CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
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Hush Eisteddfod Mine

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 18067
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Minera
Unitary authority : Wrexham
NGR : SJ25005250
Site Type (preferred type first) : MULTIPERIOD LEAD MINE / MULTIPERIOD SILVER MINE

Description :
Lead/Silver (Early workings to late 19th century)

Geology
Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
The Hush Vein can be followed as a deep open-cut that heads north from the Ragman sett towards Top Eisteddfod. Returns are recorded for the Hush Mining Company in 1876-77 (Burt et al 1992), but fieldwork suggests very early workings in this area.

The open workings have large shafts on both sides, some close to the Quarry boundary fence.

The larger shafts are at SJ25225240 and SJ25135249, being whim shafts on the north-eastern side of the open-cut and the large whim shaft at SJ25165237 on the south-western side of the open-cut.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
The larger shafts have whim circles.

Processing
No evidence.

Other features
No evidence.
(CPAT Metal Mines Survey)

1. Location

1.1 The Hush Eisteddfod workings are located to the south-west of the natural limestone outcrops and old quarries that form the highest part of the mountain at Eisteddfod, immediately north of the disused Minera Limestone Quarry.

2. Geology

2.1 Solid geology - Carboniferous Limestone, which outcrops close to the workings. Mineralisation on the Hush Vein, which has southern strings, contained galena with a small silver content and gangue calcite.

3. The Survey

3.1 For the purpose of this survey, the Hush Eisteddfod Mine is deemed to be the the workings on the Hush Vein south-east of Top Eisteddfod (PRN 104274). The survey area includes the supposed Hush and the mining areas to the north and south of it.

3.2 Workings

3.2.1 The earlier workings on the Hush Vein are at Top Eisteddfod; south-east of them, 19th-century workings have largely masked the evidence of early mining. Shone's map of 1863 and Symons's map of 1865 place the Hush Vein in the West Minera sett. Returns were entered for the West Minera Company 1881-82 and the Hush Eisteddfod Lead Mining Company for 1876-77 only. The workings of these companies are represented by several large shafts and trials in the area.

3.2.2 The Hush itself appears as a dry valley with several large shafts in the bottom, as well as on its northern and southern sides. The sides are largely formed by waste from surrounding workings and processing. The Hush Vein runs through the Ragman Mine at the disused quarry entrance (SJ25425222) and curves north-westwards over Eisteddfod towards the old shafts outside of the survey limits at SJ24605272. The western end of the Hush appears to have been worked initially as an open-cut, possibly exploiting an exposed limestone outcrop. A maze of waste tips suggest successive periods of open workings, each producing fairly linear tips as the exposed face was extended further northwards. Several small shafts were subsequently sunk in this area.

3.2.3 The Hush Eisteddfod/West Minera Engine Shaft complex is located south-east of the intense workings (PRN 18828) on the Hush Vein. The main shaft (PRN 18816) appears to have been wound initially by a horse whim (PRN 18815). The circle, c.9m diameter, is located north-west of the shaft. The whim either supplemented or was superseded by a winding engine, identified by basal foundations; the engine house (PRN 18811), c.7 x 5m, has an adjoining boiler house (PRN 18812), c.8 x 4m, on its north side. To the north-west of the boiler house, a building platform (PRN 12024) could be the site of a coal store. A reservoir (PRN 18817), c.12 x 8.5m and 1.1m deep, is located north-east of the engine shaft, which was presumably used for storing water for the boilers. The shaft has a stone-lined ore bin (PRN 18813) on the south-east side (see Plate 3). The extent of the buildings associated with the engine shaft suggest that it was a 19th-century venture.

