Minera Lead Mines facts for kids
Meadow Shaft of Minera Lead Mines, 1893.
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Minera (Near Wrexham) |
| Country | Wales |
| Production | |
| Products | Lead, Zinc |
| History | |
| Opened | 1845 |
| Active | 1845–1914 |
| Closed | 1914 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Minera Mining Company |
The Minera Lead Mines were once busy mines where people dug for lead. Today, this special place near Wrexham, Wales, is a fun country park and a visitor centre. You can learn all about its history and explore the area!
Contents
History of Minera Lead Mining
Early Mining Days in Minera
The first time we read about lead mining at Minera was in 1296. Back then, King Edward I of England even hired miners from Minera to work in his new mines far away in Devon. But not all the miners left Minera. They kept digging for lead until 1349. Mining stopped then because of a terrible sickness called the Black Death, which affected many people.
Challenges and New Beginnings
In 1527, two men tried to restart mining at Minera. But they faced a big problem: lots of underground rivers caused severe flooding. They couldn't pump the water out, so the mines closed again.
Things changed in 1845 when a company called John Taylor & Sons started the Minera Mining Company. They were able to build a powerful steam engine to pump out the water. This engine was a special type called a Cornish engine, which was common for big jobs like this. They also blasted new tunnels from the valley to help drain the water.
Success and Decline of the Mines
John Taylor & Sons invested a lot of money, about £30,000, to get the mines working. But it paid off! In 1864 alone, they made £60,000 in profit. That's like making over £4 million today!
However, by 1900, the price of lead and zinc dropped a lot. At the same time, the price of coal, which was needed to power the steam engine, went up. It became too expensive to run the mines. The big steam engine stopped working in 1909. By 1914, the owners sold everything, and the Minera Lead Mines closed for good.
Transporting Lead Ore
Minera's Own Railway Line
To move the heavy lead ore, the Minera Lead Mines had their very own railway line. This line connected to a larger railway called the Wrexham and Minera Branch at Minera Limeworks.
The mines even had their own steam locomotive named Henrietta. It was a special type of train called a Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST. Henrietta would carry the lead ore to Wrexham, where it could be sent all over the country. On its way back, it would bring coal for the steam engine.
When the mines closed, their private railway line was taken apart. However, parts of the line were later rebuilt to serve nearby clay pits. There were plans in the 1990s to build a tourist narrow gauge railway on the old line, but this project hasn't happened yet.
Restoring the Minera Lead Mines
Making the Site Safe and Fun
Starting in 1988, a big project began to restore and improve the Minera Lead Mines area. This was funded by Wrexham County Borough Council and the Welsh Development Agency. The main goal was to make sure that the old piles of lead, zinc, and lime waste (called spoil tips) didn't pollute the local water.
The old engine house, where the big steam engine used to be, was rebuilt. They even put in a copy of the original machinery, because the real steam engine was removed in 1914.
Today, there's a visitor centre open to the public. You can take a tour and see the rebuilt engine house. The Minera Lead Mines are now an important tourist spot for Wrexham County Borough.
Repairs After Vandalism
In 2004, some parts of the site were damaged by vandals. But the council quickly repaired the damage in 2005, making sure the site remained a great place for visitors.
