I can't remember where I read it (it's me age yer know 😢 ) but isn't there an active gold mine in Ulster somewhere ?
I know I'm :offtopic: but it's a bit relevant and I sooo wanted to contribute :angel:

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I have just seen this thread about the proposed 'development' - There's an oxymoron! - on the site. Of all the places they could find to put up a bunch of tiky taky chalets, they had to pick one with a historic industrial past, sulphide polluted land and smack bang in the middle of a NATIONAL park. Can anyone tell me, just what jurisdiction SNPA have over a National Park or is ENGLISH heritage displaying regional prejudice by allowing it because 'It's only Wales' !!!!

You can put my name down on that list of objectors for sure. The whole valley would suffer as a result of any further development, and being holiday chalets let out to all and sundry, people who will not give a tuppeny damn about the wonderfull surroundings both natural and historic, and watch the litter levels increase...Damned Stupid Idea!...

Surely with the rising price of gold on the world market it would make sense to keep options open......No?

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Good point Roy.

That might be worth a look. From a future mining point of view.

One similar case of particular interest was the devon side of gunnislake bridge. I read the Devon minerals plan and believe it or not, places like bedford united must not be obstructed by development. I thought it was largely worked out (which I believe so) and also as an AOB and a SSSI as well as being previously worked, you wouldn't have thought so.

I think the mineral authority place not being thrust back into the stone age by lack of resources above dog walkers.

Can anyone tell me, just what jurisdiction SNPA have over a National Park or is ENGLISH heritage displaying regional prejudice by allowing it because 'It's only Wales' !!!!

SNPA is the planning authority for Snowdonia NP rather than the local council.

English Heritage have no jurisdiction in Wales, that is covered by CADW.

The mine did not close because of a lack of gold. It is a story best told away from the public eye.

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SNPA is the planning authority for Snowdonia NP rather than the local council.

English Heritage have no jurisdiction in Wales, that is covered by CADW.

Thanks for educating me on that one John. but if it's a National park shouldn't it warrant a National enquiry and decision?

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Blimey, can you imagine the work they would have if there was a national enquiry every time somebody wanted a conservatory or to extend their porch? It would make it very expensive for us.

Please note that the venue for the Public exhibition for the development has changed. It is now:

Ty Siamas
Eldon Square
Dolgellau
Gwynedd

12.00 - 19.00 Thursday 14 August 2008

Enquiries to Anharad Williams, CDN Planning 01492 581800.

(Ty Siamas is the Welsh Folk music centre in Dolgellau. See the Ty Siamas website http://www.tysiamas.com/  if you need directions.)

Dave

I've added some photos we took in 1982 when the mine was managed by Rob Daniels - a friend of cornish mineral dealing legend, Dick Barstow. Dick took me up there for a few days, and we helped out underground, collecting specimens, including gold. One day the drill steel bogged, and when twisted out, the bit was smeared with gold, having hit a rich patch of almost solid gold on the footwall. I know there is still gold down there in several places - could go to them tomorrow. The photo of Dick in the stopes is one of the few existing of him underground..

🔗Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-023[linkphoto]Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-023[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-022[linkphoto]Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-022[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-024[linkphoto]Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-024[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-025[linkphoto]Gwynfynydd-Gold-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-025[/linkphoto][/link]


Pete

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Thanks for uploading those skippy. Great to see photos of a mine when it was working :thumbup:

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I noticed that below ty mawr and near the caravan, there is a fenced open stope with a ladder going down. could anyone tell me when this was made and where in the mine did it go.

This was made in the mid 1980's.
They were driving a spiral decline down from the No.2 Level and the diesel fumes from the drot and dumper used to hang about at the top of the decline at the end of the tunnel driven on the lode. The simplest solution at the time was to stick a raise up to surface.
It got filled in about 1990 and the tip outside No.2 and No.8 got dumped down the stopes on Main Lode East above the sheds.
It was re-opened in 1993/4 to provide a secondary egress (emergency exit).

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If they're thinking of building chalets, etc, where exactly are they thinking of putting them. I know there's a (longish) track leading to the site - presumably they will have to "improve" it.

It's a beautiful spot which still has a certain atmosphere of remoteness about it which is the main reason I'm not into developments such as this. Of course, if the mine is viable....

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Gents...

I am aware of several ongoing discussions relating to access at Gwynfynydd which may have a bearing on this. It may be worth any discussions being made by email rather than on a public forum otherwise we may find a lot of people are working at cross-purposes to each other.

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A quick look at the National Park Authority's website suggests that this application has not yet been decided - the status is still showing as "registered".

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A quick look at the National Park Authority's website suggests that this application has not yet been decided - the status is still showing as "registered".

Natural retreats are not pushing the application at this time and want it to run its full length on consultation. But yes you are right its not anywhere near being approved at this time.

The planning application NP5/60/6J to build 22 "Eco" type lodges at Gwynfynydd has been withdrawn by the applicant.

The related application NP5/60/6H for a two storey side extension to Ty Mawr (the mine manager’s house) and change of its use from dwelling to two holiday units is, I believe still current.

Dave

Thanks for that update Dave. In the current economic climate I guess it's not surprising.

Do you know how that affects access (or not) or any discussions about access at Gwynfynydd?

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Do you know how that affects access (or not) or any discussions about access at Gwynfynydd?

My information is from the Snowdonia National park Authority.

I've not been party to any discussions about access at Gwynfynydd so I don't know what the current position is. Perhaps someone more involved in that aspect could comment ...

Dave

interesting to see mention of the Daniels brothers - I remember working with them at Mountfield mine in the mid-80s, down in the incline drift; putting in bases for the ( eventually aborted ) cross-country conveyor which was intended to replace the bucket ropeway.

were they also involved in the Morwelham Quay underground section?

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