CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
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Belgrave Mine

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 18005
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Llanarmon-yn-ial
Unitary authority : Denbighshire
NGR : SJ20255885
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL LEAD MINE / POST MEDIEVAL SILVER MINE

Description :
Lead/Silver (Early 19th century-1857)

Geology
The Belgrave Vein runs from the River Alyn to the Cefn-y-fedw Sandstone, crossing a limestone ridge, which rises to a height of 408m OD.

Workings
The Belgrave Mine follows an east-west vein as it crosses a bare limestone ridge to Bryn-yr-orsedd and runs out at an old level in the Alyn valley.

Large areas of workings exist on both terraces of the ridge, which can presumably both be linked to Belgrave Mine. Smith (1921) illustrates Belgrave Mine as a run of ten shafts crossing the ridge (no NGR given). A good track leads from the Eryrys Road to the main mine area (SJ20305875) which remains as a large spread of workings, partly destroyed by sheep grazing. Shafts lie to the south of this track before reaching the engine house area. One large shaft is capped with concrete at SJ20455865 and several remain as large hollows. The engine shaft and the ruins of the engine house remain at SJ20175887. A raised circular platform with a possible shaft depression to the north-west of it, lie to the immediate east of the enging shaft. This could be a whim site, although its surface is made up of very coarse stone. A circular stone-lined shaft remains at SJ19705910.A series of shafts and rakes run downhill and eastwards towards the engine house.

A very large quarried out area lies to the north-west and uphill of the engine shaft.

A second area of workings lie on the western flanks of the limestone ridge (SJ19905880), within a deep natural basin. Three large shafts are capped, one having slight evidence of a whim revetment and possible central pivot. A further nine large shaft mounds with associated spoil are on the same site. The area is surrounded by natural outcrops of limestone.

Smith's illustration (1921) infers that all these workings are part of Belgrave Mine, along with three adit levels which were not identified, which could relate to Bryn-yr-Orsedd (PRN 18017).

A shaft capping programme carried out by N.K.C. Partnership in 1978, included two of the Belgrave shafts: the Old Engine Shaft was capped at SJ20175887, being stone-lined and circular and an un-named adjacent shaft at SJ20185884, also being stone-lined and circular and bearing a date stone inscribed JP1804.

A string off the vein has been worked to the south-west at Pwll-Helyg, SJ19555870.

There are slight traces of the shafts that lie on the east-west vein in the fields around Fron-Deg (SJ20705870), which appear on the 2nd edition OS map (Sheet XX.6).

Transport
The old trackway runs the length of the workings from Pen-y-Coed Farm (SJ20605860) through the main Belgrave mine area and continuing westwards downhill to the River Alyn.

Power
A ruinous engine house (SJ20175887) of which only its north wall survives in part to a maximum height of approx 3m lies in an area of spoil and fallen stone, which masks any remaining features. Three supports for the flat rods remain in situ amid spoil and fallen stone. The beam wall has collapsed and there is no evidence to suggest cylinder size. A platform area lies to the north-east and the north wall appears to continue westwards, as its stonework appears in a depression. There is no evidence of a chimney or outlet for pipes other than a gulley which emerges northwards from the north wall.

Earthwork evidence remains of a dried-up reservoir and sluice exit lying to the south-west of the engine house.

On the edge of the large quarry area that lies to the north-west of the engine house, there is evidence of building foundations in the ground and two bolts embedded in the ground. Another dried-up reservoir and sluice lie to the west of this area.

The earthbanks of two interlinked reservoirs and the channels that link them remain on the western side of the limestone redge.

A possible whim shaft appears on the other flank of the ridge at SJ19955905.

Processing
Stone foundations of a large rectangular building with interior walls remain as earthworks to the north side of the track at SJ20305880, and could relate to a processing plant.

A trail of spoil and washing waste run in a north-westerly direction from SJ20385810.

Other features
No evidence.

Quarrying referred to in Ellis, B 1994, 51.
(CPAT Metal Mines Survey)

1. Location

1.1 The Belgrave Vein runs south-eastwards from the Alyn valley for c.1km across the limestone ridge towards Nercwys Mountain, c.1km north of Eryrys village (see Plate 1).

