Clwyd Metal Mines Survey

Westminster Nant

Geology
Carboniferous Limestone.

Workings
Early mining in the area is likely to have been on the productive Westminster Vein, on which the Nant Mine worked the western end. Ellis's Shaft is capped with concrete at SJ19805768 and has an air vent inserted. The rectangular stone-lined Engine Shaft was capped by the 1978 shaft capping programme conducted by NKC Partnerships, and was reported as 2.1m x 3.4m. It lies to the south of the engine house. Shafts along the Westminster Vein lie to the west of the Nant Engine Shaft and can be located in woodland at SJ19255780, two adjacent shafts at SJ19305780, two adjacent shafts at SJ19355770; single shafts at SJ19505775 and SJ19605775. The most westerly working on the vein was apparently an old whim shaft to the north of Bryn-y-gloch. To the east, the Castell Engine Shaft (see 18228) remains identifiable in the vicinity of Castell Farm. It served to pump out New Shaft, which appears as a whim on the abandoned mine plan deposited CRO. The mine workings were drained by the Nant Adda Level, the portal of which is situated at SJ18745798. The Grosvenor Caving Club have gained access to the underground workings and report that artefacts remain underground that might shed light on mining technology.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
The Grade II Listed Pumping Engine House stands at SJ19775774. The inscription on the sandstone arch over the doorway reads 1841. The house survives to its full height being approx 7m above the ground level at present, being constructed of local limestone with dressed stone quoins. Some of the timber lintels and beam ends are in situ. The very large doorway with brick lintel to the rear, being the cylinder opening is blocked up with brick. All the windows are blocked up inside and there are signs of rendering. Fallen stonework prevents the full examination of the interior, but the feature remain good. Ellis's Shaft appears to have been a ladder shaft. The Pumping Engine at Castell Shaft appears to serve both Castell and New Shaft, which was a whim shaft. The circular stone chimney lies uphill at SJ19905775. Stone built and surviving to approx. 8m, with its flue leading downhill to the engine house.

Processing
Large areas of waste and dressing tailings cover the area SJ19855760 remain on the edge of a limestone escarpment that runs to the old quarry workings of Graig Quarry. The area runs in a south-easterly direction from Ellis's Shaft at SJ19805768. The mine area surrounding the Engine House consists of spoil heaps of dressing waste. The dressing floor area remains part bulldozed and part earthworks grassed over. Fallen stone to the west of the Engine Shaft could be collapsed ore bins.

Other features
To the south of Ellis's Shaft concrete and stone structures structures remain that may relate to later quarry use, possibly the platform for a hopper. To the west of the engine house the stone walls of a rectangular building survive to some 1-2m. in height. A derelict stone cottage stands to the north of the engine house and is likely to be the mine office, SJ19805775. A row of three cottages stand uphill and to the right of the chimney at SJ19855765. A stone revetment wall stands along the right of the road leading past the chimney to Eryrys, SJ19805775, forming a connection between the engine house site and the large areas of waste at SJ19805770.