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.

Aber-deunant Mine, lead mine (dis)

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 8480
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Llanidloes Without
Unitary authority : Powys
NGR : SN90658655
Site Type (preferred type first) : MULTIPERIOD LEAD MINE

Summary :
Aberdaunant lead mine, multi phased

Description :
Aberdaunant is said to be an early mining site, but the mine continued to be worked into the late 19th century and the layout of the lower part of the complex at the end of its working history is captured on the first edition of the 1:2,500 scale Ordnance Survey map of 1886. Most of the buildings, levels, shafts and spoil tips shown on this Ordnance Survey map are identifiable today, although few of the buildings are now represented by more than a levelled area or slight rubble. An engine house has been largely removed and only its wheel pit is now identifiable (NPRN 534559). Higher up the slope the other two engine house (NPRN 534552) is one of the most substantial structures remaining. At this higher level there are also a number of levels and open cuts (e.g. NPRNs 534778 & 534780), as well as infilled shafts (NPRN 534784 & 534810), some of which may represent an earlier phase of mining activity, as they are not depicted on the late 19th century Ordnance Survey mapping (Trysor, 2014).

Lead (Prehistoric/18th century-1879)

Geology
Ordovician Van Formation grits. The vein strikes SW-NE. Mineralisation includes galena and sphalerite in a quartz gangue.

Workings
3 adits, a crosscut level, and an engine shaft relate to the most recent workings. The levels are situated immediately north of Nant Gwestyn in the valley bottom. The engine shaft is at SN90788655.

Some ancient levels and trials exist on the northern end of the lode below Pen Y Gaer hillfort at SN90758675.

There is a narrow opencut with traces of lead mineralisation in the side walls at SN91008675. There may have been a shaft through the bottom of this feature which is now infilled. This working and trials around it belong to a group of workings known as Crowlwm but was probably worked with the Bryntail or Aberdaunant setts.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
A 30ft waterwheel to drive the crushers was installed in 1871. This was supplied with water by a 200 yard long leat which has been cut into the bedrock in places. The wheelpit is still visible at basal foundation level.

In 1876 an engine house was completed and housed a 16hp twin cylinder engine. The engine house survives partially but urgently needs some consolidation work if the walls are to survive an imminent collapse.

Processing
30" crushers, buddles, and jiggers were all formerly present on this site. Only the base of a possible ore slide and the crusher wheelpit are recognisable at present. Overall the dressing floors are poorly preserved.

Other features
A possible mine office building foundation is visible on the dressing floors at the foot of the slope.

Sources :
Bick, D E , 1977 , The Old Metal Mines of Mid Wales 4
Bick, D E , 1990 , The Old Metal Mines Of Mid-Wales
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1983 , Site visit record - PRN8480
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1995 , Site visit record - PRN8480
Foster-Smith, J R , 1978 , The Mines of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire
Hall, J. & Sambrook, P. , 2014 , Uplands Initiative - Montgomeryshire Residual Moorland, Archaeological Survey (Part 3) ( © Trysor)
Hamer, E , 1872 , A parochial account of Llanidloes (continued) , The Montgomeryshire Collections : 5 : 1-48
Jones, J A & Moreton, N J M , 1977 , The Mines and Minerals of Mid-Wales
Jones, O T , 1922 , Lead and Zinc. The Mining District of North Cardiganshire and West Montgomeryshire
Ordnance Survey , 1886 , OS map

Events :
164398 : Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire Residual Moorlands Upland Survey, field survey, 2014 (year : 2014)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 402057 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/402057/
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 84058
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 84057
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 8481

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 22, 2025, 11:53 am - 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