BertyBasset
15 years ago
Last Friday I went for a walk in the environs of Dyserth at the northern end of the Clwydian hills. The hills start as a limestone edge near Prestatyn, giving way to underlying Silurian shales when approaching Rhuallt Hill.

I'm aware of the mine workings on the escarpment above Prestatyn, but I came across a few holes I wasn't aware of. I've detailed them below in case anyone knows anything about them.


NO 1
SJ 0670 7767
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=SJ+0670+7767&countryCode=GB#map=53.288,-3.40096|15|4&dp=os&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:53.28804:-3.40104:14|SJ 067 777|SJ 067 777 
In the woods leading down from Marian Ffrith down to Cwm. Quite a large adit in limestone. No sign of spoil.

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NO 2
SJ 0693 7707
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=SJ+0670+7767&countryCode=GB#map=53.28179,-3.39783|15|4&dp=os&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:53.28179:-3.39783:14|SJ 069 770|SJ 069 770 
Two adits, one gated in shale on the north-west flank of Mynydd y Cwm. Possibly marked as Ffynnon Cil Haul on the map.

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No 3
SJ 0696 7991
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=SJ+0670+7767&countryCode=GB#map=53.30786,-3.39718|15|4&dp=os&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:53.30786:-3.39718:14|SJ 070 799|SJ 070 799 
Marked as Caves on the OS Map. This is again in limestone and consists of a shallow double entrance 'cave' and quite a deep hole that is possible to climb down into leading to further dark workings.

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Robin
rhychydwr
15 years ago
Sounds like Fish Cave:

Sunday 20th October 1991 Delayed by a couple of car boot sales but finally got to Prestatyn to look for Fish Cave. We parked in Brynllys West at NGR SJ 0648 8085, Brynllys East also leads up to the foot path. We walked across the fields and followed the a footpath to St Mary's Well at SJ 0670 8095. This is really a mine and you can see it by the spoil heap in the field beside the footpath. The mine consists of a rift, at the level of the footpath 2 feet wide and 10 -15 feet high. At 50 feet in it is 30 feet high and then the roof lowers abruptly and it 4 or 5 feet high. A mined passage a bit wet under foot with signs of flooding to 3 - 4 feet in depth because of the rubbish at the entrance. Up to 6 feet high and 4 feet wide at this point. Comes to a dead end after 100 feet, can see the entrance, adit is straight. Adit is in line with the last house along side the golf course.

We continued along the footpath and noticed a faint scree slope. This is below Fish Cave. The easy way is to follow the footpath to where they cross and then double back up the hill. The footpath passes the cave entrance and carries on up the hill to the Seven Sisters Cave [another mine']. There is very little left of the spoil heap in front of the cave from which the cave gets its name. It has been washed away long ago and is so overgrown it cannot be seen from the road. A small stream of water comes out of the cave and was at one time collected in a stone built basin. It is now in a state of disrepair. The entrance is 6 feet high and 3 feet wide with a muddy floor. It then decreases in height slightly. The mineralisation appears to be a horizontal vein about a quarter of an inch wide. After 150 feet the passage branches, can still see daylight, some stal on wall, main passage ends, a run in? a few feet back, another passage, still about 4 feet high, after 50 feet, flooded to a depth of 6 inches. A few yards back, an aven on right, 60 feet high, climbable, but not tried, strong draught noted. A couple of photos of Petra to show size of passage. Returned to entrance and followed footpath up to large grassy platform, old spoil heap. A better name would be Seven Dwarfs Caves as the entrance is so low, about 3 feet high by 3 feet wide and the same as far as I can see.

Cutting coal in my spare time.
BertyBasset
15 years ago
Hi Tony,

Assuming you are referring to the last hole - I don't think it is Fish Cave (at least going from your NGR's which are about 1/2 km away).

I've heard of Fish Cave before from a NWCRO rescue perspective and although not having been there, assumed it was at the base of the Prestatyn escarpment.

Interesting that you mention wells, because #1 and 2 are marked as wells on the OS sheet, but I assume they were formerly mineral adits, possibly later co-opted as wells.

#1 is quite obvious as being on the path coming down the footpath from Marion Ffrith. #2 in contrast is not obvious at all as you would have to take a random climb up a wall from the road to discover it - particularly strange as it's the gated one. Luckily I had my AditEyes (tm) on....

Best Regards,

Robin
rhychydwr
15 years ago
"BertyBasset" wrote:

Hi Tony,

Assuming you are referring to the last hole - I don't think it is Fish Cave (at least going from your NGR's which are about 1/2 km away).



1/2 km NGR error, not bad for 1991 😉
Cutting coal in my spare time.

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