Hello i have just found this site while digging up information about manganese mines in Cwm Nantcol,i have been in the mineral extraction and prossesing industries since i was 21 ,sorry i still am as i run an Asphalt plant on the Wirral still only 5years 6 months left,but it was the photos of the Hendre Spar Mine photos which took me back 38 years i worked ther for a year under ground with Old Bill Les Williams from Cilcain ,with Tom, Bills brother and 2 other,s,the mine was owned by Lloyds with Martin and Jack the owners ,Martin still ownes a mineral yard in the other spar mine in Cilcain which was part of the same mine vein?any way i am not sure how long the mine continued after i left ,due to near killing myself in a car accident,and i never went back ,so i probably was one of the last people to use the emico ? loadind shovel , i have a big passion for photography in North Wales (gods country)and have always tried finding mineral sites ,mostly Quarries but also link it to my strong interest in old maps 1850 to 1930,s to find any historical sites Copper Gold ect ,any way i hope to follow your forums regarding many interesting places ect ,thanks Barrie :