MetalLinks
13 years ago
The Metal Links project have uploaded some video footage of an underground expedition at Cwmystwyth in the 1990s to their YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/MetalLinksProject). The footage, with Welsh commentary, is from a film called 'Llwybr Tadgu' by Alun Jenkins. Alun has kindly allowed us to edit the underground mine exploration & make it available to the public; we are very grateful to him for this.
We hope you enjoy it!
kitt
  • kitt
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13 years ago
great bits of film, its a real shame that mines off limits at the moment. also like the SRT :thumbsup:
Graigfawr
13 years ago
Mid or late 1990s as I recall. Some very familiar faces! I wasn't on the filming trip but did lend some equipment - strange to see my helmet worn by someone else, a bit like looking at the back of your own head!

@ Kitt: no SRT is shown; in part 3 around 2.00, Ivor Richards was using a hand jammer for extra grip on the handline. Eleswhere, life lines were used for less experienced members of the party.

The set of four videos chronicle entry into Level Fawr, a look at the area around the Incline, a circular trip into the lower east stopes via the lowermost ladder and the 'Bell Chamber', a look along Mitchell's East Drivage, ascent of the Incline and into the Graig Fawr Stope, ascent of the long handline up the footwall of the Graig Fawr Stope and up a long rubble slope, followed by a further handline to the topmost Graigfawr Stope to see a well-preserved wheelbarrow, descent back down the upper handline and rubble slope, a short laddder up into the northern end of the Roman Level, along the Roman Level Crosscut, and along the Roman Level East Drivage, descent via a short ladder at the mid point of the Roman Level Crosscut into a stope and descent down rubble slopes back to the top of the Incline, and decent of the Incline to Level Fawr.
markc
  • markc
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13 years ago
Great video's, the welsh soundtrack adds a bit of mystery. Shame I can't understand anything that is being said 😢
Must get me a new sports jacket & trousers before my next explore. Keeping up apearances & all that :thumbup:
Wyn
  • Wyn
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13 years ago
Fantastic! Thanks for that.
I used to go to Cwmystwyth quite often, I hope the access issue is resolved eventually. This will just have to do for now.....
walsh
  • walsh
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13 years ago
Thanks for sharing, enjoyed that!
Rheidol United
13 years ago
Great film - good thing I can speak Welsh!
A real pain that the adits are all gated at the moment: :curse:
Graigfawr
13 years ago
"Rheidol United" wrote:

... the adits are all gated at the moment...



Not gated (which implies access might readily become available) but grilled (which means that if access becomes available then the grilles will have to be repaced with gates). However, we live in hope that the excellent Mr.Fellowes' efforts to secure access will bear fruit. I see that he will be making a presentation on precisely this subject at the Ceredigion Mines Forum on 25 April. The Welsh Mines Society newsletter editor, Dave Linton, usually attends the Forum, so we can anticipate an update in the next WMS newsletter and quite possibly an update from Roy himself on aditnow and on mine-explorer as he is very concientious in keeping the mine exploration community updated on projects he is involved in.
Rheidol United
13 years ago
Great! Thanks for the info.
MetalLinks
13 years ago
Thanks for the good feedback - glad you are all enjoying the video!

As we mentioned in the original post, it was filmed 15-20 years ago, prior to access being prohibited. Part of the reason for uploading it was to enable those not fortunate enough to have been into the mines when they were accessible the chance to see the underground surroundings of Cwmystwyth.

Also, just to note that the 2012 Ceredigion Mines Forum Meeting (held at the Cwmrheidol Visitor Centre) is on Saturday *28th* April, 9:30 - 16:45.

Disclaimer: Mine exploring can be quite dangerous, but then again it can be alright, it all depends on the weather. Please read the proper disclaimer.
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