DAT5502

Heneb Historic Environment Record

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Penmaenmelyn Mine; Coba Copper Mine

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 5502
Trust : Dyfed
Community : St Davids and The Cathedral Close
Unitary authority : Pembrokeshire
NGR : SM71522360
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Copper Mine
Status : Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Summary :
A 19th century copper mine complex on the sea edge shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map (1889) as Copper Mine Disused. The complex includes two areas of quarrying (PRN 99160 and 99161,) a shaft (PRN 99156) a self-draining mine tunnel called an adit (PRN 99159) and the stone foundations of two buildings (PRNs 99158 and 99155) and a revetment wall (PRN 99157). The first known reference to the mine is the St Davids Tithe award of 1841 where the map shows two small buildings marked as Cuba. The mine is believed to have ceased production in 1883 following a fatal accident.
The complex takes the form of a level terrace aligned north to south supported by the revetment wall along the cliff edge. The remains of the buildings survive as low stone walls at either end of the terrace. The northern most building PRN 99155 encloses a now blocked shaft head shown on the early mapping. To the SW of this is the head of the shaft PRN 99156. This connects up with the adit which extends southwards emerging at a portal ovet a gulley on the south side of the complex. Both the shaft and the adit shows signs of mineralisation where ore bearing rock was extracted. The quarries lie on the eastern side side of the complex with the working faces facing inland.
The remains of the walls and shaft are shown on the most recent Ordnance Survey mapping (Mastermap 2011). Recent aerial photographs show the site is overgrown with grass and other invasive vegetation. At a field visit in 2010 it was noted that some of the remains are eroding into the sea.

Description :
"At the base of the cliff at the western tip of the Treginnis peninsula are the ruins of two buildings and a shaft, the remains of a copper mine listed as Cuba in the 1838 Tithe Schedule. The southern of the two
buildings measures approximately 8x5m but the western end of the structure has fallen away into the sea.The walls are at the most 1m high and 0.5m wide. A wall running along the edge of the cliff for about 20m connects this structure with the second building. Here only the northern and parts of the western and eastern walls survive. Most of the building appears to have fallen into a sea cave which may have been enlarged as part of the mining process. A vertical shaft lies just south of the second building. The extraction of copper at this location began in 1829 and continued on an irregular basis throughout the 19th century" (Plunkett Dillon & Latham 1989, 12-13; NT Ref. 83535). The mine was little changed from the above descriptions during the archaeological farm visit (2005). The exposed nature of the location, and some light grazing by sheep and ponies means that the site is easily visible from the coast path. However, erosion is continuing, making safety a concern. Visited 21/01/2005 (HGM)

Mine on very edge of cliff. Foundations of two stone buildings are present a small quarry and a shaft approximately 10m deep. A track leads down to the workings. The site is eroding into the sea. Two small buildings named Cuba marked on the St Davids Tithe map. Murphy 1996

For detailed descriptions of individual elements see PRNs 99155-99161.

Sources :
Claughton, P , 1995 , A list of mines in Pembrokeshire and the adjoining parts of Carmarthen and Ceredigion (

© DAT)
Milne,H , 2005 , Tir Gofal Management Plan -Treginnis Uchaf.
Pritchard, H , 2013 , 105547 A0029530 UID 300,057 HEF REPORT
, St Davids Tithe map ,
, 1838 , Tithe Schedule ,
Claughton,PF , 1990 ,
Claughton,PF , 1990 , Metal Mining sites in Pembrokeshire ,
Claughton,PF , 1991 ,
Claughton,PF , 1991 , Metal Mining in Pembrokeshire ,
Murphy K , 1996 , Pembrokeshire Coastal Survey ,
Murphy,K , One colour slide ,
NT Arch Survey , 1989 , Treginnis and Porth Clais - South Wales ,
OS , 1907 , 1:2500 ,
RCAHM , 1969 ,

Events :
69351 : PENMAENMELYN MINE;COBA COPPER MINE, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1969 (year : 1969)
87135 : PENMAENMELYN MINE;COBA COPPER MINE, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1989 (year : 1989)
90588 : PENMAENMELYN MINE;COBA COPPER MINE, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1991 (year : 1991)
91867 : PENMAENMELYN MINE;COBA COPPER MINE, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1996 (year : 1996)

Related records
33470

Compiled date : 01-01-1950

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February 7, 2026, 3:17 pm

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