Does anyone know where I can get a survey of the manganese mines at Nant Gadwen?

Are these the manganese mines near Aberdarron? Or are they different ones.

cheers
LAP

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Hi LAP
Yes these are the mines at porth Ysgo just east of Aberdaron.
Anne

Hi;
Well we stayed in a Holiday Place/house there called Tryfan near the mines; and the woman who was the owner - let us see some litereture on the mines. Im sorry I cant remember much about what there was. 😞

cheers;

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Oh well, never mind. Thanks anyway,At least it is a lead if I dont find anything else. i take it you didnt explore them yourself?

Im not sure on whether the mine I visited was the one you,re interested in, but I did take a few looks at a manganese mine near to the Beach at more or less the same location as "tryfan". The site had quite a lot to offer, including several adits, one of which lead to a large stoped out area, the bottom of which was flooded. Further up the hillside there is also a large crater which appears to lead off more or less vertically in two directions, presumably going to sea level. Externally there is an incline, presumably used for tipping.

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Hi Anne

Hopefully member davel will be reading this; he is probably the best person to answer your question.

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There is quite a lot of info on the Mine Explorer website including photos maps and other info.

There is quite a lot of info on the Mine Explorer website including photos maps and other info.

There could be some here too if anybody would upload some :flowers: :flowers:

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grrr..!!!
I wish I had taken some whilst there, but I was about 11 at the time...
I personally didnt go very far inside, but my Grandad who was with me at the same time did; and reported back to the rest of us with news of a stope leading down to a large flooded chamber. Or an underground lake as he called it.

regards

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Does anyone know where I can get a survey of the manganese mines at Nant Gadwen?

There is a survey in C G Down, The Manganese Mines of North Wales, British Mining No. 14, Northern Mine Research Society, 1980, ISBN 0901450170

There is also information (no survey though) in W Williams, The Llyn Peninsular Mines, Llanwrst: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1995

I've been underground in Nant y Gadwen, it's basically a large chamber (now partially flooded) with some rails in situ. There is a short adit (dry) from the surface into the chamber, a longer adit with some water, and a third level that comes out in the chamber some way up the chamber wall. Also, higher up the Nant is a large openwork with a level leading through to it.

If you have specific questions get in touch with me as I may be able to help.

Dave

Nothing like replying to a 4 year old thread...
I've recently uploaded a couple of photos of the "large chamber" mentioned by Dave. This chamber appears to run through into the "large openwork", though access is blocked by very deep water.
I lived nearby and explored the whole site with a friend when we were was in our teens about 30 years ago, then had another look last week and it doesn't seem to have changed much.
The "large openwork" is now fenced around the top to prevent flytipping (it's half filled with rubbish), but a short adit leads in from below. This ends on a platform needing a scamble down (safer with a rope) into the bottom of the chamber. I didn't go down this time, but have been before and explored a couple of short tunnels leading off.
Further up the valley, near the road, is what looks like an earlier tunnel with a low opening behind an elder tree. 30 years ago this could be accessed for 100m or so, wriggling on your stomach over rough stone waste. It was the dodgiest cave that we found and not one I'd want to enter again.
BTW, hello everyone. I've been enjoying reading the forum but this is my first post. Great site you have here!

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... Further up the valley, near the road, is what looks like an earlier tunnel with a low opening behind an elder tree. 30 years ago this could be accessed for 100m or so, wriggling on your stomach over rough stone waste. It was the dodgiest cave that we found and not one I'd want to enter again.

Is that the 'tunnel' that goes in on the left under the tramway formation just after you heave come through the gate?

If I remember correctly it has old rails holding up the roof immediately inside the entrance and is walled-up after a few feet.

Dave

Hi Dave,
No, this is 50-100m further on. Cross the stream and follow the tramway on the left. It's a hole a couple of feet high that doesn't look as if it'll go anywhere, but once inside you're in a diagonal seam and can climb down into the lower level - or at least that's how I remember it.

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Is this before (as you walk towards the sea) you get to the tunnel that goes through to the open cut?

If it is I admit I'd not noticed (or even heard of it) before.

Dave

Yes, it's well before. Standing at the kissing gate, look up and left and you can probably see the exposed rock above the cave. Cross the stream as soon as you can after the gate, climb up to the tramway and you're almost there. As I say, there's a small elder tree just in front of the actual hole.

On this photo, it'll be just below the right of the left hand corner of the field where you can see the first green part of the tramway.
http://www.pixaerial.co.uk/php/show_image.php?image=2868 
(I'll upload a larger version tomorrow if I get a chance.)

There's another cave you might not be aware of, somewhere opposite the open pit. Look across to the right hand side of the valley, and there's a scar quite high up. It's only a test tunnel, a few yards long, but at the end you could see daylight up a soil bank as if you were looking up of a rabbit hole to the field above. Of course that may have changed in the last few decades...

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I'm tempted to suggest a short trip there one day, possibly with a small dinghy?

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... or an inflatable sheep?

Dave

What I'd really like to do is lower a camera and light on a line into the deep water. I haven't got anything suitable myself but might be able to scrounge something from work. It would be nice to know what's down there.
If anyone else is thinking of visiting, the accessible bits are not very extensive - you'd do the lot in an hour - but ease of access makes it a great place to try out new photographic techniques. And if you choose a nice day, it really is a pleasant bit of countryside.

Incidentally, a mile or two away at the Benallt (or is it Rhiw?) manganese mine there used to be a deep and scary looking shaft. I assume it's still there. I'd love to know if anyone's been down it.
It's on the side of the mountain behind the huge cable drum.

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... or an inflatable sheep?

Dave

You selling these?
I know someone who maybe be a bulk buyer.
Its possible though, you may already know him.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

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