Clwyd Metal Mines Survey

Eisteddfod

Geology
Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
The Eisteddfod sett worked the area to the north of the disused Eisteddfod Farm (SJ25445246) on the Red Vein. The returns detail Eisteddfod to 1861, with a Wm Harris as agent 1863-65; Wm. Harris was also the chief agent for Lower Eisteddfod 1863-65 (no NGR given but likely to be Caepant (104271) sett), and for Minera Union 1862-64, a sett worked in close proximity at SJ253525. The Steddfod Company were working in the same area to 1861 according to the returns (Burt 1993). Engine Shaft is located at SJ25385261 along with the stonework remains of its engine house. To the west of the engine house one shaft is evident at SJ25335261 and a shaft fenced off with a possible whim at SJ25285264 (possibly Eddys shaft). A shaft mound at SJ25245274 (possibly Weston shaft) lies on the northern side of the leat. The highest part of the Eisteddfod workings seem to be a series of shaft mounds in the vicinity of the remains of a rectangular building at SJ25225264. A large shaft remains to the north of the buildings at SJ25125268. This building and the surrounding workings may be part of the Twelve Apostles Mine Sett (18210). The workings of possibly Lower Eisteddfod or Caepant are represented by the shaft mounds that remain to the south of Ty Newydd at SJ25505242 and SJ25495245.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
The stonework remains of the mid-19th century engine house stand at SJ25385261. It survives to approx 3m in the section relating to machinery mounting; the likely two walls to suooort thr flywheel being intact. The north-eastern wall of the wheelpit has been used in full for the cattle shed conversion. The dressed stone has been re-used along with rough stone patching for the remaining two walls. The whole shed has a galvanised roof. The remaining stonework lies under an earth bank. Horse whims are evident on the sett. A watercourse runs the perimeters of several named setts. It can be traced coming in to the mining ares from south of Bryn Eithin (SJ24605250), continuing in a north-westerly direction, it enters Steddfod Pool (SJ24905265); it leaves by a brick sluice at SJ24945265, curves to the north to pass Twelve Apostles sett at SJ25105250, Minera Union at SJ25305250 and Eisteddfod at SJ25305260. It continues south towards the Limestone Quarry. The leat, stone-lined in parts, probably fed the dressing floor areas at Eisteddfod, which remain as earthworks in the vicinity of the shaft at SJ254225250.

Processing
The dressing floor area appears to be at SJ25405250. The stonework remains of a building associated with the dressing floor remains set in earth banks at SJ25435251.

Other features
Weston Shaft appears to have had an adjacent building and a track leading to it from the Ruthin Road. The rectangular building at SJ25225264 appears to be divided into four rooms and may relate to the Twelve Apostles sett.

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