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Drws y Coed Copper Mine is a post-medieval and modern copper mine located in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference CN162. The mine exploited copper mineralisation within the local bedrock, which comprises mudstones, siltstones and sandstones of Upper Cambrian age, specifically deposits from the Tremadocian period. These fine-grained sedimentary rocks, which overlie older geological sequences, provided the host rock for the copper-bearing veins that miners worked over several centuries.
The site represents the Welsh tradition of extracting non-ferrous metals from Cambrian strata, a practice that became increasingly intensive during the post-medieval period as demand for copper grew. The geology of the Tremadoc formation, with its varied lithologies and associated mineral-bearing fractures, made it favourable for copper mineralisation in this part of Wales.
As a protected monument, Drws y Coed Copper Mine preserves evidence of historical mining activity and the landscape modifications resulting from ore extraction and processing. The site's survival under Cadw stewardship ensures that the physical remains of mining work—whether surface features, pit workings or associated structures—contribute to the understanding of Wales's industrial heritage and the exploitation of its valuable geological resources.
Drws y Coed Copper Mine is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CN162. View the official record →
Drws y Coed Copper Mine is a post-medieval and modern copper mine located in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference CN162.
Drws y Coed Copper Mine dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a copper mine. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Drws y Coed Copper Mine is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is CN162.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Treforys Deserted Quarry Settlement (8.2 km), Gorseddau Slate Quarry (8.6 km), Hut Circles at Braich y Cornel (8.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Drws y Coed Copper Mine's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Drws y Coed Copper Mine stands on Upper Cambrian, Including Tremadoc, bedrock that formed in the Tremadocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.