Circumstances suggest a likelihood of mining in the area since the Roman occupation, such as the discovery of Roman coins, however recorded history indicates an initial working by the Society of Mines Royal in 1583. This mine together with the neighbouring mines of Darren and Cwmsymlog were major silver producers and made fortunes for their owners. The mine later passed through the hands of the Mine Adventurers and into the 19th Century through a succession of owners including the ubiquitous John Taylor. The mine finally closed in 1886, however there were attempts to reopen by some small 20th Century concerns, the mine finally becoming totally abandoned in 1923. Little remains today of the original site which had about 12 waterwheels as well as dressing floors and other equipment, it covered a large area.

The site is described working upwards. The lowest remains are the cut and cover deep adit which emerges from the bank of the Avon Melindwr adjacent to the road bridge. This has been explored past a telegraph pole which penetrates it to a rising floor silt blockage. Nothing else remains below the minor road, it all being levelled and made into agricultural land.

Above the road is private land in almost continuous usage, so permission should be sought before a planned visit. To the left of the entrance was Western Shaft and Tank’s Winze of which nothing remains and is probably the source of the deep adit blockage. However water does find its way out. Taylor’s Incline shaft, the portal of which was restored in 1989, is at SN690817. This leads down to the flooded 60 fathom level in which water is backed up making further progress normally impossible. It has twice been dived but without much success. In the drought of 2018 a 60 fthm south east exploratory level was discovered, photographed and surveyed. The 60 fthm drift onwards was not assessable, however It was possible to take a photo at this time using a dive camera, the workings inbye are in a state of collapse. See report.

The incline itself was originally water powered and shows sign of a twin track haulage system. Higher up the site, the 26 fathom level is open. This soon cuts an underground quarry which was used as a source of material for the mine buildings. It continues as a passage to the run in lower section of Francis’s Shaft. A dig was started by Welsh Mines Society in 2004 and although continued on and off for about 15 years was unsuccessful in reaching any explorable workings. The project was terminated as being beyond any reasonable chance of success, plus safety issues.
From the section its apparent that the inner workings are one massive stope extending all the way down to the deep adit, which is now collapsed, with working below being flooded.

There is a 50 fthm level now lost somewhere between the incline and the 26, probably buried under spoil from later workings. This was reported as being 3 feet high by 18 inches across.

At the top of the site is the open Francis’s Shaft which is open for about 70 feet but no workings off. Further over is Taylors Shaft, blocked a short distance down.

There are further workings, shaft remains etc extending over to Brynpica. There is an adit here at SN 693 820 virtually in the bed of the stream, of which there is now no trace. Years ago it was partially open and seen to be stone arched. It had been explored by the late Simon Hughes who reported that it was completely blocked after a short distance.

Private land in continuous use. PM Roy Fellows for landowner contact details.