Coed


Alternative namesCoed & Lletty Walter
Coed Mawr [RCAHMW CARN: 33965]
Harlech Lletty
Llanbedr
Harlech sulphur mine [GAT SMR: 21827]
Harlech iron mine [Wilkinson 2003: 14284]
LocationSH604280 (Area map showing location.)
ParishLlanbedr
Owners
1869–1871 Hope Jones & Co
1872–1878 Edward Jones
1886–1887 Merionethshire Mining Co.
1888–1889 Dyffryn Mining Co / D Richards & Co
1890–1891 Llanbedr Mining Co. Ltd
1901–1903 William Lewis
1918 Cambrian Manganese Co. agent Thomas O Williams
1920–1922 Cambrian Manganese Co. agent Thomas O Williams
Production and Employment

(tons)
Manpower
underground surface
18729561
18731791
1875291
18861,015276
18871,170253
188835641
188938882
1890257100
1891473910
1901239  
1902144  
190324  
1918 1310
1920 44
1921 suspended
1922 suspended 1920
Total3,8303 
1 pyrites
2 listed as ‘Coed’ from this date
3 excludes pyrites production 1872–1875, includes output from Lletty Walter 1890 onwards
TransportShort tramway to loading point on Cwm Bychan road. There are indications of sleepers in one passage in the worked-out bed suggesting it had rails laid in it.
RemainsConsiderable network of underground workings which extend north of the main stoped area shown on the plan below to beyond the small stopes shown on the north side of the track. These workings have been filled with stacked waste though which a number of passages have been left, including one which follows the eastern boundary of the worked-out area. Some entrances have been blocked with or contain a considerable amount of rubbish including animal bones. There are waste tips on the surface, some of which appear to have been robbed for ballast. Roofless building at SH60422789 which may have been a magazine. Loading bank at roadside at SH60432791 and beside track at SH60392746. Drainage level to Afon Artro at SH60052795. (November 2003) Re-working of tips continues. (September 2005)

graphic: plan

In 1869 the mine was named Harlech Lletty and listed as a manganese and lead mine, but up to 1878 it had only produced iron pyrites. ([GAT SMR: 21827] refers to Harlech Sulphur Mine at SH604280, the same grid reference as Coed and Wilkinson [2003: 14284] lists Lletty Iron Mine at the same location.) It was abandoned in 1878. The mine re-opened in 1886 and was developed on a large scale. In 1887 there were three levels sending ore to the road via a short tramway. A detailed plan (the 1887 abandonment plan for Dolbebin mine, surveyed by Edward Stables), which includes Coed, exists [GAS DAO: 2125]. The plan (right) and enlarged section (below right) are based on that plan. Manganese was produced until 1889.

In March 1887, Harlech Highway Board claimed against Henry Stringfellow Lancaster, as agent for the Dyffryn Mining Co, for £61 1s. 2d. damage alleged to have been done to the highway leading from Llety Water [sic.] to Llanbedr by “excessive weight and extraordinary traffic caused by waggons and cars containing manganese ore travelling over the road during the year ending the 25th of March, 1887” was fixed for hearing. The company was said to have carted 3243 tons 15 cwts of ore over the road between August 1886 and March 1887. [North Wales Chronicle 19/3/1887 p. 6]

In 1890 the mine was renamed Coed or ‘Llanbedr, lately Coed’, possibly indicating that all operations had moved to the Coed end of the site. It worked under this name until closure in 1891. It reopened again in 1901 and worked until 1903 producing small tonnages. The last reported working was in 1923 [Dewey & Dines 1923: 65] with levels being driven, possibly at the north end of the site. [Down 1980: 32]

See also Lletty Walter mine which was worked as part of the same operation. The output records below refer to the combined mine as “Coed & Lletty Walter” up to 1889.

This location is also tentatively identified as Harlech Sulphur mine [GAT SMR: 21827] which presumably relates to the output of pyrites shown above.

The underground workings which extend north of the main stoped area shown on the plan above (referred to in the Remains section above) have similarities to the ‘Shopshire’ longwall method of working as described by Brown [2007] at Hartley Bank Colliery in West Yorkshire.

South east of the mine is a level that carries a stream from near the workings through solid rock under the Cwm Bychan road to emerge just above river level at SH60052795 (see plan above right). The water enters the end of the level from a very small cross-section rise (less than man-sized and containing a 6" diameter pipe) that appears to break though into a shaft or the lowest point of the Coed workings. It would appear that this level was driven to drain the Coed workings and/or to divert the stream away from the Lletty Walter workings. Associated with these works is a drainage ditch running eastwards to the sink-point in the field between the Coed loading bank and the workings.

The plan (above right) is incorrect in that the alignment of the Dolbebin mine workings and track that descend to the river is approximately N.N.E. - S.S.W. rather than as shown currently. A corrected plan will be shown in due course.


photo: loading bank
Photograph © J Harold Morris 2003
   Coed mine

General view of the southern end of Coed mine.

The entrances to the workings are in the bank on the far side of the pasture. Also visible are the tips, some of which appear to have been robbed, possibly for ballast. Nearer to the viewpoint can be seen the bank of the drainage ditch which runs across the field from left to right and which carries the stream to a shaft to the drainage level described below.

There are further entrances to the underground workings behind the trees in the background.

photo: loading bank
Photograph © J Harold Morris 2003
   Loading Bank

Loading bank on Cwm Bychan road at SH60432791.

The ground behind the wall facing the camera is built up almost to the the level of the top of the wall.

photo: loading bank   Loading Bank

Loading bank on track at SH60392746.

photo: drainage level entrance
Photograph © J Harold Morris 2003
   Drainage level

Entrance to drainage level at SH60052795.

The level has been driven in solid rock under the Cwm Bychan road with its portal just above river level. The level is about 1.6 m high and has a deposit of glutinous mud below the water level near the entrance.

photo: magazine
Photograph © J Harold Morris 2003
   Magazine

Explosives magazine at SH60422789. Appoximately 2.5 m x 2 m internal dimensions.

The building is partly sunk into the hillside and the doorway is protected by an external wall which would help to deflect and disperse blast and debris should an explosion occur in the building. A timber is set into the top of the wall opposite the door which may have supported a wooden lining to the building.