Catherine and Jane Consols

Overview

A lead mine above Cei Mawr on the Ffestiniog Railway near Penrhyndeudraeth, opened as Penyrallt in 1825 and renamed in 1855 for its two lady lessors; a costly Cornish engine of 1860 found no new ore, and the last working was in 1877.

History

Catherine and Jane Consols is a lead mine about half a mile north-east of Cei Mawr, the great embankment on the Ffestiniog Railway near Penrhyndeudraeth. The earliest reference to it is in 1825, when it took the name Penyrallt from a nearby farm. In 1855 it was renamed after its two lady lessors, Katherine and Jane Richards, landowners of Llanfair near Harlech who are believed to have been twins. It had a chequered history, producing much lead ore at one time but less and less as more money was poured into it; copper and iron ore were also raised, the iron from another part of the sett.

In 1860 a great deal of money went on a Cornish beam engine to work the mine deeper, but the engine was taken out within a short time when no new ore was found, and a 35-foot water wheel was installed in its place. Promises of all kinds were made to attract investors, the name 'Consols' itself borrowing the security of government stock. The last recorded working was in 1877, by the Felix Lead Mine company. The mine had a siding off the Ffestiniog Railway at Leadmine Curve below Cei Mawr, though it probably never ran more than a few wagon lengths. The engine house was left to decay; its front wall fell, probably early in the twentieth century, and the rear wall and chimney were blown up in 1965 during a Forestry Commission clearance.

Geology

Lead ore, with some copper; magnetic iron ore was worked in another part of the sett.

Workings

Shafts and levels, worked deeper from 1860 with a Cornish beam engine and later a 35-foot water wheel.

Closure

The last recorded working was in 1877, by the Felix Lead Mine company.

What remains

Much of the site survives under forestry; the remains of the Cornish engine house are still massive though partly demolished.

The partly demolished Cornish engine house, the pit of the 35-foot wheel on the lower dressing floor, a saw pit, the smithy and office, and other buildings, shafts and levels.

Redevelopment

Forestry plantation.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• The mine is first recorded in 1825, under the name Penyrallt from a nearby farm. ^1,2
• In 1855 the mine was renamed Catherine and Jane after its two lady lessors, Katherine and Jane Richards. ^1,3,2
• A Cornish beam engine installed in 1860 to work the mine deeper was removed within a short time when no new ore was found. ¹
• The last recorded working was in 1877, by the Felix Lead Mine company. ²
• The engine house's rear wall and chimney were blown up in 1965 during forestry clearance. ^1,2
• The mine had a siding off the Ffestiniog Railway at Leadmine Curve, probably never more than a few wagon lengths long. ¹
• Remains of buildings, shafts and levels survive at the Catherine and Jane mine. ⁴

Sources

1. (secondary) Catherine & Jane Consols lead mine — Festipedia (FR Heritage Group)
2. (observational) Corn Mawr at the Catherine and Jane Consols Lead Mine, Penrhyndeudraeth (photo caption, Ken Robinson collection) — Flickr
3. (secondary) Katherine and Jane Richards — Festipedia (FR Heritage Group)
4. (secondary) Catherine and Jane Mine (NPRN 33961) — Coflein (RCAHMW)

Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 19 October 2026