Foel-gron Mine

Foel-gron Mine

Location
SH 744 428

Directions
It is marked on the O/S map as “Foel-gron Quarry” although it is also a mine.

Park in the parking area by Llyn Dubach on the B4407 from Ysbtay Ifan heading to Llan Ffestiniog just before you come to a T junction with the B4391 (The location of Foel-gron mine). Then head up the old miners track

Access
Unknown. Ungated.

Suggested Equipment
None

Length
Unknown

Flood risk
Unknown

Mine Attributes
Slate

Description
As you follow the miners track you will see a small fenced adit with some rusted machinery. This is flooded to around knee depth and on this occasion we did not enter it. It appears to head directly to the main mine workings and was probably used to provide water to a leete to turn a wheel we passed on the track upwards (well, the housing is still there). It could also have been used to remove the slate from the mine but it is expected to be blocked now.

The main mine has had it’s face quarried away which had left 4 entrances being one rather large and ground level entrance, a small downward sloping and flooded adit and two high “windows” (one of which could be reached and was entered).

All of these connect so use the main entrance.

The main entrance takes you into an immediately typical slate chamber with a flooded adit running off at the back and another running off higher. The main chamber has experienced a lot of roof collapse and navigation is precarious. Following this around brings you to another chamber (with the higher windows) and this was the extent of our exploration on this occasion.

Potentially, there could be many such chambers as the mine is in close proximity to Rhiw Bach, Oakley, Cwmorthin and Wrsgan all of which are of notable size.

Interesting, some of Dr Who was filmed at this location (see link below).

Unexplored Passages
The small fenced adit is unexplored as well as the bulk of the main mine.

Digs
None known

[b]Links
http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Foel-Gron_287/Foel-Gron.asp

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1306663

http://www.doctorwholocations.net/locations/carregyfoelgron

The two high "windows" of the mine





Looking back out of one of the windows





There was a complaint that this mine was more dark than usual






Looking down into the chamber below from the window entrance (could not descend)

The two lower entrances (the small entrance on the right is flooded)






Inside the main entrance looking inward and onward