Hi all,

I have been looking at the plans for Parc Lead mine but I'm having some trouble working out what is going on. they are very well drawn but it could do with a key, I therefore have a few questions:

- I guess the colours represent the floors, which ones are which floor. I think green is 2 and blue is 3.
- What do the numbers mean?
- Where abouts is the lvel 2 adit on the map? I think it is where it says 310 but I'm not completely sure.

I have visited before but I did not wander much further than experiment room and past of couple of the ore chutes.

Hi all,

I have been looking at the plans for Parc Lead mine but I'm having some trouble working out what is going on. they are very well drawn but it could do with a key, I therefore have a few questions:

- I guess the colours represent the floors, which ones are which floor. I think green is 2 and blue is 3.
- What do the numbers mean?
- Where abouts is the lvel 2 adit on the map? I think it is where it says 310 but I'm not completely sure.

I have visited before but I did not wander much further than experiment room and past of couple of the ore chutes.

It would help to know which map you are looking at.

It is a very large map with on a grid wwith measurements on the X and Y axis. Im not sure of the author.

Hmmm doesn’t really help much. Why not upload a copy of it and we can help you out.

I have never used a map in there, it is only one very long adit with one ladderway down at the end. You can poke around up in the stopes in places, but that's it for the way on from Exp Rm. There is also a way down from Exp Rm, ladderway obvious.

... That’s OK then. As for myself there’s was the decent around the beginning to a scary area, some accent around the middle with a muddle of dodgy ladders (with a f&&king great wooden shaft), some potential decents along the way that were so numerouse I fell asleep. And as you mention somewhere towards the end, a decent. Oh! Im sure I saw a divertor shute along there as well before reaching the gap of oblivion where so many explorers have ventured, it now smells... as you say, just one long adit.

;)

... That’s OK then. As for myself there’s was the decent around the beginning to a scary area, some accent around the middle with a muddle of dodgy ladders (with a f&&king great wooden shaft), some potential decents along the way that were so numerouse I fell asleep. And as you mention somewhere towards the end, a decent. Oh! Im sure I saw a divertor shute along there as well before reaching the gap of oblivion where so many explorers have ventured, it now smells... as you say, just one long adit.

;)

Haha, savage!

I can navigate fine without a map but it is nice to know what I may or have missed bits of the mine that I cant get to.

I have only ventured in once a little bit around level 2 along the tramway and in the tidal experiment area.

I have posted the photos on the Parc album but they do not show the full quality. I tried to use a PDF converter and upload them as a file but that also butchered the quality.

There are a number of plans available. The best are in the book Mines of the Gwydyr Forest Part 3 which deals with Parc. Also, the British Geological Survey website has links to a number of older ones. But by far the best way to find your way around safely is to tag along with a group who are familiar with the place.

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I can navigate fine without a map but it is nice to know what I may or have missed bits of the mine that I cant get to.

I have only ventured in once a little bit around level 2 along the tramway and in the tidal experiment area.

I have posted the photos on the Parc album but they do not show the full quality. I tried to use a PDF converter and upload them as a file but that also butchered the quality.

Thanks for uploading those. On your map, blue is Level 3 and green is Level 2, those levels are all you need to worry about.

Nice map that. Where did you find it?
I can't read the numbers on it so don't know what 310 refers to. But No. 4 Level is shown in the book as 318ft above sea level. Could you be misreading 318?

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They are available on the files section of this facebook group. The full resolution Parc plans are plans 1+2.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/403467143451765/files/ 

It is mostly coal mine plans but there is some people on there who have a good collection of maps from other mines.

They are available on the files section of this facebook group. The full resolution Parc plans are plans 1+2.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/403467143451765/files/ 

It is mostly coal mine plans but there is some people on there who have a good collection of maps from other mines.

Dont do facebook, Log in, no do, goodbye.

Try my "Parc lead Mine Explorations", its a bit 'Boys Own' written many years ago when I was a lot younger, but still a good guide and possibly entertaining.

Parc has 3 main route ladderways. What I call "East Winze" because its on the eastern end near the lab, reaches no 3 outbye of the fall on the Gorlan Lode.

The ladder up to Llanrwst

And the "Western Winze" down to no 3 inbye of the fall on the Gorlan Lode, this fall effectively splits the no 3 into two sections.
Western Winze is route through deep water to western Cwffty.

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I have read through your write up a couple of times and it sounds like you had a real adventure down there and must know the place pretty well by now. It does get to a point where I get lost when trying to follow it on the map.

I did see the Eastern ladderway, is this the one with the bottom ladder missing? Also along level 2 I noticed the Ore chutes dropping down on the right hand side with wood across are these the full width of the level or just on the right hand side?

I will probably never see most of the place as my rope skills are no more than clipping on to a safety line and short drops with an electron ladder like at Moel fferna. A fear of heights also will most likely see me never learn.

I'm heading into North Wales for a few days next week, so I think a revisit is on the cards and will venture a bit further in next time.

I did see the Eastern ladderway, is this the one with the bottom ladder missing?

Yes, you need SRT for that and finally the short vertical with the black rope into and ore shute

Also along level 2 I noticed the Ore chutes dropping down on the right hand side with wood across are these the full width of the level or just on the right hand side?

Initially yes, so keep left. Further in they right the full width but fixed aids are in situ to safely cross them. The place isn't too bad, just keep your wits about you.

When you get to Llanrwst Mine, the ladder up will take to Endeans Shaft, the shaft you are climbing up is New Shaft. Towards the end of Parc 3 are 3 thrutches, beyond that is interesting and at the very end a climb up to eastern Cwffty. There is quite alot you can do without SRT, but be careful and watch where you tread

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I went into Parc for a couple hours today on my way to Blaenau for a few days. Thanks Roy for the advice.

I'm suprised at how little has actually collapsed, the vast majority of it seems to be wooden ore chutes giving up and ending up in a pile on the floor. I had a little walk past the eastern winze but it looks like there was some collapses further up so I went back.

I continued on down level 2 back past the junction and along the level. It is a big suprise how many ore chutes there are down to level 3, at some point there must have been one every few yards. Eventually I can to a passage off to the right which came out on a stope, the tramway continued on behind the stope coming out on the other side.

There was a junction where one tunnel was bricked up (near a drum and gate on the floor) does anyone know what this is for?

The was another junction as well underneath some timbering which went off to the left for some distance. As I was alone and it looked a bit on stable I elected to stay on the main level.

I ended my trip just past the base of a mine cart where it became muddy. I wasn't sure if there was any false floors underneath so I returned to the exit.

Big mine.
I will come back on this as I feel a bit off just now.

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There are 123 ore chutes (or Cousin Jacks, as we call them in Cornwall) on that level, not including the ones that may be down the side adit that has collapsed.

I m back
I am not very well but trying to stay on my feet.

False floors on no 3.
There is the obvious when you go onto Principal Lode as you come in, see the hole in the floor through the concrete. The major expanse of no 3 is devoid of any more bar the concealed ore chutes or winzes on the right. The story of the level hanging on chains is nonsense. The chains support cross rails above a quartz bed which would have pounded under the ore trucks.

Towards the end there are big holes, some covered by fallen timber, great care is needed, but I dont think there is anything you cant see if you look carefully.
Having said all of this the big holes further in do look scary.
Also keep the red water away from your skin and SRT gear, its sulphuric acid.

Parc is Parc.

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There was a junction where one tunnel was bricked up (near a drum and gate on the floor) does anyone know what this is for?

I think it is a bang store. Lockable level with a small stash available outside.

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