Powys Metal Mines Survey

Newtown

Geology
The north/south vein consists of a quartz and barytes gangue with galena, chalcopyrite and malachite in a Silurian shale. Boulder clays lie over the shales and form the roof of the level. A thin stringer vein parallel to the main vein was exhausted at depth.

Workings
An 80ft shaft connects with 2 short levels driven south from the riverbank. The upper of these has been cut for a length of 50ft and has two short side galleries.

Transport
Upstream of the mine a path was formerly visible rising from the base of the cliff to the top level. This access and ore removal path may date to the original workings but is more likely to be nineteenth century.

Power
No evidence.

Processing
It would appear that smelting of the ore retrieved was carried out on site. A layer of slag, furnace lining, charcoal and stones was recorded in the riverside cliff at a depth of approximately 1.20m from the present ground surface. The latter material was possibly washed downslope from a smelting site further uphill of which no remains now exist.

Other features
The shaft and lower level was encountered in 1972 during the cutting of a new sewer tunnel from Nantoer to Newtown. The shaft and level were both run-in.