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Clwyd Metal Mines Survey


Coed yr Esgob

Coed yr Esgob (also known as Fish) lies in the community of Prestatyn in the county of Denbighshire. It is located at Ordnance Survey national grid reference SJ06808120. The mine is recorded in the CPAT Historic Environment Record as number 18048 and this number should be quoted in all correspondence.

Lead/calcite (Early 18th-19th century)

Geology
Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
The mining evidence located on the steep slopes of Coed yr Esgob appears to relate to 19th century workings, although the area was probably explored from the early 18th century onwards. A very obvious adit cuts into the limestone slopes alongside a public footpath SJ06798095 in an area that is referred to as Fish Mine. The adit although water-filled can be explored safely for a considerable distance. There is no evidence to suggest that ore was brought out at this level; it appears to be an entrance to the workings that may connect to the shafts to the west of Gwaenysgor village. To the south-east and uphill of the adit, an area of opencuts, levels and overgrown spoilheaps remain in the woodland, with no real mineral evidence. Less obvious collapsed levels and shaft mounds are obscured by dense vegetation. On the lower footpath that follows the contours of the woods, a level cuts into the hillside at SJ06688094 and has some original timbers intact. The workings appear to be 18th century. A spoil mound lies to the west of it. A single shaft appears on the Golf Course to the west of the woods at SJ06558013. To the north of the woods trials were made in the early 18th century at SJ07208160 in the area of the cave. Water issues from cave, making it's way down slope in narrow channels. A stone basin 2m wide built into rockface with a pipe leading from one of the channels. Approx 20m further down the slope lies another basin similar to the one above. (CCC, 1982) Spoil heaps in evidence just below footpath and mine entrance. (CCC, 1988)

Transport
No evidence.

Power
No evidence.

Processing
No evidence.

Other features
A stone-built tank to the north and slightly downhill from the adit entrance at SJ06798095 forms part of a drainage channel that diverted the water from the mine away from the buildings below. The foundations of several buildings remain in the dense undergrowth at SJ06778123, downhill from the adit. There is no evidence to suggest that minerals were processed on the site, but the buildings could be mine offices or storage. A small building remains at SJ06688093, alongside the adit at SJ06688094, which may have provided storage.


This HTML page is reproduced from the Powys and Clwyd Metal Mine Surveys which were undertaken between May 1992 and December 1993 by Mark Walters and Pat Frost of the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust with financial support from Powys County Council, Clwyd County Council and Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments. Further information about this site is available in CPAT's Regional Historic Environment Record.
Page produced by Rachel Stebbings and Chris Martin.

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