The Cornish Miner in Wales

Wales	Cornish Overseas Overview	British Virgin Islands	Mexico	India	Australia	Spain
MENU PAGE	South Africa	Malaya	United States		Web Links	under construction

Link to Llywernog Silver Lead Mine

This page is in the process of being developed

Llywernog Mine, Ponterwyd, Cardigan

Cornish miners were involved in the metal mines of Wales one of which was the Llywernog Mine. The mine was leased in 1825 at a royalty of 28/- per ton of lead ore and one tenth of the value of other ores (along with many others in the district) to the Cornish 'mine adventurers', the Williams family of Scorrier House, Gwennap.

'Croust time' notice the miner's candles and the water barrel on the left.

This was the start of a long association between the Mining Districts of Cardiganshire and Cornwall that was to continue until the 1900s. The Cornish miners brought their own folk culture to the Plynlimon Mountains. As was their tradition they called mine managers 'Captains', and the mine accountant a 'Purser'. Depths of shafts were measured in fathoms 6ft (1.85m) and they believed in Weslyan Methodism, building many chapels in the mining villages. Several villages had terraces of houses called 'Cornish Row' and their surnames were markedly different from the Jones' and Davies' of the neighbourhood; Tyack and Tregoning, Paul and Trevethan, Eddy and Bray, Kitto and Nancarrow are just a few of the strange names from the far south-west.

For more detailed information on the district follow this LINK

Today you can visit the Llywernog Silver Lead Mine, an authentic 18th century silver mine, and experience a little of the working lives of the Welsh and Cornish miners who once worked here.

Poldark Mine and Llywernog Mine are independant historic sites which both started to develop as heritage sites over 30 years ago and are now developing closer links.

Underground investigating an early rock drill	David Bellamy explores the mine

Back to Top of Page

Page last updated 25th May 2005