2. Geology

2.1 Solid geology - Carboniferous Limestone. The Belgrave Vein runs east from the River Alyn through to the Cefn-y-fedw Sandstone at Pant-terfyn. Mineralisation was mainly galena with calcite gangue.

3. The Survey

3.1 The survey is restricted to the eastern workings on the Belgrave Vein. The 1st edition OS map of 1874 shows Belgrave Mine in a coniferous forest which appears to have covered the survey area east of the N-S wall that runs along the limestone ridge and north of the E-W boundary wall that crosses the quarry PRN 12057. By the 2nd edition OS map of 1900, the forestry had been cleared.

3.2 Workings

3.2.1 The Belgrave Vein was worked from deep adit level (96 fathoms) in the River Alyn valley, through four main levels (26, 46 and 71 and 96 fathoms) located cutting in eastwards at Bryn-yr-orsedd (PRN 18017) and c.10 main shafts sunk on the east and west side of the limestone ridge. The deeper shafts, including engine shafts were sunk on the east side of the limestone ridge. Smith (1921, pl.III) records the vein being stoped out on six main runs namely Bwlch, Carpenter's and Parson's on the west side and Big Run, Cheyney and Francis's on the east. Belgrave Mine appears to have been one of the richest mines in the Llanarmon District during the first half of the 19th century, according to royalties paid to the Grosvenor Estates (Smith 1921, 16). Royalties of 15 shillings a ton were requested if the price of ore was under 15 pounds sterling, and a pound a ton when ore prices rose to 15 pounds and upwards, according to a 21 year lease granted to Ebenezer Fernie of Tavistock by Westminster Estates in May 1845 for Belgrave Mine (D/GR/21). No mineral statistics were recorded after 1857 for the lead and silver produced at Belgrave by the early company (Burt et al. 1993, 2, 26), but returns were made again by the Belgrave Mines Company for 1881-2, when 14 people were working underground and three on the surface. The mineral production figures were far less than in the first half of the century. The site is already recorded as inactive by the OS in 1874.

3.2.2 The Belgrave site was leased to William Williams in November 1847 (D/GR/1753), but the plan attached to the lease allocated a block of land further east of the Eryrys Road towards Nercwys Mountain as "East Belgrave". It is unlikely that the option to mine was taken up. Belgrave was worked intermittently according to mining leases. Two notices (D/GR/393-4) were served to Belgrave Proprietors in 1887, reminding them of the conditions of the lease dated 1873. The mines appear to have been unworked since 1885. The Llanarmon District Mining Company was formed in 1893; most of the Llanarmon mines were waterlogged at this time and the new company intended to drive a new drainage tunnel to unwater all the mines in the area, which never saw fruition. A letter (D/GR/395) dated 1924 refers to mines secured from the Grosvenor Estates by the Llanarmon District Mines in 1892, with a view to the construction of a drainage scheme and includes Belgrave in a list of mines already waterlogged and closed down.

3.2.3 A large area of collapse, which appears to have engulfed some of the structural remains on the edge of it, is the Engine Shaft (PRN 12036), sunk to c.300 m, extending below Deep Adit Level. The shaft and a surrounding complex of buildings were recorded by the OS in 1874: the buildings had altered in form by the OS 1900 survey. An undated mine section drawing for Belgrave (D/HM/298) records the engine shaft sunk to 417ft; the shaft headframe appears behind a Cornish engine house, with a boiler house and separate chimney on the east side, and a horse whim on the west side of the shaft. The drawing may be a 19th-century projected plan for the mine since the engine shaft was actually sunk below the Deep Adit Level, which is recorded as the 96 fathom level (c. 606ft.) by the Geological Survey (Smith, 1921, pl.III). This records no ore being discovered when the shaft bottomed at 117 fathoms. The stone walls of the engine house (PRN 12037), c.10 x 7m overall, are located on the south-west side of the shaft. The stone structure (PRN 12045), c.5.5 x 3.5m, that protrudes to the front of the engine house may be the casing for a flywheel and drum or the condenser pit of the engine house. Evidence suggests that this was the site of a winding rather than a pumping engine and the more substantial supports for winding gear may have collapsed into the shaft. The engine house appears to have had a brick floor in parts. The boiler house (PRN 12038), c.10 x 8m, appears to have adjoined the east side of the engine house and the square stone-lined structure (PRN 12039) on the north-east corner of the boiler house may be the chimney plinth. A rectangular stone building (PRN 12040), which adjoins the east wall of the boiler house, was probably a stores. The buildings only survive at ground level.

