History
Aberdare No1 Level Iron Mine was opened in the 1790's probably By Capel Hanbury or his offspring to feed one of the many family owned Ironworks in and around Pontypool at that time.
The Hanbury family lived in what was to become Pontypool Park, and around this the town grew. Much of the town's history comes from this family of industrial pioneers. The Napoleonic Wars were kind to the Hanburys, with increased prosperity due to the demand for munitions and armaments made from Welsh Iron.
The mine extends below the now disused Penyrhoel resevoior which was opened in 1914 by the Pontypool Gas & Water Company after the mine closed. Some concrete reinforcing of the mine took place in 1909 to stop water draining out of the reservior and the mines air shaft was extended by a brick lined chimney which rose above the of the surface of the reservoir. The reservoir was eventually closed in the early seventies due to continued leakage into the mine and several drownings over the years.
The mine and its workings are spread over some 800m of tunnels, drifts and connecting passages. Entry is via a small hillside adit some 4ft in height. Iron small gauge rails run almost the whole main passage only ceasing some 50m from the end working.
There is also now serious de-lamination at the end workings and very low oxygen levels in places.
First visited six years ago and this visit this year occured when the locals were amenable (i.e. nobody around). Only covered to the air shaft junction due to a dramatic fall in oxygen akin to something on a Pointless countdown. Discretion being the better part of valour (I was on my own !), I decided to call it a day at this point. If visiting, please be aware that this mine always had low oxygen levels in the end workings but there were noticeable drops in O2 from100 yards in from the adit entrance this time. Whether this was due to the weather or the lack of movement on the mine floor (which certainly moved as I waded through), I don't know. But be warned and don't go in unprepared !
1. Inside looking out
2. Bricks and mortar
3. Collapsed working
4. Drive and drainage
5. Rings and things
6. Pipe
7. Twist
8. Stone, conctrete and water
9. Red
10. Junction
11. Beyond
To be completed at some time in the future, hopefully not 6 years !
Thanks for looking.
Aberdare No1 Level Iron Mine was opened in the 1790's probably By Capel Hanbury or his offspring to feed one of the many family owned Ironworks in and around Pontypool at that time.
The Hanbury family lived in what was to become Pontypool Park, and around this the town grew. Much of the town's history comes from this family of industrial pioneers. The Napoleonic Wars were kind to the Hanburys, with increased prosperity due to the demand for munitions and armaments made from Welsh Iron.
The mine extends below the now disused Penyrhoel resevoior which was opened in 1914 by the Pontypool Gas & Water Company after the mine closed. Some concrete reinforcing of the mine took place in 1909 to stop water draining out of the reservior and the mines air shaft was extended by a brick lined chimney which rose above the of the surface of the reservoir. The reservoir was eventually closed in the early seventies due to continued leakage into the mine and several drownings over the years.
The mine and its workings are spread over some 800m of tunnels, drifts and connecting passages. Entry is via a small hillside adit some 4ft in height. Iron small gauge rails run almost the whole main passage only ceasing some 50m from the end working.
There is also now serious de-lamination at the end workings and very low oxygen levels in places.
First visited six years ago and this visit this year occured when the locals were amenable (i.e. nobody around). Only covered to the air shaft junction due to a dramatic fall in oxygen akin to something on a Pointless countdown. Discretion being the better part of valour (I was on my own !), I decided to call it a day at this point. If visiting, please be aware that this mine always had low oxygen levels in the end workings but there were noticeable drops in O2 from100 yards in from the adit entrance this time. Whether this was due to the weather or the lack of movement on the mine floor (which certainly moved as I waded through), I don't know. But be warned and don't go in unprepared !
1. Inside looking out
2. Bricks and mortar
3. Collapsed working
4. Drive and drainage
5. Rings and things
6. Pipe
7. Twist
8. Stone, conctrete and water
9. Red
10. Junction
11. Beyond
To be completed at some time in the future, hopefully not 6 years !
Thanks for looking.