Clwyd Metal Mines Survey

Halkyn District United

Geology
Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
In 1928, the Halkyn District United Mines Ltd began to extend the sea-level tunnel. The Company was the amalgamation of nine old mining companies and two drainage companies. The sett worked eight main veins off the sea-level tunnel and covered an area of 25sq miles, from Windmill to the south of Eryrys. The main shaft and mine area remains in the Wimpey Asphalt Pant Quarry. Referred to as the New North Halkyn Mine and the Pen-y-bryn Shaft, it was sunk to 800ft to raise ore and acted as the main shaft on the Holywell-Halkyn Drainage Tunnel (previously known as the Deep Level Tunnel). The Pen-y-bryn Shaft was an upcast shaft for the ventilation system. A shaft to the south of the main shaft was located at SJ20257055. To the north-east of the main shaft, a shaft was located at SJ20367083.

Transport
A narrow guage railway transported materials on the surface within the sett. An underground diesel railway ran along the sea-level tunnel to connect the workings; the cars transported both ore and men (Richardson 1936).

Power
The 20th century mine was powered by electricity.

Processing
A large new processing mill was erected in 1932 by the Halkyn District United Mines at the Pen-y-bryn site (Richardson 1936). The buildings were demolished in the 1960s.

Other features
Workshops including electricians, blacksmiths and carpenters shops were on the main site at Pen-y-bryn (Richardson 1936).

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