CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
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Moel Hiraddug Mine

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 103489
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Dyserth
Unitary authority : Denbighshire
NGR : SJ06307870
Site Type (preferred type first) : MULTIPERIOD MINE

Description :
Nickel/Cobalt (Early mining-1891)

Geology
Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
A single shaft appears to the north of Foel Farm on the OS 2nd edition map, being the shaft now evident at SJ06547807.

Much of the northern area of the Hillfort has been destroyed by quarrying.

Large open cuts and levels appear to run in from the uppermost southern slopes of Y Foel, where several intersections of veins were worked for haematite, nickel, cobalt and pyrites.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
No evidence.

Processing
No evidence.

Other features
No evidence.

A hammer stone was recovered from excavations in the vicinity of the transmitter station which lies at
the southern end of the hillfort during an excavation undertaken by CPAT (Thomas, 1993). It had clearly been utilised as it displayed distinctive pitting and spalling at one end and there were some hints that it might have been hafted. Fragments of altered lead ore were also found nearby, but the hill is generally known for its veins of iron and cobalt. Perhaps this is significant, given that iron oxides were found in the Roman bronzesmith’s workshops at Melyd Avenue, Prestatyn, some 3.5km distant. (RH 25/02/2010)

The area occupied by the hillfort was examined and revealed a large number of shallow surface workings, with some rather larger undated excavations towards the southern end, seemingly following old cavities in the limestone, which had been infilled with iron-rich deposits, to judge from their irregularity. Viewing of the redundant quarry which has eaten into the north end of Moel Hiraddug revealed a large area of iron-rich rocks (probably haematite), that again seemed to be occurring as the infill of cavities in the limestone. (RH 25/03/2010)

Sources :
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1993 , Site visit record - PRN103489
Hankinson, R , 2010 , Mines and Quarries. The Scheduling Enhancement Programme ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)

Events :
115395 : Mines and Quarries: Scheduling Enhancement Project, assessment project 2010 (year : 2010)

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 103489

Compiled date : 30-04-1985


Images :



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, 12:19 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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