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Gilfach Copper Mine is a post-medieval and modern copper mine located in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference CN170. The mine exploited the mineral-rich geology of the Upper Cambrian bedrock beneath the site, which comprises mudstone, siltstone and sandstone of the Tremadocian age. These Tremadoc strata, though not primarily associated with copper deposits elsewhere, provided the geological foundation from which miners extracted copper ore.
The mine represents the industrial exploitation of Wales's metalliferous resources during the post-medieval period and into more recent times. Copper mining in Wales expanded significantly from the sixteenth century onwards, driven by growing demand for the metal in manufacturing, coinage and warfare. Gilfach's survival as a protected monument offers evidence of the mining technology and working practices employed in Welsh copper extraction.
Today the site remains under Cadw's stewardship, ensuring that the physical remains of the mine—including shafts, workings, spoil heaps and associated structures—are preserved for study and public understanding. The monument stands as a record of Wales's industrial heritage and the labour-intensive processes by which ore was won from the ground.
Gilfach Copper Mine is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CN170. View the official record →
Gilfach Copper Mine is a post-medieval and modern copper mine located in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference CN170.
Gilfach 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.
Gilfach 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 CN170.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Hut Circles near Craig y Gesail (6.9 km), Ystum-Cegid Burial Chamber (7 km), Fach-goch, standing stone to SSE of (7.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Gilfach 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.
Gilfach Copper Mine stands on Upper Cambrian, Including Tremadoc, bedrock that formed in the Tremadocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.