spooksprings
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Pontneddfechan Silica Mines
Always wanted to go into these mines, but never had a torch handy. Although my million candle power didnt make much difference. At first I kicked myself for not researching a map, it looked like a maze in Hades, and I had no string. I spent some time getting to know the place, but seems I missed some of the rusting artifacts. Portent of good fortune though, (I thought wisdom, Wiki says a harbringer of death!) a barn owl sat on a trellis inside, transfixed by me, but took off just as I raised the camera. I'm sure it's been covered a thousand times in millions of pictures but this is my first attempt at cave-mines.
English:Bridge over the little Neath. In this steep gorge are found exposed outcrops of a very hard and pure sandstone, almost 100% silica. The many ironworks in this area (Hirwaun, Methyr) from the early 1800s needed millions of bricks of this material for its smelting furnaces because it is heat resistant and does not shatter. Horizontal passages (adits) were driven into the hill and a horse tramway was forced up through the deep gorge to the mine, some parts quite perilous, which lead down to the brick factory at Dinas Bridge. The whole operation was closed down in 1960's. The Groundwork Trust and others have repaired the bidges and access, making it a popular attraction. There are 3 mines and a quarry in the area with some outbuildings remaining. Well used by cavers. The lower mine near Dinas Rock is flooded. The middle mine is small and part flooded. The larger upper mine is where most of the leftover hardware is found with only one passage prone to flooding, it's about the size of 3 soccer pitches and has at least 8 entryways.
Easy entrance to upper mine.
Upturned carts.
Where I met my owl friend.
The face of doom!
A baby cart!
A nearby pump or winding house.
Entrance to middle mine.
Cheers! Spooks
Always wanted to go into these mines, but never had a torch handy. Although my million candle power didnt make much difference. At first I kicked myself for not researching a map, it looked like a maze in Hades, and I had no string. I spent some time getting to know the place, but seems I missed some of the rusting artifacts. Portent of good fortune though, (I thought wisdom, Wiki says a harbringer of death!) a barn owl sat on a trellis inside, transfixed by me, but took off just as I raised the camera. I'm sure it's been covered a thousand times in millions of pictures but this is my first attempt at cave-mines.
English:Bridge over the little Neath. In this steep gorge are found exposed outcrops of a very hard and pure sandstone, almost 100% silica. The many ironworks in this area (Hirwaun, Methyr) from the early 1800s needed millions of bricks of this material for its smelting furnaces because it is heat resistant and does not shatter. Horizontal passages (adits) were driven into the hill and a horse tramway was forced up through the deep gorge to the mine, some parts quite perilous, which lead down to the brick factory at Dinas Bridge. The whole operation was closed down in 1960's. The Groundwork Trust and others have repaired the bidges and access, making it a popular attraction. There are 3 mines and a quarry in the area with some outbuildings remaining. Well used by cavers. The lower mine near Dinas Rock is flooded. The middle mine is small and part flooded. The larger upper mine is where most of the leftover hardware is found with only one passage prone to flooding, it's about the size of 3 soccer pitches and has at least 8 entryways.
Easy entrance to upper mine.
Upturned carts.
Where I met my owl friend.
The face of doom!
A baby cart!
A nearby pump or winding house.
Entrance to middle mine.
Cheers! Spooks
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