Llywernog Mine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Llywernog Mine
Pair of restored water wheels at Llywernog Mine
Type	Silver-lead mine
Etymology	"The place of foxes"
Location	Llywernog, Ceredigion, Wales
First mined	1742
Restored	1973
Restored by	Peter Lloyd Harvey
Current use	Tourist attraction and industrial heritage museum
Website	https://www.silvermountainexperience.co.uk
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Llywernog Mine is an old silver and lead mine in Llywernog, Ceredigion, Wales. It was first used in the 1700s. Today, it's a fun industrial heritage museum and tourist attraction.

This mine is one of many silver and lead mines in Wales. What makes it special is that many of its old buildings and mining tools are still there. They have been fixed up for you to see at the museum!

Miners first found a special rock called galena around 1742. This rock contains both silver and lead. Real mining started in the 1770s. The mine worked on and off for over 100 years. But in 1891, lead prices dropped, and the mine had to close. It opened again briefly from 1907 to 1911 to dig for zinc.

In 1974, people started fixing up the mine. It opened as a museum later that same year. In 2012, the site got a new name: The Silver Mountain Experience. It even has a spooky underground adventure!

Nearby Mines

There were four mines very close to Llywernog. These included Llywernog itself, Powell's mine, Clara mine, and Ponterwyd mine. Llywernog is the only one that still has buildings you can see.

Another mine called the Bog, or Craignant Bach, is also nearby. Bodcoll mine is located closer to Devil's Bridge.

A Look Back: Mine History

The flooded engine shaft

Early Days of Mining (1742–1825)

The first discovery of galena rock was around 1742. Mining probably began in the 1770s. This was after a new road was built, making it easier to move the ore. By 1791, about 60 miners worked here.

At that time, the mine used at least one large water wheel. This wheel helped pump water out of the mine. Miners also dug deeper shafts and brought up the ore. By 1795, there were at least two water wheels. But work sometimes stopped because there wasn't enough water to power them.

Around 1810, another water wheel was built to help drain the mine. Later, in 1825, a company tried to take over the mine. But they soon found that lead prices were too low to make a profit.

New Companies Take Over (1840–1852)

In 1840, a man named William Lewis tried to sell the mine. He wanted £500 for it, including tools and water wheels. A new company, the Rheidol United Mines Company, started running Llywernog. They also managed two other mines nearby.

Later, the Llywernog Mines Company took over. But they didn't keep the mines for long. By 1852, new people were trying to work the mine, but they didn't sell much ore.

Llywernog United Mining Company (1858–1861)

In 1858, the Llywernog United Mining Company was formed. They worked on Llywernog and other nearby mines. They tried to drain the main shaft, which was very deep. But their 20-foot water wheel wasn't strong enough to reach the very bottom. Not much mining happened during this time.

John Barton Balcombe's Time (1861–1875)

The wheel pit where a huge 50-foot water wheel once stood

In 1861, a company run by John Barton Balcombe took over Llywernog. They bought the mine for £2,000. They brought in a bigger 40-foot water wheel to help drain the mine completely. By 1862, the mine was drained very deep.

In 1863, 14 men worked at the mine. Work continued through the 1860s. In 1868, the Llywernog Mining Company was formed. By 1869, the main shaft was very deep. But again, a lack of water caused problems.

To fix this, a 16-horsepower steam engine was added in December. It was expensive to run, so they only used it when water wheels couldn't work. In 1871, they started using ponds to store water. This helped keep the wheels running during dry times. This allowed the main shaft to reach its deepest point of 72 fathoms (about 432 feet).

The amount of lead found was low, and prices were not good. A new company was started in 1872. Work continued until 1873, but water kept rising in the mine. A huge 50-foot water wheel was built in 1875. It got its power from a water channel system that was 6 or 7 miles long!

A view inside the mine

Powell Mines Company (1875–1891)

After 1875, Llywernog Mine became part of Powell's mine. By the late 1870s, the mine was not active. But in 1882, the Powell Mines Company took over. They paid a yearly fee to keep the mine. Not much was achieved during this time. The main shaft was even renamed "Hanson's Shaft."

In 1891, low lead prices forced many mines to close, including Llywernog.

Zinc Mining and Final Closure (1907–1914)

In 1907, a company called Scottish Cardigan Mines, Ltd. leased the mine. They were interested in its zinc. The 50-foot water wheel was used to pump out the mine completely. But by 1911, zinc prices also fell, and the mine closed again.

There was a little bit of work done in 1914, but it wasn't very successful. The big 50-foot water wheel, which people could see from the main road, was taken down in 1953 because it was falling apart.

Bringing the Mine Back to Life (1973–2012)

In 1973, Peter Lloyd Harvey and others formed the Mid Wales Mining Museum Ltd. They wanted to fix up the old mine. Restoration work started in 1974. After fixing some buildings, the site opened to the public as a museum in August.

Work continued through the 1970s and 1980s. They restored buildings and mining tools. They also cleared out the underground tunnels so people could explore them safely.

The Silver Mountain Experience (2012–Present)

In 2012, Llywernog Mine was given a new name: The Silver Mountain Experience. This included opening "The Black Chasm," a scary underground attraction inside the mine.

Mine Features

Main Shaft

The main mine shaft was dug to a depth of 72 fathoms, which is about 432 feet deep! Miners worked at many different levels inside the shaft. A large part of this shaft is now filled with water.

View from inside Balcombe's Level, a 150-foot long tunnel

Balcombe's Level

Balcombe's Level is a tunnel located to the east of the main shaft. It was the last adit (a horizontal tunnel for finding ore) opened by Balcombe. This tunnel was the first underground area that was cleared and made safe for visitors to explore.