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Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century Lead Mine is a multi-period mining complex in Wales that testifies to the exploitation of the landscape's mineral wealth across millennia. The site lies upon Ashgill rocks of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formation, geology that hosted the metalliferous deposits that attracted miners from prehistoric times onwards. The earliest phase of activity represents copper extraction during the prehistoric period, when evidence of ancient working survives within the landscape. Later, during the nineteenth century, the site underwent renewed exploitation as a lead mine, reflecting the industrial expansion of the Victorian era. This secondary phase of development built upon the same mineral-rich geology that had drawn prehistoric prospectors to the location. The monument is protected by Cadw, the historic monuments service of Wales, under reference MG226, recognising its significance as a record of long-term human engagement with mineral resources and technological change across two very different periods of Welsh mining history.
Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century Lead Mine is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MG226. View the official record →
Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century Lead Mine is a multi-period mining complex in Wales that testifies to the exploitation of the landscape's mineral wealth across millennia. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference MG226.
Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century 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.
Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century 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 MG226.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cae Gaer (5.4 km), Y Garn, 2400m NNW of Eisteddfa-Gurig (5.6 km), Llys Arthur, Dyffryn-Castell (6.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century 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.
Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century Lead Mine stands on Ashgill Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ashgill. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.