet, this passage has deep holes linking it with Level 3 on the right, and holes above and to the left leading to stopes above. About 2500’ in, a pumping shaft from the Llanrwst Mine comes in from above. This is New Shaft, an underground shaft giving access to the main Llanrwst pumping shaft – Endean’s. This still has a large wooden pump rod installed. Further along, the tramway is suspended from the walls by chains, until terminated by absence of a section of floor overlooking a deep stope. During the 1970s a hair raising traverse along an old pipe gave access to Cyffty mine. It was also possible to enter the old Gorlan workings from Level 2.

Cyffty

Some distance back, a ladderway shaft connects level 2 with level 3 on the other side of the blockage. This led through chest deep slime to a 200’ ladder shaft upwards rise connecting with the workings of Cyffty Mine.

Surface

To the north, are the Fucheslas Deep Adit, No 5 Adit, and other shafts. On the side of the road to the north of No3 adit is a gated adit (Cilsten Mine ?) to limited workings along the Shale Lode. Up the spoil heap from the No2 Adit is a covered shaft (Fucheslas Lode) with section of false floor. Commencing upwards from a similar altitude, but to the east and on the Gors Lode is a series of workings (gated adits) up the hillside of the Fucheslas escarpment. At the base is a deep (estimated 150’+), covered shaft about 10’ square. This is probably be the Parc Air shaft. These workings are probably linked to the stopes above Level 2 on the Gors Lode.

Prior to second half of the 19C, workings on the Gors Lode and Fucheslas Lodes were seperate. There was then a period of merging and demerging with different groups of companies with different mine concerns. At different periods, Gamfa Fawr, Gwaynllifon and Clementenia have been worked together with what would become to be called Parc Mine.

http://caveaccess.co.uk/parcmine.html

The agreement with CAL has been suspended, so discretion advised. See link above for useful information in any case.