Powys Metal Mines Survey

Gorn

Geology
The vein trends east-west and outcropped on the eastern slopes of Gorn Hill in Silurian rocks of the Frongoch formation. Mineralisation includes galena with zincblende with barytes.

Workings
Stoping up to the surface is drained by a deep adit from the east. A ventilation shaft is situated at the top of the hill at SN98138403.

Transport
No evidence.

Power
A water powered air pump distributed air by means of wooden pipes. A single covered waterwheel drove the crushing machinery. The wheel is described as a 20ft diameter overshot type driving a single pair of smooth rolls. A leat runs up the valley to a now dry reservoir.

Processing
Ore bins, jiggers, a crusher, slimes pits and a washing/picking floor were present. The dressing floors are poorly preserved at the foot of the hill in an overgrown area close to the deep adit at SN98108410.

Other features
A counting house, smithy, mine office and storesheds were formerly in existence but only low rubble platforms remain where the buildings stood. Barracks are believed to have been situated either at Cwm or Newchapel but these were almost certainly prefabricated structures and no surviving remains could be found.

Comments
Overall the preservation of the dressing floors and ancillary buildings is poor.