Garth mine is located at the top of the Lesser Garth Hill, near to Taffs Well just outside Cardiff. It lies within the enormous Streetley Quarry complex and dates back to possibly the late 18th century and at its height employed some 50 men and boys !! During the period 1842-1860 the mine received some serious investment, including the driving of a 400 yd long rock entrance tunnel, some 200 ft from the top of the hill. In the early 1870s the mine was producing approx 15000 tons of iron ore and 265 tons of high grade Ochre (used for paint production) per annum. It was officially abandoned in 1884 and became flooded up to the entry tunnel level, meaning some 200 ft of it is under water. It did reopen spasmodically for a few years at a time during the 1920s and 30s, and its last use was to store anti aircraft shells during ww11.
Oh !! And its grizzly secret ? Well, on Nov 2nd 1963 a group of lads discovered the body of a young womam at the base of a shaft alongside one of the top cavens. She had been strangled and dumped into the shaft from 200ft above barely 24 hrs earlier. No arrest was ever made !!!
This was Mrs Fluffys first visit to a mine and even though the entrance isnt exactly taxing, found it a really exciting explore !!
Anyway on with the pics !
1. The view from the top of the hill into the Cemex Quarry, Garth mine being beneath my feet !!
2. Mmmmmmmm Tunnelly goodliness
3. The end of the entrance tunnel, where it opens out in the mine. Looking back towards the entrance !!
4. Further into the entrance tunnel with Mrs F coming in very handy for that "in the distance light painting" thing !!
5. The first flooded caven
6.Back filled passageway which we think leads into the Quarry complex.
7. Another passageway with the Grim reaper looking over it to the left !!
8.1970s water pump ?
9 Entrance passageway to the second cavern
10. The second flooded cavern. This is where the body was dumped.
11 as above
12. as above
http://s458.photobucket.com/user/fluffy5518/media/IMG_3787Aaagood_zpsfdb3dae6.jpg.html
13. as above
14. Final passageway with Mrs F getting in the pic !!
15. Nearly at the end of the line !!
16. Blocked !!
17. Still blocked but with side lighting !!
Well there you have it !!! BUT there are many many more passageways and holes to explore, some easy and some not so easy but all are a good ,splore !!!!
Oh !! And its grizzly secret ? Well, on Nov 2nd 1963 a group of lads discovered the body of a young womam at the base of a shaft alongside one of the top cavens. She had been strangled and dumped into the shaft from 200ft above barely 24 hrs earlier. No arrest was ever made !!!
This was Mrs Fluffys first visit to a mine and even though the entrance isnt exactly taxing, found it a really exciting explore !!
Anyway on with the pics !
1. The view from the top of the hill into the Cemex Quarry, Garth mine being beneath my feet !!
2. Mmmmmmmm Tunnelly goodliness
3. The end of the entrance tunnel, where it opens out in the mine. Looking back towards the entrance !!
4. Further into the entrance tunnel with Mrs F coming in very handy for that "in the distance light painting" thing !!
5. The first flooded caven
6.Back filled passageway which we think leads into the Quarry complex.
7. Another passageway with the Grim reaper looking over it to the left !!
8.1970s water pump ?
9 Entrance passageway to the second cavern
10. The second flooded cavern. This is where the body was dumped.
11 as above
12. as above
http://s458.photobucket.com/user/fluffy5518/media/IMG_3787Aaagood_zpsfdb3dae6.jpg.html
13. as above
14. Final passageway with Mrs F getting in the pic !!
15. Nearly at the end of the line !!
16. Blocked !!
17. Still blocked but with side lighting !!
Well there you have it !!! BUT there are many many more passageways and holes to explore, some easy and some not so easy but all are a good ,splore !!!!
