Cwmystwyth Mine - Ceredigion
Cwmystwyth Mine is considered to be one of the most important mining sites in Wales. The site has a long history from prehistoric times through to final closure around 1950.
Mining on any scale had ceased in the later 1920s and most of men were paid off around 1930 and only caretakers kept on maintaining machinery and buildings and to deter thefts. Use of the mill probably ceased at this time but had probably only been intermittent through much of the 1920s.
Production during 1930s was spasmodic and small - it seems to have been confined to hand-picking ore off the dumps. Activity ended around the start of World War II. It is believed that the mill machinery was scrapped immediately after the war. The mine being officially abandoned in 1950 though no real activity had taken place since the start of the war. It seems that the mill machinery was scrapped immediately after the war.
Staff House (the Barracks) was part converted to a house and the remainder simply decayed. The last resident of Staff House moved out around 1950 after which decay speeded up.
I visited the site in May 1984 and made a second visit in 1986 when the barracks and the main mill building were still standing. Unfortunately, these buildings were demolished a few years later. My greatest regret was that I didn't take more photographs!
The site is now being conserved by the Cwmystwyth Mines Trust.
For more details please go to: http://www.cambrianmines.co.uk/Cwmystwyth.htm
I am grateful to "Garregfawr" on the Adit Now forum for providing with me with some additional information on this site.
For 35mm Archive photographs of Cwmystwyth Mine taken on my visits in the 1980s please click here: https://www.jhluxton.com/The-35mm-Film-Archive/Mines-of-Wales/Cwmystwyth-Mine-Ceredigion/
Read MoreMining on any scale had ceased in the later 1920s and most of men were paid off around 1930 and only caretakers kept on maintaining machinery and buildings and to deter thefts. Use of the mill probably ceased at this time but had probably only been intermittent through much of the 1920s.
Production during 1930s was spasmodic and small - it seems to have been confined to hand-picking ore off the dumps. Activity ended around the start of World War II. It is believed that the mill machinery was scrapped immediately after the war. The mine being officially abandoned in 1950 though no real activity had taken place since the start of the war. It seems that the mill machinery was scrapped immediately after the war.
Staff House (the Barracks) was part converted to a house and the remainder simply decayed. The last resident of Staff House moved out around 1950 after which decay speeded up.
I visited the site in May 1984 and made a second visit in 1986 when the barracks and the main mill building were still standing. Unfortunately, these buildings were demolished a few years later. My greatest regret was that I didn't take more photographs!
The site is now being conserved by the Cwmystwyth Mines Trust.
For more details please go to: http://www.cambrianmines.co.uk/Cwmystwyth.htm
I am grateful to "Garregfawr" on the Adit Now forum for providing with me with some additional information on this site.
For 35mm Archive photographs of Cwmystwyth Mine taken on my visits in the 1980s please click here: https://www.jhluxton.com/The-35mm-Film-Archive/Mines-of-Wales/Cwmystwyth-Mine-Ceredigion/
