Powell’s Lode Cavern beneath Rhosesmor
“This naturally formed cavern has a deep lake, not visible on this photo as it is behind the camera. To visit the cavern, we had to climb 400ft vertically down through old mine workings and walk 4 miles through abandoned tunnels! It took a day for the return trip underground.”
Cris Ebbs
Photo taken by Cris Ebbs
Limestone caverns beneath Hendre
“A series of caverns known by miners as ‘The Quarry’ were created whilst mining high-grade limestone, much of which was supplied to Pilkingtons for glass making. The caverns are fascinating to modern-day mine explorers like us as they’re both extensive and impressive. The chambers are littered with old wagons, bits of machinery, newspapers and cigarette packets dating back to the 1960s.”
Cris Ebbs
Photo taken by Paul Deakin
Junction of the Milwr Tunnel (right) with the Rhosesmor Branch Tunnel
“To reach this point, we walked north along the Milwr Tunnel for a mile from Olwyn Goch Shaft at Hendre. We then walked east up the Rhosesmor Branch Tunnel for another mile. In wet conditions, water floods over the rails in the main tunnel, so walking is slow and arduous, but still well worth the effort to see such a treasure-house of mining artifacts”.
Cris Ebbs
Photo taken by Paul Deakin
Looking up a stope in Powell’s Lode beneath Rhosesmor
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“After an vein or lode has had all its ore removed, the space that remains is called a stope. The photograph shows an access passage and the view from the bottom of a stope, which extends almost vertically for 200 feet. There’s just so much for mine explorers to see, with open stopes and passages at varying heights throughout the workings.”
Cris Ebbs
Photo taken by Paul Deakin
Powell’s Lode Lake
“The lake’s water was a clear and magical greeny-blue. Its depth is at least 200 feet below sea level. A large unexplored cave system must lie somewhere deep below.”
Cris Ebbs
Photo taken by Paul Deakin