CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
The following information is from the on-line database 'Archwilio'.
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Fedw Mine; St Harmon Mine

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 8436
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : St Harmon
Unitary authority : Powys
NGR : SN97657930
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL LEAD MINE

Description :
Lead (Pre 1869-1878)

Geology
The vein trends ENE in Silurian Frongoch formation rocks. The mineralisation includes galena, pyrite and chalcopyrite.

Workings
A large engine shaft, now blocked, and an older shaft, also blocked, are situated at the south-western end of the sett. There was also a deep adit and level both now run-in.

Transport
There is a short run of tramway surviving as earthworks on the dressing floors which supply ore to the ore bins above the buddles.

A leat leads off from the stream down to the dressing floors where it supplied water to the buddles and crusher.


Power
Substantial remains of an engine house survive on the dressing floors. This was a 33" cylinder double acting engine used for pumping, winding and crushing. The engine house has brick quoins on the corners and a round chimney attatched to the corner of the boiler room. There appears to have been a stone lined culvert running northwards out from the engine (?) room. The engine also pumped the West Fedw mine shaft.

A substantial concrete base south-west of the latter building for another horizontal winding engine displays a number of fixing bolts and narrow linear pits. Interpretation is made difficult by the dense tree cover.

A number of small waterwheels are mentioned as being present but the only wheelpit seen was for driving the two buddles.

A large reservoir is located at the south-western extreme of the mine for supplying water to the dressing floors.

There is a bob pit at the rim of the engine shaft.

Processing
A crusher house and two round buddles are visible together with a set of seven ore bins above the buddles.

A substantial foundation exists above the buddles which has traces of internal partitions but its function is not clear; it would be the most logical position for a platform for the jiggers.

Two large ore bins, which have largely collapsed due to damage when a nearby farm track was cut through, can be seen below the engine shaft.

Other features
Mine office and store buildings are to be found alongside the track into the small forestry plantation below Plas Tylwch.

Sources :
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1983 , Site visit record - PRN8436
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1995 , Site visit record - PRN8436
Foster-Smith, J R , 1978 , The Mines of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire
Hall, G., W., 1993 , Metal Mines of Southern Wales
Ordnance Survey , ???? , OS map
Walters, M , 1993 , Powys Metal Mines Survey 1993: consultation draft ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)

Events :

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 8436

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 7, 2025, 1:07 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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