CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
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Maeshafn/Maes-y-safn, River Alyn

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 102915
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Llanferres
Unitary authority : Denbighshire
NGR : SJ19306130
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL LEAD MINE / POST MEDIEVAL ZINC MINE

Description :
Lead/Zinc (19th century)

Geology
Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
The dressing floor area processed the ores from the Maeshafn workings.

Transport
No evidence of anything other than horse carriage. A fine stone-built bridge connects the east and west banks of the River Alyn at the dressing floor area, SJ19306135. The public footpath runs along the west bank of the River, providing the most likely access track for workers to the site from Pont-y-mwynwr.

Power
Two adjoining large wheelpits PRN120688 (SJ19316137) remain on the East bank of the River Alun, divided by a common wall approx 3m wide. The pits are approx 15 metres x 3m wide.

The water was supplied by a leat which emerges from a culvert to the south-east of the wheelpits. The path of the leat runs alongside the River Alyn for two miles and its substantial construction is visible as it approaches the pits.

The flat rod system from the south wheel extended uphill eastwards apparently through a stone revetment to the shaft at SJ19756125, and continued to the second shaft at SJ19806110.

A waterwheel of 52ft diameter was working at Maeshafn in 1869, and may have been installed as early as 1823, when a new company drove new levels at the mine.

An east to west section drawing deposited CRO (D/GR/1750) shows 4 shafts running downhill to the large waterwheel and launder at the river Alun.

Processing
Extensive waste heaps from ore-dressing remain on the east and west banks of the River Alyn. The area has been cleared of all structures other than the wheelpits, but further evidence may remain in the dense undergrowth along the riverbank.

Other features
No evidence.

Sources :
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1982 , Site visit record - PRN102915
King, Tony , 2005/6 , The Maes y Safn Lead Mine , Transactions of the Denbighshire Historical Society : 54 : 23-54
Williams, C. J., & Bick, D , 1992 , List of metalliferous mine sites of industrial archaeological importance

Events :

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 120684
Better Woodlands for Wales 23531

Compiled date : 31-12-1982


Archaeological data, from the Historic Environment Record, supplied by The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © CPAT, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025). It is intended to be used for private research only and is not for use as part of commercial projects. If you wish to use this information for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. Use of this information is subject to the terms and conditions of access to HER data published on CPAT's website. Please contact the HER if you have any further questions regarding this information. Please quote the Primary Reference Numbers (PRNs) in any correspondence.

April 20, 2025, 12:42 pm - File produced for Archwilio from CPAT's Regional HER.
Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, The Offices, Coed y Dinas, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RP
tel (01938) 553670, email her@cpat.org.uk, website www.cpat.org.uk

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