3.2.4 The engine shaft (PRN 18816) appears to be the main shaft in this area top of the Hush. The dense workings (PRN 18828) on the Hush Vein are located north-west of engine shaft. Three large shafts and spoil tips are located west of engine shaft (PRNs 12027-9). Shaft PRN 12027 overlies part of track PRN 18838; the track is the footpath surveyed by the OS in 1872 and presumably shaft PRN 12027 post-dates it. Several smaller shafts run along the vein south-eastwards amid large areas of spoil. The Hush appears to have been worked as a linear open-cut in this area, following a vein, prior to the deeper shafts being sunk. The spoil tips on the south side suggest that rock and soil was piled up as the vein was followed.

3.2.5 The open-cut is interrupted by a made-up bank of spoil and a modern fence-line. A path (PRN 18845) leads to a stile in the fence and continues downhill as Track PRN 18844. There is no real evidence to suggest that this artificial bank was ever a retaining bank of a reservoir and it appears to have been constructed to carry a track to cross the open-cut.

3.2.6 South of the main Hush Vein workings, an east-west string (PRN 18827) is identified as small shafts and linear cuts, south of the modern quarry track PRN 18836. The workings on these strings have the same early characteristics as the intense western workings on the Hush Vein (i.e. density of shafts). A concrete base at the western end of the E-W string (PRN 18827) is probably related to modern quarrying rather than a mining feature.

3.2.7 Several large shafts, presumably late 19th-century workings, are located at the eastern end of the open-cut. A large shaft PRN 18860 is located within the open-cut, c.11m diameter, located on the west side of the shaft. Building PRN 18809 and structure PRN 18952 are associated with the shaft and located on the south-east side, within the open-cut, but their functions are unclear. The structure (PRN 18952) is set against the south side of the open-cut; its' position suggests it was part of a haulage system for raising ore out of the open-cut. A collapsed level (PRN 18953) is cut in northwards, from within the open-cut above an area of collapse.

3.2.8 The Hush has narrowed considerably at this point and there are no further workings within it. However, three substantial shafts (PRNs 18959-61) are located along the south side.

3.2.9 Ore was presumably transported from the lower workings out of the bottom of the open-cut, via track PRN 18955.

3.2.10 Several shafts are located on the north side of the Hush, beyond the modern fence-line, which presumably lie on the Main Vein, and were worked by Ragman Mining Company in 1865, as recorded by Brenton Symons.

3.2.11 On the south side of the fence, lies a large fenced shaft (PRN 18948) with large spoil tips which slope towards the north side of the open-cut. A smaller shaft (PRN 12087) with surrounding spoil tip is located south-east of this large fenced shaft. Shaft PRN 12088 lies beyond the fence-line, on the edge of the survey area.

3.2.12 Further east, several shafts are located on the edge of and beyond the survey limits. Shafts located on the hillslopes above the quarry road, are presumably 19th-century workings of the Ragman Mine.

3.2.13 South of the Hush Vein workings, a southern string of workings (PRN 18827) form the southern extent of the survey in this area, curtailed by the quarry fence. The workings, running east to west, appear as small shafts and linear cuts with low spoil tips suggesting fairly shallow workings. Outside the survey area, a level is visible in the face of the quarry, presumably associated with these workings.

3.3 Processing

3.3.1 Areas of jig waste are located at intervals on both the north and south sides of the Hush. On the north side, the platform PRN 18849, located amid jig waste is possibly a base for a jig. Leat PRN 18818 contours the north side of the Hush and several small reservoirs are located along the line of the leat, which could have provided water for ore dressing.

3.3.2 On the south side of the open-cut, large speads of jig waste are located between the whim circle PRN 18861 and shafts PRNs 18959-61.

3.4 Water Sources

3.4.1 Although several leats lead into and through the area, there is no evidence to suggest a hushing system; the leats apparently carried water for dressing ore. The northern leat (PRN 18818) enters the site north of the engine shaft complex and primarily fed reservoir PRN 18817, storing water for the boilers. The entry and exit sluices are clearly defined and the leat continues to run south-eastwards to a possible reservoir PRN 18848 c.8 x 5m.

