Incline Haulage Winding Engine, Mynydd Bedwellty

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of incline haulage gear, dating to the 19th century. The winding gear stands halfway up the side of the Sirhowy Valley, above Bedwellty Pits at the top of a disused tramroad, and on the lip of an old quarry. The site consists of two stone-built piers, 2m across and 1.5m deep, each supporting a cast iron square sectioned axle with cast iron and wood drum wheels. The axles are supported on iron plates bolted onto the top of the walls. The system was built around 1850, was self-acting and was used to lower quarried stone down the incline to Bedwellty pits yard. The site has recently been restored.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 18th and 19th century industrial and transportation practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. A drumhouse may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.