3.2.4 Ore was presumably wound from the shaft and loaded into the ore-bin (PRN 12048) located beyond the spoil tips, north of the engine shaft.

3.2.5 A platform (PRN 12041), located north-west of engine shaft, has the appearance of a sunken building, although no buildings are recorded at this location by the OS in 1874 or 1900. The undated mine plan (D/HM/298), which may be only a projected plan, has a horse whim circle at this location on the west side of the shaft. The whim may have been substituted by engine power or supplemented engine power when necessary. The spoil tip that surrounds the north side of the platform is composed of fuel ash slag, presumably clearance from the engine boilers.

3.2.6 The undated mine section drawing (D/HM/298) suggests that the eastern Cornish engine house (PRN 12060) was used for pumping the main winding shaft, by means of flat-rods, and winding ore from a shaft on its east side. The flat-rod track-beds (PRN 12044) can be traced running up to the engine shaft. There is no evidence, however, to suggest a shaft immediately east of this eastern engine house, as depicted on the mine section. The Cornish engine house (PRN 12060), c.17 x 12m overall, survives to a maximum height of 4m along the northern wall. Three tie rods remain in situ. The chimney was presumably west of the house, as the section drawing and the 1874 and 1900 OS maps suggest and the boiler house (PRN 12066) was located on the south side of the engine house. The pumping arrangement, aligned with the upper engine shaft (PRN 12036) was presumably sited on the north side of the engine house. The stone walls located on the north side of the surviving engine house wall, presumably supported the pumping machinery.

3.2.7 A horse whim circle (PRN 12061), c.10m diameter, is located east of the pumping engine house (PRN 12060). The whim may be associated with the capped shaft PRN 12062 to the east. The shaft was recorded as "old shaft" by the OS in 1874 (D.20.6) and is now located on the south-eastern edge of the jig waste, the perimeter of which appears unchanged since the waste areas were recorded within the forest in 1874 by the OS. The eastern engine house may have also wound ore from this shaft, as masonry on the east side of the house and the tie rods suggest. The shaft would have been located above "Cheney Run" as recorded by Smith, although no shaft is depicted above the run.

3.2.8 Several shafts and trials are located at the western end of the survey area. A shaft and spoil tip (PRN 12046), located south of the engine shaft is recorded on the modern OS maps with a smaller shaft located further east. The shafts are on a run of workings which continue westwards and include shafts and spoil tips PRNs 12068-9. Smith's section drawing (1921, pl.III) suggests that these western shafts are sunk to the 26 fathom level on the "Big Run".

3.2.9 A cross-course appears to have been worked at the western end of the survey area, where several small shafts and a level (PRN 12015) are recorded along the boundary wall, presumably on an N-S vein.

3.2.10 Only one shaft is illustrated east of the deep engine shaft (PRN 12036) on "Big Run" on the section of Belgrave Mine illustrated in Smith (1921, plate III). This appears to be shaft PRN 12067, which was on "Francis's Run". The shaft is located south-east of the dressing floor waste on a large spoil mound, which includes several smaller shafts or trials surrounding it. The shaft is now infilled by recent levelling of the surrounding tip. The land east of this large shaft contains several areas of old collapse, presumably related to mining since they continue along the line of the vein. Several small shafts and trials are located further south-east towards the modern reservoir and the quarry/mine track (PRN 12049). The land east of shaft PRN 12067 has been recently ploughed and improved.

3.2.11 An isolated shaft (PRN 12071) is located in the field to the north-west of the survey area. It was recorded by the OS in 1900, and, together with shafts east of the Eryrys road, may lie on Taylor's Vein, which was worked between Pant Du Vein and Belgrave Vein. North of the survey area, the small shafts and trials on the northern slopes of the limestone ridge probably also lie on Taylor's Vein, and may have been worked by the Belgrave Mine.

