your comments
Tony Easom from Salford
Maureen (from Crewe, Cheshire). Was the water wheel working during your years in the sixties Maureen?
Tue Apr 14 10:54:57 2009
David, Holywell,
My freind is a member of UCET, a local caving group. He has been as far as you can go in the Fish Mines. Go to Youtube and type in 'Fish Mines Prestatyn'. They documented their experience. I'm keen on going myself soon with a different friend (I'm a caver too). The only difficult part of the cave is the 50ft chimney followed by another one of similar height. There's no bolts to clip into on your way up so if you fall it's a long way down. As for the water, I believe it's a dead end but I'm not entirely sure so will take an innertube and have a look across it. Can't wait.
Thu Nov 20 08:07:06 2008
Kev Byrne, Splash Point, Rhyl
I am originally from Bham and have holidayed in Prestatyn, Rhyl and Colwyn for 38 yrs. I visit my parents regularly who live at Splash Point. I often venture up into Prestatyn hills and wonder whether the hole blocked by a brick wall above the walkway behind Meliden is a cave system entrance. Being an avid caver, I would be interested in venturing inside with a person of local knowledge.
Thu Oct 9 10:13:53 2008
Kyle Doyle from Cheshire
I spent my holiday on Presthaven Sands near the [Dyserth] falls and went about 4 years ago and went on my last holiday 9 weeks back. What is the cave near there and what's in it? Please post your comments.
Mon Aug 25 19:30:37 2008
Jason, Dyserth
Just went into the Fish Caves today armed with my walking gear and head torch. Got quite far but going to go back with a mate next week and get wet to go really far in the network... P.D within the last month a plaque has gone up by the entrance which is good for visitors. Explains a bit of the history of the mine etc...
Mon Jul 14 08:32:41 2008
Maureen from Crewe, Cheshire
I spent my early years in Dyserth attending the primary school and then we moved up to Trelawnyd, and yes there was a water wheel situated in the falls. We, as children, used to spend many happy hours playing around the falls. I can also remember the Catholic church situated at Marion Mills. This was a large hut situated in a wood which I did attend the services a few times with a friend. Can anyone remember this? Anyone out there who lived in Trelawyd in the '60s?
Fri Jun 13 08:55:24 2008
Bob Hughes, Prestatyn
My great great great grandfather was a miner in Meliden around 1790-1800 and is buried in St Melyd Church. Would love to hear from anyone with some history of the mines around this time.
Mon Mar 10 09:24:19 2008
Philip Scott, Herts
My great grandfather, Thomas Henry Kenyon, lived at a house in Meliden called "The Rest" around 1916 and I have learnt that his occupation, as stated on his marriage certificate, was Coal Owner and that the family had sent him from Prestwich to manage a colliery. Would this most likely have been at Point of Ayr or were there coal mines in Meliden area? I see the discussion is mostly about lead mining. I have some vivid descriptions of the railway and the explosives they carried to Dyserth in WW1.
Fri Oct 19 14:04:27 2007
Jeff Blythin, Rhyl
In answer to David Parry's question. David the old fish cave is reputed to go through the mountain to Gwaenysgor but has been closed off. I got quite far into the cave in the 1960s which turns sharp left then a sharp right and then there's some deep water which I wasn't able to cross.
Wed Jul 25 08:51:45 2007
David Parry, Surrey
I was born and bred in Gwaenysgor and used to explore the fish caves with my friends when I was in my early teens. I never got past the shaft which led up to the cave which we called the 'Dwarf' cave. The reason we didn't go beyond this point was because of deep water. I visited the fish cave over Easter 2007 for the first time in 30 years. Nothing seems to have changed and except for the entrance to the dwarf caves which now has a secure metal grille over the entrance. I still haven't been past the shaft and water hole/s. I have heard that beyond this point there is a large cavern. Don't whether this is true. Can anybody shed some light on this? I'd love to see it if there is.
