The site is situated on Lower Silurian Gwestyn Formation rocks, with mineralisation including chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite, associated with a calcite gangue. The vein strikes ENE, and numerous shafts were sunk in the area, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries. Two main shafts, Young’s Shaft and Pearce’s Shaft, were the focus of mining activities. These shafts were filled in but can still be identified in the area of mining activity near SN 8952 8612. Several other shafts, such as those located at SN 8970 8630, were drained by adits running northward.
The Gwestyn Brook powered a 30ft waterwheel, used for pumping and drawing from the shafts. A masonry wheelpit can be seen in a hollow near Llanidloes Road. A flat rod system was also used to pump the shafts, as evidenced by the remains of the engine house. This system was likely put in place due to the inconsistent water supply from the Gwestyn Brook.
The processing area has few remains, though there is some evidence of jigger waste on spoil tips and areas of manual rock-breaking, with sorted heaps of waste rock.
| Year | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1800s | Worked by individual named Old Brown. |
| 1850s | Become focus of attention of management of nearby Geufron, when that mine’s prospects had dwindled. Young’s Shaft sunk to 18 frm level, where Davies’ crosscut driven to meet a lode ‘compose of gossan, sulphur, blende, and back and yellow copper ore of very rich quality’. Pearces shaft sunk and 30 ft water wheel installed to pump Gwestyn and Geufron. |
| 1855 | Geufron abandoned. |
| 1857 | Ore prices so low, tributers could not be tempted to work. Pearce’s Shaft down to 28 fm level. |
| c 1858 | Both mines for sale. |
| 1872 | Revival as Pearce drives crosscuts from Gwestyn Brook to cut the lode. |
| 1874 | Lode described as ‘clay slate, lime spar, prian and spots of blende’, Mining soon ended. |
External Links
Publications (6)
- (1922); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XX - Lead and Zinc: Cardiganshire & West Montogmeryshire; 242 pages
- Foster-Smith, J. R.; NMRS (1978); British Mining; Mines of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, The
- Jones, J. A. & Moreton, N. J. M. (1977); Mines and Minerals of Mid-Wales, The
- Jones, Nigel and Walters, Mark and Frost, Pat (2004); Mountains and Orefields; 208 pages
- Jones, O. T. (1922); Lead and Zinc. The Mining District of North Cardiganshire and West Montgomeryshire
- Williams, C. J. & Bick, D. (1992); List of metalliferous mine sites of industrial archaeological importance
