CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
The following information is from the on-line database 'Archwilio'.
Use the icons in the sources section below to download further digital information.

Llanymynech Mines

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 23483
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Carreghofa
Unitary authority : Powys
NGR : SJ2640022000
Site Type (preferred type first) : MULTIPERIOD COPPER MINE / MULTIPERIOD LEAD MINE
Status : scheduled monument

Description :
Lead/Copper (Pre-Roman ?/Roman/Medieval/19th century)

Geology
Carboniferous limestone with veins trending NNE-SSW. The vein mineralisation includes a calcite gangue with lead and copper ores mainly as secondary oxidisation products including cerrussite and malachite.

Workings
At least 10 shafts were formerly visible before landscaping together with a large number of shallow pits and shaft-mounds. The main workings include the Pit Series, Winze Series and the Ogof workings. The Winze Series at SJ26502236 consists of a long adit at SJ26582225 leading to a winze and levels while the Pit Series consists of two parralel levels which continue northwards as a line of shallow pits on the surface, still visible at SJ26472222, which appear to connect with the Winze Series workings.

In the face of the large southern quarry are three levels one of which terminates abruptly while the others continue north and connect with three shafts in the Carreghwfa workings at SJ26502186. There is a connecting quarry tunnel between the two main quarries.

Another adit runs west from the base of a quarry on the eastern side of the hill but does not continue for any great distance SJ26932219.

Another adit is believed to appear in the western cliff face and can only be reached by ropelines; its position is not confirmed.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
No evidence.

Processing
Lead and/or copper processing probably took place on the hilltop as evidenced by the former reported existence of bole hill smelters and processing spoil heaps prior to landscaping for the golf course.

CPAT excavations in 1981, just inside the eastern multivallate defences at SJ26892214, revealed evidence of metalworking hearths relating to the reworking of smelted local copper ores. This activity has been dated to the second and/or first centuries BC by radiocarbon dating.

Other features
No evidence.

Comments


Sources :
Adams, D R , 1992 , The Mines of Llanymynech Hill
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1995 , Site visit record - PRN23483
Foster-Smith, J R , 1978 , The Mines of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire
Hankinson, R, Britnell, B & Silvester, R J , 2012 , Medieval and Early Post-Medieval Industry in East and North-East Wales: Scheduling Enhancement Programme ( © CPAT)
Jones, N W , 2004 , Llanymynech Heritage Area. Archaeological Survey ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Jones, N W, Hankinson, R and Silvester, R J , 2012 , Llanymynech Hill: Cultural Heritage and Management ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Moore, J., M., 1990 , Llanymynech Hillfort: a case study in landscape archaeology
Musson, C R & Northover, J P , 1989 , Llanymynech Hillfort, Powys and Shropshire: observations on construction work 1981 , The Montgomeryshire Collections : 77 : 15-26
Rivet, A., L., F., 1964 , Town and Country in Roman Britain
Silvester, R J , 2012 , Mapping Montgomeryshire: Estate Maps from 1589 to 1840 , The Montgomeryshire Collections : 100 : 149-180
Unknown , 1753 , title unknown - Llanymynech Mines
Unknown , 1841 , title unknown - Llanymynech Mines
Unknown , 1841 , Eastern and western workings, mine plans Tithe Map
Walters, M , 1993 , Powys Metal Mines Survey 1993: consultation draft ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Wedd et al , 1929 , The country around Oswestry

Events :
113013 : Llanymynech Heritage Area, survey 2004 (year : 2004)
123894 : Llanymynech Hill: Cultural Heritage and Management, assessment project 2012 (year : 2012)
123896 : Llanymynech Hill: Cultural Heritage and Management, desk based assessment 2012 (year : 2012)
123124 : Medieval and Post-Medieval Industry, assessment project 2011-12 (year : 2011-12)
141996 : Medieval and Post-Medieval Industry, desk based assessment 2011-12 (year : 2011-12)

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 23483

Compiled date : 31-12-1995


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 24, 2025, 5:34 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

Comment on this record?       Privacy and cookies