Hello everyone after a recent visit to the mine decided to upload some photographs , could anyone please answer my question did this use to lead to a internal incline that dropped to level 75b ?

Photograph:

🔗121244[linkphoto]121244[/linkphoto][/link]



Many thanks in advance Tom

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No I think this is just a point where waste rock was tipped into an old chamber. Also I don't think Floor 75 went this far east and also there were no underground inclines at Bryn Eglwys.

The plan and section in Alan Holmes, 1999, Slates from Abergynolwyn p. 57 appears to show an incline down to floor 75B. I had thought this incline was underground and was the only access to 75B. (Holmes states that the eastern and western parts of floor 75 were never connected.)

According to Holmes' Introduction to the book (p. 11), the plan and section are based on his own c. 1976 underground surveys. Other than than the approximate line of the incline down to 75B shown on the plan and section, I've not found any mention of that incline in the book, although he does say (p. 72) that floor 75 is "completely inaccessible and is filled with water and rubble."

It's not obvious where Holmes found his information about the incline. However, I note there is an item (Z/DDJ/46/1077) dated 1963 in Gwynedd Archives described as "Letters John Snell, 60 Southwood Lane, Highgate, London to James [?Boyd] re Bryneglwys quarry and McConnel family. Enclosed Rough plan and cross-section of Bryneglwys quarry." I wonder if that was the source of Holme's floor 75 information.

Dave

Dave

In the 1999 edition of the book there is mention of page 61 that the incline went to floor 50 so my statement about underground inclines may be wrong. I agree that Holmes shows on his plan that this incline went to floor 75 but his text at the bottom of page 61 suggests that material was hauled up, presumably in a chamber, from 75 to 50, and the put on the incline from 50 to surface.

The Sara Eade reprint in 2013 includes what I assume to be the plans to which you refer and these don't show an incline at all although it is possible that the incline was built after the plan, which is dated 1874, was drawn.

Jon

In the 1999 edition of the book there is mention of page 61 that the incline went to floor 50 ...

I had spotted that but took it to mean one of the shafts shown in the section (but not on plan) in chambers 7B and 8B (although both are only shown as going to floor 25).

so my statement about underground inclines may be wrong. I agree that Holmes shows on his plan that this incline went to floor 75 but his text at the bottom of page 61 suggests that material was hauled up, presumably in a chamber, from 75 to 50, and then put on the incline from 50 to surface.

As for bringing material from 75 to 50 up through a chamber, I don't remember any chambers on 50 that appeared to be flooded or rubble-filled and which so might have connected to 75. However, after the neck-deep water in Lefel Fawr 😢 (it's not so bad for the less-vertically challenged amongst us), I possibly wasn't in a state to take as much notice of my surroundings as I should have done.

The Sara Eade reprint in 2013 includes what I assume to be the plans to which you refer and these don't show an incline at all although it is possible that the incline was built after the plan, which is dated 1874, was drawn.

I've not seen the plan in the Archives or Sara's book, so I can't comment on whether they are the same plan or not.

Dave

Thanks for the replies , Very interesting I shall have a good look on my return trip ! Lefel Fawr That’s good fun in their till the shaft then does get a bit chilly don’t it ;D


Tom

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I think our job-list for the return trip is getting quite long!

Chris.

I think our job-list for the return trip is getting quite long!

Chris.

O yes and a wetsuit this time I am bringing as your wet mine memory makes me :lol:

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