Fron Boeth Tunnel - digging? · AditNow Community

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Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

The Fron-Boeth tunnel was built to connect the Pant Mawr and Fron-Boeth workings to the Croesor tramway and, at around 500m, is the longest tunnel in the Welsh Slate industry that doesn't form part of an actual mine.

It was built to remove the need to uphaul material over the ridge and down a double pitch incline on the other side. I'm not sure of the date of construction, but it would appear to be in the 1890s?

🔗Fron-boeth-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-003[linkphoto]Fron-boeth-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-003[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Fron-boeth-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-004[linkphoto]Fron-boeth-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-004[/linkphoto][/link]

It seems that someone has, in the past, been trying to dig it out and remake the connection - can anyone cast any light on this?!

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

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turbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

hi its not one of my projects but would like to see this tunnel where is the adit to it please

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

Hi Turbo,

There are two adits:

SH647446 is the grid ref quoted in the Gazetteer - Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=264750&y=344650&z=0&sv=SH647446&st=5&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf but you will have to zoom out a bit before the map becomes visible.

Unless I'm a little lost, it's here: http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.982223&lon=-4.018177&z=18.1&r=0&src=msl

The other adit is somewhere around here: http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.985859&lon=-4.022188&z=17.2&r=0&src=msl although it's rather in the shadows. Guess at Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=264362&y=345063&z=115&sv=264362,345063&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=767&ax=264362&ay=345063&lm=0 - again, you'll have to zoom out to see it.

Looks like there has been digging from both sides, with tools left in both places. I've only been into the tunnel on the Croesor side without a light, so I didn't go far into the excavations!

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Not me, mid Wales my patch.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

turbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

ok thanks i will go try find it soon and probably get lost again. :thumbsup:

turbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

went up today to have a look and the work looks like its not recent . had a look both ends of tunnel hell of a walk uphill , but nice views off the top

hymac580c
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

If I remember correctly a few lads had a go at digging the tunnel about 8 to 10 years ago. But I can't remember the details. Harold Morris would know.

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

turbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

may have a go at opening it up but looking how much they moved so far , there may a lot more to pull out of the collapse . even thou its only clay and rock as in s.f in cwm.

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

How much of the tunnel is still filled?

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

16 years ago

#10

A very good question, Vanoord?

From the Croesor side the collapse is very close to the entrance, but a considerable distance in from the other direction.

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

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#11

The tunnel is - according to the Gazetteer - 500m long, which suggests that there's just the one collapse.

I suspect that even if there was an exact measurement for the tunnel, it would be difficult to estimate the distance that is collapsed unless you could be absolutely confident about the measurements - eg it could be possible to get within 5m, but it it were a case of the collapse being 3m or 8m, it's a lot of difference!

I would, perhaps, be surprised if the collapse is longer than, say 15m, of which some has already been removed.

The trouble is that there's no assurance that clearing the collapse wouldn't result in more coming down from above, potentially with very dangerous consequences. Conversely, it could be like the Cwmorthin smoke flue, where it could be relatively easily bypassed.

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

16 years ago

#12

"Vanoord" wrote:
The trouble is that there's no assurance that clearing the collapse wouldn't result in more coming down from above, potentially with very dangerous consequences. Conversely, it could be like the Cwmorthin smoke flue, where it could be relatively easily bypassed.

A dig then 😉

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

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#13

Thanks Gentlemen, MemoryMap track comes out at about 450 metres if that's any use.

turbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#14

going up weekend to measure from adit to collapse and may start work to clear it .

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#15

Will post a 25" OS extract as soon as I can scan it.

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

ladder monkey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#16

This a total long shot/off topic but in 1973/74 my dad was involved in the WHR on a workweek end in the valley below this mine ,lifting the track from the Croeser tramway and there was a youngish bloke(30ish)who been thru this tunnel the previous day saying it was passable with a lot crawling ,but the passage of has had it,s affect.
p.s. I was only 10 at the time

just blundering about

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#17

Lo - the map, somewhat in haste, havn't added a scale!

Cheers

Grahami

🔗Fron-boeth-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-35540[linkphoto]Fron-boeth-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-35540[/linkphoto][/link]

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#18

Thank you Graham :)

I suspect that's not an entirely correct line for the tunnel! If I recall correctly, the tunnel has a curve to the right (heading outwards) as you walk through towards the Croesor valley - that's reflected in the curve that's visible on the OS map.

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#19

If the curve you mention was of short length, then it (probably) wouldn't show up on the OS ?

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#20

Yes, it's relatively short and - iirc - only curved at the north end.

I'd presume that OS mappers didn't venture underground! 😉

Hello again darkness, my old friend...