Pool Park


Lead, Zinc, and Silver Mine
Worked from 1860 to 1881

Jan 1st, 2024 from CPAT by Buddle-Bot

Feb 25th, 2025 by BertyBasset



North Wales
Esclusham Mountain
53.0482674, -3.1217389
SJ 2490 5070
Open Access
405m
#2,002


The Pool Park Vein and the South Minera Vein intersect beneath the most westerly workings and processing areas of the Park setts. The 1899 Schedule of Buildings for the Minera Mountain Sett, which includes an inventory of the mining structures, lists notable buildings such as an engine house, cabin, washing shed, and smithy for the Pool Park mine. A large shaft and whim circle remain at coordinates SJ 2495 5007, with a small hut or coe to the west of the whim. Another water-filled hollow at SJ 2500 5008 could mark the location of the main shaft, with the building foundations to the northwest potentially belonging to an engine house.

The site contains numerous smaller shafts, with Boundary Shaft located to the southeast of the main site at SJ 2515 5005. This area is surrounded by a large pile of waste, and the stone foundations of an ore bin can be found beneath the turf, leading down to a raised track that connects the workings with the main site. A track links Boundary Shaft to another old shaft at SJ 2525 5045, which is capped with concrete. Additionally, stone foundations of a small rectangular building lie under turf mounds to the east of this shaft. Further east, the Mary Ann Shaft or Kyrke’s Shaft at SJ 2540 5040 remains as a deep shaft with a whim circle and the stone surround of the pivot still intact.

The adit level for the mine, known as the Gomerian Level, was driven from a point near Cae Llwyd Reservoir (SJ 2700 4780).

A substantial leat system, visible as an earthen bank running around the perimeter of the sett above the Aber Sychnant Valley, was essential for powering the mine’s operations. A large amount of water was required for the washing and separation of lead, with the Minera Mines in the valley also being fed by large leats running off Esclusham Mountain. The 1899 inventory lists two engines in operation at the Pool Park mine.

The processing areas for the mine were located to the west of the main whim shaft (SJ 2495 5007), and the large area of jigger waste found in the area indicates the location of the dressing floors above Aber Sychnant.



Publications (3)

  • (1921); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XIX - Lead and Zinc: in Carboniferous of North Wales; 169 pages
  • Bennett, J. (1995); Minera Lead Mines and Quarries
  • Jones, Nigel and Walters, Mark and Frost, Pat (2004); Mountains and Orefields; 208 pages





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