Maeshafn Main Site

aka Maes y Hafn

Lead Mine
Worked from early 18C to 1903

Jan 1st, 2024 from Cambrian by Buddle-Bot

Feb 19th, 2025 by Osian



North Wales
Maeshafn
53.140873, -3.200171
SJ 1982 6109
Private Land
250m
#553


Main mine site, as identified in the plan deposited at CRO Hawarden, has become overgrown with woodland. A single shaft remains visible at SJ 1981 6111, situated to the southeast of Bryn Hyfryd. Two key shafts were part of the workings: No. 5 shaft, known as Pen-y-bryn, measured 5.50 feet in diameter and reached a depth of 310 yards, while No. 6 shaft, called Pen-y-nant, was 3.50 feet in diameter and extended to a depth of 40 yards.

Mining operations included processing facilities, with dressing floor areas located along the riverban. Bryn-Hyfryd house, positioned at SJ 1976 6103, is believed to have served as the mine office, and other buildings in the vicinity were likely associated with stables and a smithy. Nearby, Nant Cottage at SJ 1960 6100, a Grade II Listed building, dates back to the late 17th or early 18th century. Originally built as a farmhouse, it was later reputedly converted into a row of five cottages to accommodate workers from the lead mine.

Inncludes an adit level at SJ 195 614 and a pair of large, parallel wheel-pits, as recorded by the Ordnance Survey in 1979.



Publications (7)

  • (1988); WMS Newsletter Issue 18 May; 12 pages
  • BGS - Mine Plans (large, zoomable) - Maes-Y-Safn Mines; 1 pages
  • Bird, R.H., (1977); Yesterday's Golcondas: notable British metal mines; pp.57-59; Moorland Publishing; 0903485370
  • Jones, Nigel and Walters, Mark and Frost, Pat (2004); Mountains and Orefields; 208 pages
  • King, Tony (2005/6); Maes y Safn Lead Mine, The; Transactions of the Denbighshire Historical Society : 54 : 23-54
  • Morgan Rees, D. (1975); Industrial Archaeology of Wales, The
  • Smith, Bernard (1921); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XIX - Lead and Zinc: in Carboniferous of North Wales; 169 pages


Chris Williams London Lead Co boundry stone SW of Meashafn mine 1977Exit tunnel for big wheel Maeshafn Mine 15.4.74Interior of one of wheel pits Maeshafn Mine 15.4Maeshafn double wheelpits 15.4.1974Maeshafn Engine house 15.4.74Maeshafn mine June 77Maeshafn Mine office with hole for flat rod to engine shaft August 1987Maeshafn Mine view of wheel buildings  15.4.74Maeshafn Mine view of wheel pits  15.4.74Twin wheel pits Maeshafn Mine 15.4.74



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