3.3 Processing

3.3.1 Large spreads of jig waste lie across the site, south of the mine track PRN 12050. The area has been disturbed by the recent siting of animal feeder pens and rabbit burrowing has revealed considerable depth to the jig tips. The western dressing floors for Belgrave Vein workings were below the levels at Bryn-yr-orsedd (SJ19505935), where spreads of washing waste are still visible. There is little evidence to suggest any processing other than the use of jigs within the survey area. The tips are much disturbed by later activity.

3.4 Water Sources

3.4.1 The upper reservoir (PRN 12042) lies west of the mains engine shaft and measures c.16 x 6m. There is no evidence of the source of water to fill the reservoir, and since it was located at the upper levels of the mine, it is unlikely that water could be naturally gathered from above. Only bare limestone outcrops lie above the site. A well is recorded on the OS map of 1900 at the location of an area of collapse (PRN 12047), south of the reservoir. The alignment of the engine house (PRN 12037) suggests that it may have been pumped water from the well to fill the upper reservoir PRN 12042.

3.4.2 Leat PRN 12043 leaves the upper reservoir via a sluice in the north-east corner and appears to have been laundered over or around the main shaft. The line of the leat is lost under spoil tips, and was presumably culverted as it ran eastwards.

3.4.3 Leat PRN 12072 runs N-S, presumably culverted under the large spoil tips south-east of engine shaft. It appears to be the continuation of leat PRN 12043. The leat feeds reservoir PRN 12063, which held water for the boilers at the lower engine house site (PRNs 12060/12066).

3.4.4 Leat PRN 12064 was sluiced from the south-east corner of reservoir PRN 12063 and carried water towards the boiler house PRN 12066.

3.4.5 The line of a leat (PRN 12054) can be traced running downhill to reservoir PRN 12063, but there is no evidence to suggest the source of the water.

3.5 Buildings

3.5.1 The remains of a structure (PRN 12065) are located between the two engine house complexes. The building was recorded by the OS in 1874 and 1900 as a rectangular building c.11 x 4m, on a north-west to south-east axis with a longer wall on the south side, extending towards the lower engine house.

3.5.2 A complex of buildings were located on the north side of the main mine track PRN 12050. The buildings are recorded by the OS in 1874 and appear to be unaltered in plan since then. There appear to be three separate buildings forming two parallel runs, of which only the foundations now survive. The northern line of buildings (PRN 12075), c.36 x 5m overall, was probably a pair of cottages; they appear to share a plot of land (PRN 12074) to the north, which was probably a garden and had a separate entrance track (PRN 12052) which led off the main mine track. The cottages were still occupied in 1907, when after some 10-12 years of wrangling over non-payment of rent, a solicitor on behalf of Llanarmon Mining Company had visited the site (D/GR/396). One of the cottages was occupied by John Ellis at this time and the other was vacant. There appears to have been some dispute over land ownership, although Grosvenor Estates unquestionably owned the mineral rights. A take-note had been granted in December 1891 to John Thompson (Llanarmon District Mines) for the re-working of Belgrave Mine (D/GR/396) and the terms included the recovery of the Belgrave Cottages and keeping two miners in work. The occupants had repudiated their liability to pay rent from 1894 to 1912.

3.5.3 The two buildings PRNs 12076 and 12077, each c.13 x 8m, form the southern run of buildings, alongside the mine track. The eastermost building (PRN 12077) may have been the smithy, as raised mounds covering areas of collapse suggest a chimney site; the other may have been a stores. There is no clear evidence to suggest that they were processing sheds. The buildings are surrounded by a stone-walled enclosure, which evidently altered in shape between the 1874 and 1900 OS surveys. It survives as surveyed by the OS in 1900, divided into two parcels of land by the inner rectangular enclosure (PRN 12074) and a dividing wall.

3.5.4 A series of three adjoining platforms (PRN 12094) lie opposite the cottages, alongside track PRN 12050.

3.5.5 The building (PRN 12081), located at the end of track PRN 12051, appears to have had three rooms and is the most likely site for the mine office.

