CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
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Gwenymynydd Mine

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 103216
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Gwernymynydd
Unitary authority : Flintshire
NGR : SJ21446215
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL SILVER MINE / POST MEDIEVAL LEAD MINE / POST MEDIEVAL ZINC MINE

Description :
Lead/Silver/Zinc (Early 18th century-1906)

Geology
Coal Measures and Cefn-y-fedw Sandstone with chert beds.

Workings
The Pilkington and Cathole Vein run eastwards from the River Alyn. The Lords of Mold worked the St Catherine's Mine, which later bacame known as the Gwernymynydd Mine from 1730s. The mine sett was to the east of the Cathole sett and was first worked in the 19th century by the Glan Alyn Mining Company.

The line of workings can be traced running eastwards from the old Cathole sett at SJ20606270 running slightly parallel to and to the north of the main Mold road through Gwernymynydd village. The vein crossed the road and continued to the southern side of it.

On the eastern extremity of the vein, the workings lie on Gwernymynydd Farm. At SJ22206250 a shaft and horse whim platform, probably No 1 shaft or St.Catherine's whimsey (Williams 1987) lies in the field to the east of the road to Fronissa. At SJ22306255 a filled shaft, the largest of this group is approx 4m dia with no evidence of a whim. At SJ22406255 a filled shaft, approx dia 2.5m and at SJ22456260 a filled shaft and elongated low spoil heap. Ironstone nodules were visible along with brittle dark shales indicating coal geology. At SJ22506260 a filled shaft remains, surrounded by coal geology. At SJ22506255 a filled shaft is surrounded by sandstone blocks and brittle dark shale. At SJ22706260 the mound, appears to be dumping rather than a shaft.

The evidence of coal geology suggests that these features would be trial workings.

The arched stone adit level dating from 1739 lies now immediately below the new By-Pass road, near Bryn Coch Farm at SJ22706262.

Documentary evidence lists the following shafts as belonging to Gwernymynydd Mine;
No 1 Engine Shaft, No 2 Shaft or Treasury, Tom and Jerry Shaft, being 140yds deep, Shaft Las, Rainbow Engine Shaft, Edwards Shaft, Williams Shaft and Boundary Shaft.

The sett was worked by the Brunner Mond Company from 1896-1903.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
The only remaining evidence of power source is the horse whim platform.

Documentary evidence states that 'a powerful Cornish engine' was working on No 2 Treasury Shaft, when it was deepened to the 200yd level, between 1896 and 1903 (Smith 1921 p82). No.1 Engine Shaft is also documented and a reference to a small engine at Tom and Jerry Shaft.

Processing
No evidence.

Other features
No evidence.

Sources :
Clwyd Archaeology Service , 1979 , Site visit record - PRN103216
Clwyd Archaeology Service , 1988 , Site visit record - PRN103216
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1993 , Site visit record - PRN103216

Events :

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 103216

Compiled date : 31-01-1985


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, 1:11 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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