17th century mine to be restored

Since the 1960s the mine has become a dumping ground for waste. Enlarge Image

Volunteers have started a 10-year project to restore a 400-year-old lead mine in a tiny community in Powys.

Plans are to eventually reopen part of Martha Pit in the former mining village of Dylife, near Machynlleth.

The mine's history can be traced back to the mid-1600s, but at its height between 1850-70 it was considered one of the largest of its type in Europe.

But since the 1960s the mine has become a dumping ground for waste, including abandoned old cars.

So far, about a dozen volunteers have removed six tonnes of waste including three cars, but they estimate they still have another 60 tonnes to go.

Workers from the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust and the Welsh Mines Society, which have both helped fund the project, said they wanted to preserve the memory of the mining community in Dylife.

'Boom period'

Michael Brown, one of the project organisers, said clearing the pit and restoring it had been talked about since the 1970s.

"It had a large mining wheel and it was common for communities to name them and this one was called Martha," he added.

"There has been mining in the area since Roman times, but the history of the present mine can be traced back to the mid-1600s.

"Its boom period was 1850 to 1870 when it was considered one of the largest in Europe.

"It is thought to have employed about 1,000 workers, many of them women and children."

Mr Brown added that he wanted people to understand and appreciate what had happened there.

Mid Wales was home to dozens of lead mines in the 19th Century and they attracted people looking for work.