Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Iron Ore Scours at Upper Race, Pontypool
Upper Cwmbran, Torfaen, Wales
A scheduled monument in Upper Cwmbran, Torfaen, recorded as Iron mine (Post Medieval/Modern).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Iron mine
- Period
- Post Medieval/Modern
- Date of designation
- 6 December 2001
- Community
- Upper Cwmbran
- Unitary authority
- Torfaen
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.68136, -3.05024
- SAM number
- MM256
- Cadw record number
- 3487
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesBayerische Staatsbibliothek, MunichDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1588 map "Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0" (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1588 · Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0 (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich)
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1906 · 249 Newport (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1913 · Sheet 102. Newport. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument consists of extraction features, excavations made in the earth for the purpose of digging out metallic ores. The process of scouring used flowing water released from dammed water courses to expose ores. This area has been used for the extraction of iron ore since the 16th century, under the Hanbury family. The place name Upper Race derives from scouring activities on the site. The excavations form a deep scar down the hillside, supplied with water via extensive watercourses, holding ponds and hushing dams. The main scour contains smaller scours and dams, levels, small pits, and spoil heaps. The whole landscape has remained almost unaltered since at least the 1870s.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of mineral extraction practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Barn at Capel-llwydNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Capel-llwydDomesticunder 1 mi
- The MountDomesticunder 1 mi
- Ty William Ambrose Farm (aka Hanbury Farm)Agriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.