First post of an explore, other than a 'hello' post once I registered.
If I've made any mistakes please let me know...
I stumbled across Ystrad Einon mine while on a family holiday last year & wasn't equipped to enter (plus I had the kids with me!) So this year me & the Mrs came back, fully prepared, and went for an explore. We are new to this, so we are not as adventurous as some others, but we went in & took some photos. (I'm also not as good with photographing underground yet either!)
A little history (taken from site records)
Ystrad Einon Copper mine worked a NE-SW lode which is unusual in mid-Wales and is largely restricted to the Dovey estuary. Development of the mine below adit level did not start until the late 19th century with the sinking of a winze to the 12 fathom level in 1871. A 16' diameter underground waterwheel was installed for pumping and lifting; this allowed the mine to be deepened by another 12 fathoms.
The mine continued to expand with a new engine shaft down to 30 fathoms and on the surface a 1.5 mile leat was constructed to bring water to a new 22.5 foot diameter waterwheel for pumping and winding and a smaller wheel for driving a stone breaker and crushing rolls. A third waterwheel drove two 20' diameter bubblers and a six compartment jigger.
Although the new plant was ready for use in 1877 full production didn't start till 1891 once the ore reserves had been established. The reserves were, however, to prove disappointing and by 1897 only 9 tons of lead ore, 10 tons of blende (zinc) and 45 tons of copper ore had been mined.
It's mentioned on many websites that there was a 'half hearted' attempt to provide good access to the mine site, this was never really completed & has suffered large amounts of over-growth due to lack of up-keep. However, the site still has the information board, footpaths & staircases that make identifying the mine easy enough.
The explore....
Information board:
Site condition:
Capped Shaft:
Looking down the shaft:
Looking into the upper adit - Upper Adit is fairly dry, but only leads to a collapse:
Lower Adit was almost welly deep at the entry, but dry after 40m - Some shots from within:
And this is what we really came to see:
This is one of only two underground waterwheels surviving and accessible at any abandoned mine in the UK, the other being at the base of Brewery Shaft a Nenthead in Cumbria
We both left very happy, especially to have seen the water wheel in the flesh!
Thanks
Rob
If I've made any mistakes please let me know...
I stumbled across Ystrad Einon mine while on a family holiday last year & wasn't equipped to enter (plus I had the kids with me!) So this year me & the Mrs came back, fully prepared, and went for an explore. We are new to this, so we are not as adventurous as some others, but we went in & took some photos. (I'm also not as good with photographing underground yet either!)
A little history (taken from site records)
Ystrad Einon Copper mine worked a NE-SW lode which is unusual in mid-Wales and is largely restricted to the Dovey estuary. Development of the mine below adit level did not start until the late 19th century with the sinking of a winze to the 12 fathom level in 1871. A 16' diameter underground waterwheel was installed for pumping and lifting; this allowed the mine to be deepened by another 12 fathoms.
The mine continued to expand with a new engine shaft down to 30 fathoms and on the surface a 1.5 mile leat was constructed to bring water to a new 22.5 foot diameter waterwheel for pumping and winding and a smaller wheel for driving a stone breaker and crushing rolls. A third waterwheel drove two 20' diameter bubblers and a six compartment jigger.
Although the new plant was ready for use in 1877 full production didn't start till 1891 once the ore reserves had been established. The reserves were, however, to prove disappointing and by 1897 only 9 tons of lead ore, 10 tons of blende (zinc) and 45 tons of copper ore had been mined.
It's mentioned on many websites that there was a 'half hearted' attempt to provide good access to the mine site, this was never really completed & has suffered large amounts of over-growth due to lack of up-keep. However, the site still has the information board, footpaths & staircases that make identifying the mine easy enough.
The explore....
Information board:
Site condition:
Capped Shaft:
Looking down the shaft:
Looking into the upper adit - Upper Adit is fairly dry, but only leads to a collapse:
Lower Adit was almost welly deep at the entry, but dry after 40m - Some shots from within:
And this is what we really came to see:
This is one of only two underground waterwheels surviving and accessible at any abandoned mine in the UK, the other being at the base of Brewery Shaft a Nenthead in Cumbria
We both left very happy, especially to have seen the water wheel in the flesh!
Thanks
Rob
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