Crossroads Levels, Cwmystwyth · AditNow Community

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Grout1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Just a caution to anyone planning to do the through trip between the Crossroads/Top adits in the vicinity off Taylor's shaft.

On our visit last Saturday, the Top exit was temporarily blocked at the corner just inside of the squeeze by a number of laptop sized slabs neatly closing the opening. These had fallen from the friable rock in the roof and were removed, but we had to carefully pass a larger slab perched beside the corner.

If this decides to move whilst someone is exiting:
a) it might hurt
b) the rest of the party may have to reverse the route and possibly miss the pub whilst they extricate their companion
Or
c)you might live with the guilt of leaving your mate stuck, whilst you sneak off to the pub for a quick one before calling CR.

Roy is aware, but he obviously has his hands full at present with his main construction project. So tread carefully.

Alan SCMC

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Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Thanks for the news.

There have been periodic slips of blocks at this location previously but this fall sounds significantly larger.

The exit / entrance crawl is actually above the masonry entrance arch and enters the roof of the level through the void between where the inner end of the arch ends and decent solid rock begins. The inner end of the arch used to be just visible in the floor of the crawl about half way through the crawl when looking outwards. It was visible down low, just outwards of the awkward dog-leg in the crawl.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

"Graigfawr" wrote:
Thanks for the news.

There have been periodic slips of blocks at this location previously but this fall sounds significantly larger.

The exit / entrance crawl is actually above the masonry entrance arch and enters the roof of the level through the void between where the inner end of the arch ends and decent solid rock begins. The inner end of the arch used to be just visible in the floor of the crawl about half way through the crawl when looking outwards. It was visible down low, just outwards of the awkward dog-leg in the crawl.

Do you think that it would be a good idea to dig out (subject to SAM approval) the entrance proper, and repair the broken roof?

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Grout1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Roy

Digging out would be sensible in long term, but it might need a little thought as the rock is heavily contorted beside the dog leg. If it was possible to align an Armco type tube with the original archway then the digging might run between the vertical stonework if it is still insitu.

An alternative might be to drop in in vertically directly above the dog leg.

Or just clean it all up a bit and hope it stays put.

Perhaps we should take a few measurements in the meantime to see what is involved.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

There is a plastic tube coming out of Lefel Fawr eventually. However I was planning on putting it into Wilkinsons Level at Talybont to replace Simon H's now rusting drum.

Any thoughts anyone?

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Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Top Adit is relatively close to the road, is perfectly dry, and leads to Taylor's Shaft.

The existing crawl probably dissuades casual entry which is probably a good thing in view of the shaft and some of the workings that it leads to.

I fear that if entry was made easy, then it might induce inexperienced people into the level. For this reason, I suggest that there may be merit in ensuring that the entry continues to be visually off-putting to casual entry.

Might we worth keeping in mind when designing possible changes to this level portal?

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Sounds like a leave as is, but make safe.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Owt
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Is it rigged for a through trip at the moment? (I have not been there for a couple of years).

Grout1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Yep rigged either way, but beware rub points on pitch up from lower entrance.

I believe some of the ropes were put in during the last couple of years.
They were fine back in April, but I would suggest any trip through should be undertaken after checking the top entrance condition and on the basis of possibly having to reverse trip.

Definitely worth it for a view up Taylor's shaft

Owt
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#10

Thank you! :thumbsup:

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#11

I will have a chat on Monday about the top adit, G1 is helping me get steel into Lefel Fawr.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Owt
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#12

"royfellows" wrote:
I will have a chat on Monday about the top adit, G1 is helping me get steel into Lefel Fawr.

Thanks Roy. I am sorry that I am not free to help on Monday.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#13

"Grout1" wrote:

Definitely worth it for a view up Taylor's shaft

Be aware that the rubble you stand on to look vertically up the shaft is piled up on a timber staging across the shaft with a couple of hundred feet of water beneath the staging. There is a tremendous weight of rubble on the timbers and they will not support the weight indefinitely.

Grout1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

6 years ago

#14

Has anyone seen or know of a survey for this area of the Cwmystwyth mines? There appears to be a mixture of original and more modern survey marks. just wonderered if NMMC or AberCC had a drawn up survey.

Also of interest was the standing water in Taylor's shaft. The debris that lies a metre or so below the lower level intersection still seemed to be present, but it was flooded almost back to the level horizon.

I have never seen a pool of water here before and there had been a few dry days prior to visit.

Wyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#15

I remember seeing a hand drawn plan and section on this area, with written notes in two sets of handwriting. It was dated about 1984. It was online a few years ago, I think it may have originated from AberCC.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#16

You are correct, I have it in front of me, its dated 1981. But dont feel inclined to put it on line due to possible copyright.

It was given me some time ago by Simon H who drew it and who I have not seen for some time now.

Suggest contact Simon direct.

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