Vale of Conwy Lead Mine

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The monument comprises the consolidated remains of a small and well-preserved nineteenth-century lead mine within the historically important Gwydir Forest mining area. Mining on this site was recorded in 1806, but the Vale of Conway venture was established in 1876, bringing earlier workings into one operation. The mine was worked sporadically until 1886 and was subsequently incorporated into the Hafna mining lease in 1899.

The remains evident on the site include a roofless ore crusher house with an adjoining E-W aligned waterwheel pit on the north elevation. To the east are a walled dressing floor and a round buddle, for washing and concentrating the crushed ore ready for smelting. These structures are the earliest preserved remains on the site and date to 1876-7. Slightly further east, and possibly later in date, are two rectangular settling tanks, which were also part of the same refining process. To the north of the dressing floor are the ruinous remains of a small building, which may have been an office or open-ended store.

These nationally important, well-preserved remains have the potential to enhance our knowledge and understanding of lead mining technology in the mid-late 19th Century. The scheduled area retains significant archaeological and architectural evidence relating to the construction, use and abandonment of the site. The importance of the site is further enhanced by its group value with Hafna Lead Mine Mill (CN326) to the north and other associated features - adits, shafts, tramroad routes and an ore bin, distributed across the surrounding area.

The scheduled area is rectangular in plan, measuring approximately 52m WNW to ESE by 40m transversely and centred on NGR 278002, 359856, comprising the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.