September 2007

Numerous companies have been established over the years, all with the purpose of mining the lead to turn a profit. The lead occurs in hydrothermal veins often in association with other minerals such as zinc, copper and silver. Mining at Dylife boomed during the mid 1800s and the mine quickly expanded to become one of the biggest lead producers in Europe.

At a time before the advent of electricity, in these isolated upland areas water power became the primary source of power for many mines. The erection of water wheels was common place 150 years ago and they were used for four main applications namely; pumping, winding crushing and ore dressing.

In 1851 the biggest water wheel in mainland Britain was erected at the Dylife mines. Made largely of wood the wheel measured 63ft diameter by 3 and a half ft breadth, its erection was overseen by a carpenter/ wheelwright called Williams from the Darren whose speciality was the construction of large diameter waterwheels.

It is said the wheel worked for 50 years without a break, its job being to pump and wind from the Llechwedd Du engine shaft and later it wound from the Bradfords shaft. The wheel was situated about midway between these two shafts. In the early 1900s when the mines closed the wheel was dismantled and shipped to Canada.

Over 100 years on, the landscape at Dylife is very different. The splash of water on wood can no longer be heard and most of the buildings have collapsed and the machinery removed. It is quite hard for the uninformed eye to appreciate what has happened here and that is what we, a small team of enthusiasts, are setting out to rectify.

Recent work began on clearing the rubbish that has accrued in the wheel pit for the Martha wheel. The site has become a common dumping ground from everything from cars to fridges and household waste since the 1970s.

Working with members of the Welsh Mines Society and the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust, a very wet Saturday was spent clearing scrap. Food was provided by Eluned Morris and Rhian Brown in the form of an outdoor buffet that was much appreciated by all concerned.

James Cartwright and I spent three days prior to the Saturday clearing the Balance pit next to the Wheel pit. During this time a fully loaded skip lorry on its outward journey was very nearly lost over the edge of the narrow access track and from that point on all the waste had to be trailered to a safe area about 100yds away.

A total of 7 tons of metal were removed over the period and around 4 tons of general waste. Waste will not be excavated below a depth of 6ft before a structural survey is conducted and the project taken further.

A large thank you to all those who turned up on the day; James Cartwright, Tanya Lawson, David Seabourne, David James, Roy Fellows, Dai Dancer, Mark Lewis, Arwel Price, Paul and Carolyne Smyth and George and Nheng Hall.

Permission for the dig was granted by the landowner Aled Anwyl who turned up on the day with his wife Susan. I am very grateful to Arwel Griffith of Dolbachog who helped with the site preparation.

The clearance of the Martha pit is the beginning of a project that may last several years and is the start of a 10 year plan to stabilise and memorialise some of the remains at Dylife and present them to the public in a way that the heritage here can be properly interpreted and understood.

The project so far has received kind contributions from the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust and Simon Harris. Request of financial aid was rejected by Powys County Council and also the Environment Agency. Any Contributions financial or otherwise will be gratefully received.

My book "Dylife - An Industrial and Social History" provides an insight into this forgotten way of life and is available from Y lolfa of Tal y Bont. And a new book on the history of the Dylife Mines with new chapters and a wealth of new material including nearby Dyfngwm mine and underground surveys should be available in the next two years."

Article by Michael Brown