Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Llywernog Lead and Silver Mine

A Scheduled Monument in Blaenrheidol, Ceredigion

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.4124 / 52°24'44"N

Longitude: -3.8656 / 3°51'56"W

OS Eastings: 273205

OS Northings: 281016

OS Grid: SN732810

Mapcode National: GBR 91.P4X4

Mapcode Global: VH4FG.YM8H

Entry Name: Llywernog Lead and Silver Mine

Scheduled Date: 22 June 1995

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 1413

Cadw Legacy ID: CD158

Schedule Class: Industrial

Category: Silver mine

Period: Post Medieval/Modern

County: Ceredigion

Community: Blaenrheidol

Traditional County: Cardiganshire

Description

The monument consists of a silver mine. Llywernog Lead and Silver Mine (alias Poole's Llywernog) was operated by Lewis Morris as an open cut in 1744, though there were said then to be ancient workings on the site. Around 1810 the mine was worked by William Poole and during the nineteenth century it passed through the hands of several owners. It was further developed in the 1860s and 1870s by the Llywernog Mining Company, then fell into decline. The last exploitation was c.1907-10 after which it fell derelict. It was established as a museum of lead mining by Peter Lloyd Harvey from 1974 and many features have since been restored or reconstructed. Remaining features include a circular stone powder store with corbelled roof, a waterwheel winding pit dating from 1865 and Engine Shaft which it served, and a stone-lined gulley for pumping rods to another waterwheel pit and bob pit to the south. The headframe above the shaft is a reconstruction. From the shaft, covered stopes follow the vein to west and east and are accessible by a drift from the south. The separate eastern area contains a rock cut shaft and Balcombe's Level. The first 15m of the level have been reconstructed.

The monument is a well preserved group of scarce lead mine features. It is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of mining practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. There is important group value with the offices, crusher house, ore dressing shed and southerly wheelpit, which are Listed.

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

Source: Cadw

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.