Minera Lower Park


Lead and Zinc Mine

Worked from 1803 to late 19C

Jan 1st, 2024 from CPAT by Buddle-Bot

Feb 24th, 2025 by BertyBasset



North Wales
Minera
53.0545845, -3.1189189
SJ 2510 5140
Private Land
365m
#1,963


South of the track, near SJ 2520 5128, several shafts can still be found, with a notable ladder shaft among them. North of the track, a large shaft at SJ 2520 5135 is particularly prominent, with a 10-meter diameter and a whim (a type of pulley system used for raising materials) surrounded by a stone wall, which has partially collapsed into the shaft.

To the north of the whim shaft, there is a linear stone bank with a parallel recessed wall, possibly the remains of a coe (a type of structure used for processing ore), at SJ 2522 5138. A large shaft at SJ 2513 5137, located west of the mine office, features a 7.5-meter diameter whim circle.

West of the farm track, a series of seven shafts stretch towards the western boundary wall. The third shaft from the west has a stone wall around it and a possible whim platform at SJ 2504 5137. The fourth shaft from the west, located at SJ 2496 5136, is marked by a circular stone wall at the top, with a square coe structure to the east side.

Further shafts and spoil mounds lie south of the previous sett, near the pond at SJ 2494 5127. Across the boundary, to the west of the farm wall, two shaft mounds at SJ 2489 5137 remain visible.

A natural limestone outcrop runs north-south through the western field, featuring trial shafts, which might represent some of the earliest mining efforts in the area. Shallow shafts aligned east-west are found in the field immediately to the west of the farmhouse, with additional shafts located further to the north-east of the farm, running in a north-east to south-west alignment. Finally, two shafts are located directly behind the farm buildings at SJ 2500 5153.



The Park Vein runs south-easterly from the limestone quarry area through the limestone outcrops and continues for over a mile across Esclusham Mountain. The history of mining in the region dates back to at least the early 19th century. The Lower Park Mine, located in the high moorland area now occupied by the disused Park Farm, is historically significant. Records mention Robert Morgan of Minera Hall sinking a shaft at Park Mine in 1803. Later, in 1821, the Lower Park Shaft was sunk, which was situated on land owned by the Duke of Westminster at that time (Davies 1964).

The initial mining activities on the Park Sett occurred near Park Farm (SJ 2495 5151). Several shallow shafts were sunk in this area, but by 1863, these were likely worked out, as noted by Earp (1958).



Publications (3)

  • (1921); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XIX - Lead and Zinc: in Carboniferous of North Wales; 169 pages
  • Jones, Nigel and Walters, Mark and Frost, Pat (2004); Mountains and Orefields; 208 pages
  • Kennedy, A. E. (2001); Tir Gofal Management Plan: Heritage Management Information (HE1). Scotland Farm Trewddyn - NE/06/2065





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