Hi All

Went to Henfwlch yesterday for a mooch around, in the forest near the mine are the remains of what looks like a smelt house, with two chimneys. In the area directly in front of the chimneys are some concentrically arrange square blocks, I am fairly certain I have seen something similar at another site and know what these are for, but for the life of me I cannot remember what they are for.

Does anybody know what the blocks are for, they are laid out in a square pattern approximately a metre apart from each other (see photo).

I am sure they had something to do with the casting of ingots but cannot be sure.

https://flic.kr/p/DPBX48 

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Hi Steve

I believe that a bit of defoliating may uncover holding down bolts for machine mounting on some of them, others are supports for timber uprights in the original building.

The dressing area would greatly benefit archaeological excavation. If you go back, look at the point on the right of your photograph about midway up. There you will find a sort of drain taking water. This emerges in the gulley over on the right looking up from the road, so there must be a culvert. If excavated it would be an interesting feature.
I doubt that the buildings would have been used for smelting, other than on site assaying. Ore was seldom smelted on site, the produce of the mines being sold as concentrates.

Chimneys could have been for a smithy, assaying as mentioned, or maybe just a fire to keep warm in winter, we all know what it can be like around there.

The underground is interesting in the the upper part of the main stope where the barrow is completely devoid of mineralisation. This suggests to me the eyes being picked out as they say, obviously the ease of access would invite the removal of the very last bit of ore.

Its a lovely little site and I greatly look forward to being present if any archaeological work is ever done in the future.

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We noticed Roy that in the recent storms there as been some tree felling near the adit, it appears that a tree higher up the hill as come down causing a cascade of about 10 more trees to fall heading down dip right towards the adit. Although the adit is clear one tree fell just to the left of the entrance, parallel to the adit tunnel and crosses over the drain onto the path.

It is quite easy to climb over the downed trees but there are still a few just uphill of the entrance that have only partially come down and are balanced on the other upright trees.

It really could do with a chainsaw and a day chopping up the downed trees, they missed the buildings by about 10 feet.

I should have my pictures up sometime tomorrow.

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They have been like that for some time. The site could do with a little loving care and attention. Thing is, its the property of NRW and also on the CAL underground access schedule.

It would be nice if at some time in the future working with WMPT and with permission of NRW some clearance and archaeological work could be done.

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Be careful working near windblown hung up trees....

Lozz.

The concrete squares are foundation pads for early twentieth century timber and corrugated galvanised steel sheet buildings - stores, workshop, office, etc. The chimneys appear to be for a smithy and an office. There is no evidence that smelting was contemplated on site.

Thanks for the info guys, understand the site a bit better now.

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Have always been fond of Henfwlch but oddly have never been underground there.

Have always been fond of Henfwlch but oddly have never been underground there.

Done comfortably in thigh waders, and don't tell me as a fisherman you don't have any!
;D

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I have indeed! Chesties, in fact!

I did it in boots with wet socks water was just above knee deep, dries out after anout 100 yards

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