Mon Apr 16 09:17:16 2007
Dawn, Meliden
Hi, I have taken over the Star in Meliden and am trying to find out all about it, when it was built, who has lived here, and what was built here - if anything - before the pub. Any help would be great.
Fri Apr 13 08:36:07 2007
Elvet Pierce, Lixwm
Please refer to the Talargoch and Meliden query. I have put a set of references there that should help you.
Thu Jan 4 15:06:42 2007
Tony Easom
You're a brave man Pete, it's not the few inches of water which would worry me, but hazards that may be inside the tunnel! I also thought maybe permission would be required to go inside. Thanks anyway mate.
Fri Apr 28 07:44:52 2006
Pete Ryder Northumberland
Replying to Tony (Easom); I put my 20p in the conscience box at the entrance to the waterfall; despite various warning notices on other natural hazards, the mine entrance is wide open and seems to rely on a few inches of water to keep people out, so there seems no problem with access. As holes in the ground go, it seems pretty sound, but be careful. Helmet, lamp and a willingness to get wet to a little above the knees are required.
Mon Apr 3 08:23:40 2006
Tony Easom from Salford
Thanks for that Pete (Ryder). How did you gain access to the tunnel, did you have to get permission? I was once involved with a group called Wet Earth Colliery Exploration Group. A whole system of tunnels were opened up which were part of the above mentioned Colliery on the banks of the River Irwell near Salford. The great canal engineer James Brindley designed this ingenious mine drainage system (circa 1760) which included an inverted siphon tunnel under the river. Do have any more information or photographs of the Dyserth Workings? The reason I ask, is that I am a Plumbing Lecturer and value any materials concerning the history of lead production for the students studying this fascinating aspect of the trade.
Thanks for your response regarding the tunnel.
Thu Mar 30 09:40:28 2006
Peter Ryder, Riding Mill, Northumberland
Just found this site. Spent part of yesterday evening exploring the tunnel at the foot of the falls. It is a lead (?) mine, and accessible for 100-150 m; there are a couple of short branches on the r., that seem to close down after a few metres, and one high rise into vein workings in the roof we did not try and climb. The main passage - easy wading, very solid roof, ends in an odd low choked passage that could just be a bit of natural cave.
Wed Mar 29 09:30:07 2006
Tony Easom from Salford
I'm sure you are correct (Liz, Rhuddlan) about the walls to the steps at one time suporting a water wheel, the thought did occur to me as well. The tunnel then, could be a culvert from the place you mentioned, Marian Mills, excessive water must have discharged from here as a means of controlling the flow. Interesting.
Thu Feb 23 16:01:01 2006
liz rhuddlan
i am sure from old pics of the falls they descend in other places than where they do now and i think the walls to the steps formed some part of the water wheel. probably most harnessing of the water happened further upstream in the place known as marian mills, which i think can regulate the flow of water to the falls.
Sun Nov 27 16:11:18 2005
Tony Easom from Salford
During a recent visit to dyserth falls, a discussion developed that due to the past industrial aspects of the area, could the power of the falls have been harnessed by a water wheel? Is the entrance of a tunnel at the foot of the falls a natural cave, or as it seems to appear, a man made tunnel which would have some connection to the workings of the wheel, perhaps a tailrace?
Fri Apr 29 16:24:14 2005
Richard from Prestatyn
I am looking for the cave servey of devils mouth mine and the fish cave I also have photo's of inside both mines
Fri Jan 21 15:55:23 2005
Steve Grenter from Mold
I'm sure that Jamie Thorburn has written a history of the Talargoch mines, it's in a fairly obscure mining history journal, try your local library.
Wed Jan 5 16:23:41 2005
Sean Mason from Meliden
I've done a bit of research on the Talargoch lead mine and would love to share any information with you and see what information or pictures you have. I am currently developing a website dedicated to Meliden including the history of the lead mines. Take a look at www.meliden.org.uk Look forward to hearing from you
Mon Sep 20 14:23:09 2004
