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Powys Metal Mines Survey


Cwm Bach

Cwm Bach lies in the community of Rhayader in the county of Powys. It is located at Ordnance Survey national grid reference SN94606984. The mine is recorded in the CPAT Historic Environment Record as number 18983 and this number should be quoted in all correspondence.

Lead trials (Pre 1877/1887+)

Geology
A single ENE striking lead lode can be seen crossing the Esgair Dderw ridge in rocks of Silurian age. Mineralisation includes galena and calcite.

Workings
The workings consist of numerous opencut trials which all appear to be of an early date while the nineteenth century revival of interest is evidenced by three levels on the NE termination of the lode close to the Cwm Coch Plantation SN94707013 & SN94909509 (marked as old quarries on the OS Map)

Transport
There is some survival of earthwork tramway beds out of the 19th century levels onto the spoil heaps.

Power
No evidence.

Processing
Manual dressing is evidenced by sorted rock fragments on the spoil heaps.

Other features
No evidence.

Comments
Single shaft mound at SN94606984 with intact shim circle of 7.5m diameter to south. Sparse copper mineral and quartz on tips. No evidence of processing. Trials extend to south-west and west of the shaft. These are largely shallow pits or short linear shallow open works. All are overgrown by rough pasture. (CPAT 1997).


This HTML page is reproduced from the Powys and Clwyd Metal Mine Surveys which were undertaken between May 1992 and December 1993 by Mark Walters and Pat Frost of the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust with financial support from Powys County Council, Clwyd County Council and Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments. Further information about this site is available in CPAT's Regional Historic Environment Record.
Page produced by Rachel Stebbings and Chris Martin.