tarboat's photos with the keyword: powys

Disused limekiln high up in the Brecon Beacons National Park in an area that saw extensive limeburning before the enclosure of 1819. It is one of the many intermittent kilns in ruinous condition across this site.

This limekiln is high up in the Brecon Beacons National Park in an area that saw extensive limeburning before the enclosure of 1819. It is one of the many intermittent kilns in ruinous condition across this site.

This 19th century draw kiln at Carnau Gwynion is high up in the Brecon Beacons National Park in an area that saw extensive limeburning before the enclosure of 1819.

In 1871 The East Van Mining Company was floated with a capital of £15,000 to work lead ore at Van near Llanidloes. They sank an engine shaft and eventually purchased a horizontal steam engine with a 24-inch diameter by 48-inch stroke cylinder to wind from the shaft. A 30 feet by 7 feet diameter boiler was supplied by the Sandycroft Foundry. It was first steamed in April 1872. Output was minimal and only 1880 saw production with only 21 tons of lead ore raised. This was after £90,000 had been subscribed to the company which was inevitably liquidated in 1882. Today the remains of this ill-fated venture comprise the octagonal chimney, foundations of the engine house and boiler, a run-in shaft, and a small brick building which was probably an office and maybe also contained a blacksmith's shop.

The Central Van Lead Mining Company Limited was floated in 1871 and was another example of blind optimism triumphing over common sense as the majority of the rich ores in the area had already been extracted. No lead was produced and operations ceased in 1878. The remains of this expensive venture include two chimneys and foundations of the enginehouse.

In 1846 William Lefeaux was fortunate enough to discover a rich lead orebody close to the surface at Pen-y-Clyn in about 1846. This did not persist in depth but work appears to have continued on and off here until at least 1869. It has been suggested that this was also known as West Van Mine. The tiny engine house at Pen-y-Clyn Mine seems to have little information available about its history. David Bick suggested that it was erected c1863 and contained a rotative Cornish Engine of c20" cylinder. The buildings here have been subject to some restoration and consolidation by the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust.

St Gwrhai's church hall at Penstrowed just to the west of Newtown, Powys. The adjacent church gets all the attention in the texts I have been able to locate so far. The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust website rabbits on about the nineteenth century church building and completely ignores this little gem.