The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Blaenavon Mining Disturbance

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 05529g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Blaenavon
Unitary authority : Torfaen
NGR : SO253104
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Drift mine
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
An area of mining disturbance, c300m long by 200m wide, containing a variety of features. The area was being exploited for iron ore from the 17th century onwards. Some of the features have become damaged by nearby 1940's opencasting.

Description :
An area of mining disturbance, sub-rectangular in plan, approximately 300m long and 200m wide, containing a variety of features. The area was being exploited for iron ore by the Hanburys of Pontypool in the 17th century, using scouring methods on the mountain top, and this was continued by the Blaenavon partners after 1788. The features immediately to the west of the B4246 are well preserved but those nearer to the edge of the 1940's opencasting have suffered from use by vehicles and are very degraded in places. The disturbance is characterised by lines of small fan ridge tips, generally orientated north-east/south-west. The line nearest to the road has the remains of a tramway trackbed running along the bottom of the tips. Between this line of tips and the road are a number of discrete linear features. At the southern end of the disturbed area are two raised linear features, probably tramways, which converge on a spoil tip. This spoil tip can be seen to continue on the other side of the road. This disturbance has been identified as belonging to an area where iron ore was being mined in the very early 19th century using scouring and patching, the extensive remains if which can be seen to the east of the Pen-fford-goch/Blaenavon road. Scouring and patching works are shown in this area in 1814 (T.M.T), working the Pwlltacca outcrop and the discrete linear features visible in the field may be the remains of ponds and watercourses. By 1829 a number of small levels had been driven into the outcrop. The spoil from these would have been deposited in low fan ridge tips, probably those still visible today. Many of the features present are shown on the 1880 O.S map.

Sources :
Richardson, S. , 1994 , Pwll Du, Gwent; An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment
Ironbridge assessment Pwll du 1994

Events :
E003864 : Pwll Du, Gwent; An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment (year : 1994)
E008325 : Cwm Darrefelen, Torfaen (year : 2020)

Related records

Compiled date : 11-03-1998


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