Clwyd Metal Mines Survey

Ffos-y-Bleiddiaid

Geology
An east-west vein with north-south strings in Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
Ffos-y-Bleiddiaid is a natural limestone fissure that crosses the north and coastal side of the hillfort of Castell Cawr. Locally known either as the Fosse of Wolves or the Roman Fosse (Ffos-y-Rhufeiniaid) since it has been claimed that Roman hammers and tools together with the hilt of a Roman sword had been found in the vicinity. The evidence of Roman workings, dating from 19th-century writings remains unsubstantiated. Working evidence was located in the form of three levels in tiers cutting into the north side of an open-cut slightly off from the main east-west cut. Further west along the main cut, a deep hole veers down, far too steep to investigate thoroughly. The gorge at this point is traversed by a wooden bridge, part of the recent path improvement through the Tan-y-goppa Woods. Access to the entire length of the gorge is restricted by the dense undergrowth and safety fencing, but the whole length is likely to have been worked as open-cuts at a very early period. A single shaft mound remains in a field to the south of Castell Cawr at SJ93807645. A shaft showing on the 1st edition OS map to the south-west of this is no longer visible and the shaft to the north-east on the same vein as the Ffos-y-Bleiddiaid cut, lies under a modern housing estate. The Ffos-y-Bleiddiad cut appears to have been already exhausted of ore by the 19th century.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
No evidence.

Processing
No evidence.

Other features
No evidence.

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