It's already been over a year since AN last visited Moel Fferna, and if you're familiar with this impressive slate mine you'll know that's far too long!

Moel Fferna is situated to the west of Llangollen and was worked on seven levels. It is notable for the relatively flat vein and the long chambers which span many levels.

The mine also shows some influence of coal mining techniques, with the presence of a 'cog' roof support, believed unique in the slate industry.

Note: SRT is required for this trip as it involves a descent into a shaft and an ascent out.

We will rig this with electron ladders and everybody will be lifelined, but you will need a harness and it would be best to bring ascenders and descender.

View Full Details

Mining at Dylife can be traced back to Roman times. Lead was mined in these hills although Dylife did not really acheive greatness untill the mid 1800s John Bright and his manchester associates equipped Dylife in full colliery style. With output rising to over 1000 tons per month with the exception of the Van mines near Llanidloes this was to prove the greatest annual out put of any of the mines in the central wales orefeild. Mining ceased in 1901 after being decline for the last 25 years or so. It is an interesting site with many adits still accessible.

Recently Michael Brown and the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust have been busy stabilising and excavating the Martha wheel pit - the site of the Martha wheel, - the biggest water wheel at its time in Wales.

The day will start taking in a few trial adits to the east of Dylife where a flooded winze has the remains of a windlass still over it albeit a bit collapsed. These workings are about chest deep in water but nothing a pair of waders wont cure. The walk will then head down to another easterly trial on the Dyliffe lode - this trial is quite long and only knee deep in water. We will then head toward the Esgairgaled and Pencerrig workings where a good veiw of the sett can be had and two semi dry adits can be explored.

After this we will examine some early opencast workings before heading toward the 1850s dressing floor area and on up to the site of the Martha wheel. The Llechwedd Du area will then be looked at including the great Dylife adit, the walk will culminate in the exploration of level goch where a stope to daylight can be examined from above and below ground , these workings are also chest deep in water. the day will be at a moderate pace but with plenty of time given over to discussion.

Pack lunch required and waders, wetsuit and or overalls. I look forward to meeting everyone.

Michael Brown

--

Meeting point is around here: [url]http://www.multimap.com/s/i5T7To7C[/url] (will double check and update closer to the time)

This day will be a good opportunity to see what Michael and other members of the WMPT have been up to at Dylife

View Full Details

Please note: This is not an AditNow event, but is here because it should be of interest to many.

NAMHO 2010

4th-6th June - Coalpit Heath

Fuelling the Industrial Revolution

For full details, booking forms, costs etc. please see the dedicated conference web site [url]http://www.namhoconference.org.uk/[/url]

Venue: Miners Institute, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire

Organised by South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group, Friends of Ram Hill Colliery and Hades Caving Club.

View Full Details