3.4.2 Further east, the leat divides and the main leat continues along the top of the open-cut towards areas of jig waste and a small reservoir, south of the large shaft and spoil tip PRN 18958, possibly feeding a small reservoir. A subsidiary leat (PRN 18957) runs off it to feed reservoir PRN 18956 c.5 x 4.5m via a sluice in its west corner.

3.4.3 Leat PRN 18851 can be traced running north of shaft PRN 18958 and picked up again east of whim shaft PRN 18946 as leat PRN 18951. The line of the leat is lost north of fenced shaft PRN 18947. Presumably it fed lower dressing areas, the evidence for which is lost.

3.4.4 Leat PRN 18852 branches off the northern leat PRN 18818 north-west of the engine house complex and possibly continues as leat PRN 18855, following the line of track PRN 18843. It divides, forming leat PRN 18856, of which only a small length is visible. Evidence of the purpose of this leat has also been lost during the construction of the modern quarry track. Leat PRN 18855 appears to have originally followed a direct route, where fenced shaft PRN 18850 is now situated. The line of the leat appears to have been diverted around the north side of the shaft at a later date. There is no other evidence of this leat or any other southern leat, downhill. The southern leats appear to have run south-eastwards for ore dressing, rather than feeding any reservoirs on the south side of the open-cut. Any evidence of reservoirs or jig platforms in the area of jig waste south-east of fenced shaft PRN 18850 may have been lost during the construction of the modern quarry track and the more recent quarry buffer zone.

3.4.5 Further south, another leat PRN 18853 can be traced flowing south-east. This leat runs between shafts PRNs 12028-9 and follws the line of track PRN 18843. Further evidence of the leat is lost, presumably during the construction of the new quarry/farm track PRN 18836.

3.5 Buildings

3.5.1 There are few structural remains along the Hush Vein, but the most substantial buildings appear to have been at the engine shaft site. East of the engine house, a small building platform (PRN 18854), c.3 x 2m, is located on the north-east side leat PRN 18818. The stone foundations of a larger building (PRN 18814), c.7 x 3.5m, are located on the south side of the leat PRN 18818.

3.6 Tracks

3.6.1 Track PRN 18835 now joins the modern track (PRN 18836), east of the quarry area PRN 18857. It is shown as a public footpath on OS maps from 1872, leaving the Ragman Mine and crossing Eisteddfod north-westwards to the modern stile at Bryn Eithin Cottage.

3.6.2 Track PRN 18844 continues from the stile in the modern fence-line, where path PRN 18845 terminates. The track presumably joined track PRN 18843, the access track to the engine house complex.

3.6.3 On the north-east side of the Hush, path PRN 12089 runs from the old field boundary PRN 18950, and dips southwards to meet the stile in the modern fence-line.

3.6.4 Track PRN 18843 runs along the south side of the Hush and connects the engine shaft complex to the lower Ragman Mine (PRN 104267). Ore was presumably carried out via this track.

3.7 Quarries

3.7.1 South of the Hush, on the north slope of the hill rising to the edge of Minera Quarry (PRN 19227) lie two small areas of quarrying (PRNs 18857 and 18862).

3.8 Boundaries

3.8.1 The boundary bank PRN 18950 is located on the south side of the modern fence-line near fenced shaft PRN 18948. This presumably was the 19th-century boundary between the Ragman sett and the Hush Vein workings.

3.8.2 A N-S length of boundary (PRN 18949) , crossed by the modern fence-line, is located west of fenced shaft PRN 18947. Evidence of the bank as it runs north is lost.

4. Recommendations

4.1 The workings on the Hush Vein are unique in Clwyd.

4.2 The sett is recommended for scheduling both as a mine site and as part of the Historic Mining Landscape of Eisteddfod.
(CPAT Metal Mines Survey - ground survey)

Sources :
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1993 , Site visit record - PRN18067
Kennedy, A E , 2001 , Tir Gofal Management Plan: Heritage Management Information (HE1). Scotland Farm Trewddyn - NE/06/2065

Events :

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 18044

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.

June 16, 2025, 2:09 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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