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The Gwrhyd Iron Ore Mine (SO110 057) Link to Google Earth
The Gwrhyd Iron Ore Mine, which was located on the crest of the hill between Fochriw and Pontlottyn, was opened by the Marquis of Bute in October 1857 under the tenure of the Rhymney Iron Company. Its life-span was only five years since its single shaft was found to be ineffective and dangerous and the financial benefits were deemed to be not great enough to warrant the sinking of a second shaft to bring it into conformity for all deep mine workings as a result of new safety legislation. However, on OS map dated 1886, which was based on a survey in 1875, it is shown as still active with the use changed to a coal mine.
The Gwrhyd Iron Ore Mine, which was located on the crest of the hill between Fochriw and Pontlottyn, was opened by the Marquis of Bute in October 1857 under the tenure of the Rhymney Iron Company. Its life-
The OS map dated 1883 shows a coalmine at the location of the iron ore mine which was connected to the Rhymney Iron Works by a tramway, the route of the tramway being over the top of the moor where it connected with the Rhymney Limestone Railway adjacent to the Rhymney Railway's Rhymney station.
The Gwrhyd Pit was connected, by two separate underground roads, to the workings of the Gwrhyd Level, the entrance of which was located about a ½ mile to the north north east on the Pontlottyn side of the hillside. This level commenced in 1852, the last workings of which are dated December 1857. The connections with the level were made during the last quarter of 1858. This information was taken from the Rhymney Iron Company linen drawings which are undated.
This new information seems to conflict with the reasoning for the Gwrhyd Pit’s closure due to its single shaft, since the workings had a second way of access and egress
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