Powys Metal Mines Survey

Rhoswydol

Geology
Lower Silurian shales and mudstones. Two parallel lodes strike WSW-ENE with galena, sphalerite and barytes mineralisation. There is also a near vertical cross lode striking WNW.

Workings
At least ten shafts of varying date, four levels and two adits can be seen ascending the hillside of Rhoswydol in the forestry plantation. Old opencut workings are visible on the top of the hill at SN84509768 and consist of a large quarry-like hollow with stoping up to the surface.

Transport
A tramway runs from the main adit to Greens Mill SN83709765. An incline tramway, connects the dressing floors with the upper workings SN83909740.

Power
Water was diverted from upstream of Nant Y Fedw in leats contouring the hillside, these fed a pond which distributed water to the top of the crusher wheel. Greens Mill SN83679783 was powered by a 45ft waterwheel and could be powered by water from either Nant Yr Ych or the Afon Crewi. A crusher house wheel SN839109740 measuring 30x2ft was located outside Prossers Level. Three steam engines were used to drive machinery on the upper dressing floors SN83889741 as well as for pumping and winding but details are lacking as to their location. A pumping engine house known as the Bacheiddon Engine was built in 1860 and was soon after demolished. The earthworks are still visible at SN83809735

Processing
A crushing mill which housed 2ft diam rollers, 14" wide is located outside Prossers Level in a very ruinous state at SN83909740. In 1870 Greens Patent Self Acting Dressing Machinery was installed in a mill at SN83669788. This housed crushing rolls, mechanical jiggers, buddles and classifiers. Few internal features can now be discerned although there is almost certainly a large amount of structural detail below the thin topsoil cover. The walls are suffering badly from weathering. Three ore bins can be seen outside the Bacheiddon deep adit at SN83859735.

Other features
A carpenters' shop, smiths' shop, a count house and store sheds were also present on the site but are poorly preserved.