3.6 Tracks

3.6.1 The main mine track (PRN 12050) enters the site from the Eryrys road, passes the cottages and dressing floor waste, crosses the north side of the engine shaft complex and continues north-west over the limestone ridge to the western workings on the Belgrave Vein at Bryn-yr-orsedd (SJ19505930). The track was recorded by the OS in 1874, but its line has altered since slightly as it passes the engine shaft complex and cottages.

3.6.2 A second major track (PRN 12049) appears to have served the mine and the quarry (PRN 12057). The track branches south off track PRN 12050 and passes several small trails north-east of the quarry entrance. The track passes the front of the quarry and continues to curve north to the main mine site, meeting track PRN 12050 again, west of the reservoir PRN 12042. A short length of track (PRN 12059) branches east off PRN 12049, providing access to shaft PRN 12046.

3.6.3 A public footpath (PRN 12058), which runs N-S through the mine site, crosses track PRN 12049 and continues southwards along the west side of the quarry towards Blaen-y-nant (SJ20005830). The footpath was recorded by the OS in 1874.

3.6.4 Track PRN 12051 branches off the quarry track (PRN 12049) and runs north to the lower engine house complex.

3.6.5 A short length of track (PRN 12053) is located running from the areas of jig waste to the engine house complex. It presumably once ran east off track PRN 12050.

3.6.6 Track PRN 12055 leads from the engine shaft westwards to meet the main mine tracks (PRNs 12049-50).

3.6.7 Track PRN 12052 gives access to the cottages from the main track (PRN 12050). The track is shown on the 1900 OS map, but does not appear in 1874. A short path (PRN 12056) seems to form a track from the cottage track to the public footpath, as surveyed by the OS in 1900.

3.7 Quarrying

3.7.1 A substantial quarry (PRN 12057), located south of the mine site was presumably used as a source of stone for mine buildings; it is connected to the mine by track PRN 12049. It was recorded by the OS in 1874. A small area of quarrying (PRN 12083) is located alongside track PRN 12049.

3.8 Later working at the site

3.8.1 Take notes (D/GR/297, 756, 759) were granted by Grosvenor Estates to Robert Group Quarries in October 1928, initially for two years. These permitted the removal of waste, limestone and spar from the lead mine site, but required that the site was left in good repair. The permit was extended to 1936, when Mr Burley was granted the licence. The plans attached to the areas of permitted workings of the waste are amended OS maps, lifted from the 1874 edition, outlining the area between the two engine houses.

3.8.2 In 1978, a shaft capping programme was conducted by N.K.C. Partnership in the Llanarmon District and included two Belgrave shafts. The old engine shaft, originally stone-lined and circular, was recorded by N.K.C. as being capped along with an un-named stone-lined circular shaft, bearing a datestone inscribed JP1804. The head of the engine shaft is no longer visible, but the NGR quoted is shaft PRN 12036. The NGR given for the datestone shaft corresponds to shaft PRN 12046, but there is no evidence now to suggest it was ever capped. There are, however, three capped shafts, which are readily identifiable, (PRNs 12062, 12097 and 12098) and it may be that the grid references quoted for the capping have simply been taken from the OS and are incorrect.

3.8.3 An application was submitted in 1981 by Welsh Aggregates Ltd to extend the Burley Hill Quarry, located on the former Pant Du Mine site (PRN 18148). The application to extract limestone from land known as Belgrave Mine, was withdrawn in 1985.

4. Recommendations

4.1 The mine sett is a rare survival of a steam powered lead mining site in Wales, with evidence of two engine houses.

4.2 The site is of national importance and as such is recommended for scheduling.
(CPAT Metal Mines Survey - ground survey)

Sources :
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1993 , Site visit record - PRN18005
Ellis, B , 1994 , The History of quarrying in the Maeshafn - Llanarmon Area , Denbighshire Historical Society Transactions : 43 : 45-66
Williams, C. J., & Bick, D , 1992 , List of metalliferous mine sites of industrial archaeological importance

Events :

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 18005

Compiled date : 31-12-1995


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 21, 2025, 4:00 am - File produced for Archwilio from CPAT's Regional HER.
Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, The Offices, Coed y Dinas, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RP
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