BandageHead
Member
First post, go easy on me... Hope the images show up....
Before I start, please take heed of a warning...
I am twitchy about posting half my photo's in fear of people who can do a better job with a camera, but half a job with getting in and out, giving it a go. These places are inherently dangerous, and yes, danger can be found everywhere, but, if you do have the need to go, ensure you have quite some experience with the ropes, take someone who has been before, and go slow.
This mine is called Bwlch Glas.
Bwlch Glas Mine lies in the Cyneiniog valley, a few miles from the village of Talybont.
Mining at this location didn't start until relatively late in comparison to many of the metal mines in Cardiganshire. After some early work during the 1880's, substantial production didn't occur until the early 1900's and was intermittently worked up to 1923.
There are several levels which can be accessed on foot, but the holy grail is via rope access through a pocket shaft, and chamber.
Photos are posted raw, taken about 2+ years ago, so, yes, it is time to go again with better lighting and camera.
This is the ladder shaft, looking up from the base. It has 3 landings I think, each with ladder. The top level is the longest, with a bit of ladder missing.
Although the photo isn't too clear, you should be able to make out a rope in the middle... this is about 40m or so up (And 40m down!) from the base of the ladder shaft.
At the base of the cavernous drop into this chamber, the original ladders rest at the bottom, some with mahusive boulders sitting on top.
Again, looking up the chamber.
At the base lies a persons shoe. You wouldn't leave a place like this without your shoe... so what happened to the owner?
Further on in, are the underground cages, designed to go deeper into the mine. Now, with cables cut, motors removed, resting on metal pipes. Water is everywhere, in adjoining workings higher up, and below.
Electrical light fitting. To the right, on the wooden post, is a 'Hammer signalling device'. Piece of wire runs to end of track, that wire is pulled, a hammer lifts up and down, striking a plate, signalling the lift operator to pull, press, push whatever he has to to do his job!
Cages once more
Beyond the cages run a couple of passage ways, terminating shortly after.
Through another entrance point is a main roadway, pretty wet
Yours truly wading on through. No, I'm not wearing a lifejacket... that's all me...
The treat at the end is this:
A Barrel mounted for taking into deeper level via shaft behind it (Now flooded)
Finally, this, all though not so clear, appears to be a thunderbox (Toilet)
Thanks for looking, sorry the pictures aren't the best, it gives excuse to go again I guess, and I haven't covered half of what I should have, or the surface features, just seeing if I can post... then lets do it again! . (Hopefully the pictures show also!)
Before I start, please take heed of a warning...
I am twitchy about posting half my photo's in fear of people who can do a better job with a camera, but half a job with getting in and out, giving it a go. These places are inherently dangerous, and yes, danger can be found everywhere, but, if you do have the need to go, ensure you have quite some experience with the ropes, take someone who has been before, and go slow.
This mine is called Bwlch Glas.
Bwlch Glas Mine lies in the Cyneiniog valley, a few miles from the village of Talybont.
Mining at this location didn't start until relatively late in comparison to many of the metal mines in Cardiganshire. After some early work during the 1880's, substantial production didn't occur until the early 1900's and was intermittently worked up to 1923.
There are several levels which can be accessed on foot, but the holy grail is via rope access through a pocket shaft, and chamber.
Photos are posted raw, taken about 2+ years ago, so, yes, it is time to go again with better lighting and camera.
This is the ladder shaft, looking up from the base. It has 3 landings I think, each with ladder. The top level is the longest, with a bit of ladder missing.
Although the photo isn't too clear, you should be able to make out a rope in the middle... this is about 40m or so up (And 40m down!) from the base of the ladder shaft.
At the base of the cavernous drop into this chamber, the original ladders rest at the bottom, some with mahusive boulders sitting on top.
Again, looking up the chamber.
At the base lies a persons shoe. You wouldn't leave a place like this without your shoe... so what happened to the owner?
Further on in, are the underground cages, designed to go deeper into the mine. Now, with cables cut, motors removed, resting on metal pipes. Water is everywhere, in adjoining workings higher up, and below.
Electrical light fitting. To the right, on the wooden post, is a 'Hammer signalling device'. Piece of wire runs to end of track, that wire is pulled, a hammer lifts up and down, striking a plate, signalling the lift operator to pull, press, push whatever he has to to do his job!
Cages once more
Beyond the cages run a couple of passage ways, terminating shortly after.
Through another entrance point is a main roadway, pretty wet
Yours truly wading on through. No, I'm not wearing a lifejacket... that's all me...
The treat at the end is this:
A Barrel mounted for taking into deeper level via shaft behind it (Now flooded)
Finally, this, all though not so clear, appears to be a thunderbox (Toilet)
Thanks for looking, sorry the pictures aren't the best, it gives excuse to go again I guess, and I haven't covered half of what I should have, or the surface features, just seeing if I can post... then lets do it again! . (Hopefully the pictures show also!)
