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Dyngwm is a post-medieval and modern lead mine located in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference MG247. The mine exploited mineral veins within the local bedrock of Llandovery rocks, an undifferentiated succession of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Llandovery period of the Silurian. These sedimentary strata, though not naturally rich in lead, contained sufficient mineralisation to support commercial extraction during the periods of active mining.
Lead mining in Wales intensified during the post-medieval era as demand for the metal increased for plumbing, roofing and industrial purposes. The geology of the surrounding area, with its varied sedimentary sequence, created conditions where mineralised veins could form. Such mines required significant capital investment in drainage systems and labour to extract ore from shallow and deeper workings as the deposits were followed into the bedrock.
The site preserves evidence of this extractive phase of Welsh industrial history. Like other lead mines of its type and period, Dyngwm would have involved surface features including spoil heaps, mine shafts and levels driven into the hillside to access ore bodies. The protection of the site by Cadw recognises its archaeological and historical importance as a record of Wales's mining heritage and the geological knowledge that guided mineral extraction during this era.
Dyngwm/Castle Rock Lead Mine is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MG247. View the official record →
Dyngwm is a post-medieval and modern lead mine located in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference MG247.
Dyngwm/Castle Rock Lead Mine dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a lead mine. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Dyngwm/Castle Rock Lead 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 MG247.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Carn Fach Bugeilyn (3.7 km), Carn Biga, Pumlumon Fawr/Plynlimon (3.8 km), Cwmbiga long cairn (4.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Dyngwm/Castle Rock Lead 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.
Dyngwm/Castle Rock Lead Mine stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.