Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Carmarthenshire.

[sinnerman]

Not at all urbex just an afternoon trip out

Dolaucothi Gold Mines date back to the roman occupation of britain, but the mines were also extensively worked as series of levels during the victorian period and again as a deep mine during the 1930's the mine closed due to extensive flooding in 1938 and the surface buildings were removed during the war. The mine has been owned by the National Trust since 1941 and is now open for guided tours the present day buildings and headgear are not original to the site and come from the Olwyn Goch lead mine in north wales. Dolaucothi is also the scource of the gold for the royal familys wedding rings.

a pretty little headgear




A pair of man riders from Betws Drift Mine






One of three air compressors




The winding engine


View from the drivers seat




A roman coffin level




Five ways junction the gated shaft drops 300' to the lower levels




A view up one of the stopes


The head of the ore pass


Miney goodness.

[sinnerman]

there is a shaft there that was used in the 30's its supposidly capped but under neath the cages just looked like a metal plate trap door, i have a few old time photos which show the original headgear (i'm ignoring your use of headstock bloody made up word.) i'll pop them up for interest.

[boxfrenzy]

That looks great, and really nice lighting underground. What did you use?

[sinnerman]

the onlylight i had was the oldham lamp they provided, sadly there getting rid of these British classics and replacing them with chinese coal miners led cap lamps.

Heres some old photos of the original mine buildings.





Miners with a bar of gold which would be worth about 400k today


The mine's football team

[Rebel]

If you see any bars of gold like that down there, send them my way So there is still gold there then that the royals use?

[sinnerman]

There was a bar of gold for th kids to feel the weight but it was actualy a painted lump of lead, there is still gold down there but the mine is now a scheduled ancient monument so it will never be mined again. The royals were apparently provided with a huge lump of gold from which bits are taken when ever a new wedding ring is needed.