![Grogwynion and Gwaithgoch](webphotos/grogwyniongwaithgoch.jpg)
GROGWYNION & GWAITHGOCH
GRID REFERENCE: SN 703720
AREA IN HECTARES: 112.1
Historic Background
The southern part of this area in the Ystwyth valley
seems to have been included in the northern limits of Strata Florida’s
grange of Mefenydd (Williams 1990, 57). This grange was amongst the land
acquired by the Crosswood estate from the dissolved abbey. Estate maps
of the late 18th century demonstrate that it formed part of the Crosswood
Estate during this period (NLW Crosswood Deeds 5, Ser IV, Vol 1; 49),
although the Gogerddan estate acquired one farmstead (NLW Gogerddan 54,
55).
Prominent historical components in this area are the
remains of two lead mines: Groggwynion and Gwaithgoch. Grogwynion is an
ancient mine, and the subject of a lawsuit in the 1740s. The Gogerddan
estate owned Pengrogwynion farm and the Crosswood estate the surrounding
land. Crosswood had made new mineral leases to the Mine Adventures of
England in 1742, a lease that the Gogerddan estate contested (Morgan 1997,
219). The main period of working of Grogwyion was from the 1790s, with
a particularly flourishing period in the 1880s (Bick 1974, 17-18). Gwaithgoch
ceased working over a century ago, though a Government scheme to rework
the waste tips of Frongoch mine was set up during World War One, with
the spoil carried to a works built on the banks of the Ystwyth by aerial
ropeway. These works closed in the 1920s.
Included in this area are several farmsteads on the lower,
north-facing valley side. Documentary evidence demonstrates that they
date to at least the mid 18th century (Morgan 1997, 219), and are probably
of much greater antiquity. The Llanafan tithe map of 1845 shows these
farmsteads and their associated field systems.
Description and essential historic landscape
components
The Ystwyth in this landscape character area passes
through a very steep-sided and craggy valley. The valley floor is at about
80m, but the sides rise to over 350m. The valley floor, the lower northern
slopes and part of the higher northern slopes, are the only sections of
valley not under forestry and are therefore included in this area. The
valley floor consists of unenclosed rough ground with rushes and peaty
deposits. Given the narrowness of the valley floor and its waterlogged
nature it is probable that this flood plain has never been subjected to
enclosure or intensive cultivation, and that its agricultural use in the
past has been similar to todays; that of seasonal rough grazing.
A couple of farmsteads with associated field systems
of small enclosures lie on the lower northern slopes. Low banks topped
by hedges separate the pasture fields of these enclosures. The hedges
are in poor condition, are not stock-proof and are supplemented by wire.
The farms are no longer working. The houses are stone-built, cement rendered
or bare stone and in the mid to late 19th century typical Georgian vernacular
style of the region – gable end chimneys, central front door, and
two windows either side of the door and one above. Stone-built outbuildings
are small, with some attached and in-line to the house. Slate and red
tile are present on the houses. There are no substantial modern farm buildings.
At the extreme western end of the valley floor is a working sawmill.
The un-forested, steep northern valley sides are covered
with scree from spoil heaps. These spoil heaps encroach across the valley
floor at the eastern end of the valley. A wheel pit and shafts of the
Grogwynion mine are visible on the surface. At the foot of the north-facing
slope are the massive stone-built remains of Gwaithgoch crushing mill
and dressing mill. These date to World War One and the following decade.
All recorded archaeology in this area consists entirely of metal mining
remains or other industrial workings.
This character area is very well defined on all sides.
To the east the Ystwyth emerges from a narrow, wooded gorge. Steep valley
sides define the area to the north and south, and to the west the valley
opens out into enclosed land.
Base map reproduced from the OS map with the permission
of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery
Office, © Crown Copyright 2001.
All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright
and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: GD272221 |