Ceiriog Valley Slate Mines · AditNow Community

merddinemrys
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Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

Has anybody explored the slate mines of the Ceiriog Valley near Chirk? I've seen mention of a tourist mine called Chwarel Wynne but they don't seem to have a website. Also legend has it that there are two steam locomotives sealed up in a mine in the valley here - might not be a slate mine but definitely one of the ones connected to the Glyn Valley Tramway.

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#2

No, I don't really know of any? What kind of slate is it?

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

#3

No idea! They're immediately south of Moel Fferna but I don't think they're in the same slate vein.

LAP
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Newbie

18 years ago

#4

How far south??

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

#5

Literally in the next valley. Wynne Quarry is here: http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.93246&lon=-3.191804&z=16.8&r=0&src=msl

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#6

interesting...

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#7

I believe the Wynne Quarry ceased being open to the general public some years ago. However they did continue to accept party visits from schools and the like, don't know if they still do though. I did visit Wynne (a couple of times) when it was open.

I have been told about ONE steam loco being still underground. From a drawing that was done it would appear to be a Bagnall (the person concerned isn't too up on loco types). Certainly Cambrian did have a Bagnall. It is located somewhere in the Cambrian Slate Quarry and apparantly you either have to swim or use a boat to get to it. I don't know anymore than that.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

18 years ago

#8

Hmmm, this I would like to see... Presumably this is the place in question?

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/mines/Cambrian-Slate-Mine-2/

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#9

Yes, that looks about right. From memory (book not to hand) there is a reasonable write up in Slate Quarrise of North & Mids Wales Regions (doesn't mention a loco though!).

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#10

Have you invested in a puncture repair kit yet Simon? Maybe that should be compulsory for any further water borne expeditions!

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

18 years ago

#11

Plenty of spare dinghies in the garage, waiting their turn 🙂

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

johnnym
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#12

I've seen this place (at least, I think I have...). It's on private land, right next to the owner's house. I spoke to him years ago, when I and a mate were investigating all and any rock outcrops with a view to climbing on them. There is an easily accessible large open entrance, with a pool just inside. As I remember, he has (or had) his own boat, but I wasn't aware that there was a tunnel beyond the pool. If you're down that way, try dropping by and see if he'll accept a small organised party sometime. He seemed pretty friendly, unless you're a squirrel.

Then again, this may not be the place you're discussing. I don't think it's close enough to the tramway to have any locos inside. But there's definitely a cavernous quarry entrance with a pool.

Cheers,
JohnnyM.

Pain is temporary. Glory is forever. And chicks dig scars...

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#13

It is quite a few years since I went to this mine (eek, just counted it up - 15 years! god I am getting old!) I never actually went inside. All I can remember about it is that you had to walk up a dirt road and the entrance was clearly visible from the dirt road. The firts few feet of the entrance was made from large concrete pipes (guessing at about 4 feet diameter) these extended for between 10 & 15 feet There were also pits further up the dirt road but we didn't explore those at all.

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#14

On a topic known as "Silurian Blue Slate Mines" - I hear that cambrian has underground chambers, though flooded...

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#15

"simonrl" wrote:
Plenty of spare dinghies in the garage, waiting their turn :)

If the same thing is going to happen to that at Diffwys, then no!

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

merddinemrys
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

#16

Oh it all adds to the fun! The dinghy I was in on the Croesor - Rhosydd Through Trip sank completely and I swam the last few yards.

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#17

Perhaps trips with dinghies should be called Welsh Roulette!

LAP
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Newbie

18 years ago

#18

"merddinemrys" wrote:
Oh it all adds to the fun! The dinghy I was in on the Croesor - Rhosydd Through Trip sank completely and I swam the last few yards.

Unlucky, bit ironic as well - poor u!!
I've never actually had the pleasure of falling into water underground!!

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#19

No comment on the dinghy bit - not my style!

Re the Ceiriog mines though, John Milner is writing a book on the various quarrie and mines of the Ceiriog valley - was supposed to be published end of 2006, but havn't heard anything yet.

I've still got my old draft of a history/guidebook for Wynne (includes some on cambrian) from when Wynne was a show mine. John Milner says it's inaccurate (!) but it might be of interest. I also have some plans and sections.

I'll post some stuff on ME when I get a minute.

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#20

It was a pity Wynne closed really. Small, but still interesting.