Maeshafn Main Site

aka Maes y Hafn


Lead Mine

Worked from early 18C to 1903

Jan 1st, 2024 from Cambrian by Buddle-Bot

Feb 19th, 2025 by Osian



North Wales
Maeshafn
53.140873, -3.200171
SJ 1982 6109
Private Land
250m
#553


Main mine site, as identified in the plan deposited at CRO Hawarden, has become overgrown with woodland. A single shaft remains visible at SJ 1981 6111, situated to the southeast of Bryn Hyfryd. Two key shafts were part of the workings: No. 5 shaft, known as Pen-y-bryn, measured 5.50 feet in diameter and reached a depth of 310 yards, while No. 6 shaft, called Pen-y-nant, was 3.50 feet in diameter and extended to a depth of 40 yards.

Mining operations included processing facilities, with dressing floor areas located along the riverban. Bryn-Hyfryd house, positioned at SJ 1976 6103, is believed to have served as the mine office, and other buildings in the vicinity were likely associated with stables and a smithy. Nearby, Nant Cottage at SJ 1960 6100, a Grade II Listed building, dates back to the late 17th or early 18th century. Originally built as a farmhouse, it was later reputedly converted into a row of five cottages to accommodate workers from the lead mine.

Inncludes an adit level at SJ 195 614 and a pair of large, parallel wheel-pits, as recorded by the Ordnance Survey in 1979.



Publications (5)

  • (1921); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XIX - Lead and Zinc: in Carboniferous of North Wales; 169 pages
  • BGS - Mine Plans (large, zoomable) - Maes-Y-Safn Mines; 1 pages
  • Jones, Nigel and Walters, Mark and Frost, Pat (2004); Mountains and Orefields; 208 pages
  • King, Tony (2005/6); Maes y Safn Lead Mine, The; Transactions of the Denbighshire Historical Society : 54 : 23-54
  • Morgan Rees, D. (1975); Industrial Archaeology of Wales, The





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