Hafod y Porth Copper Mine

Overview

A copper and lead mine in Cwm y Bleiddiau on Yr Aran, north of Beddgelert, first recorded in 1755 and promoted under several names and companies until it was abandoned in 1890, never having paid its way.

History

Hafod y Porth copper mine lies in Cwm y Bleiddiau on a foothill of Yr Aran, north of Beddgelert, on the Hafod y Porth land above Nant Gwynant. The first record of the mine dates from 1755, though it was probably worked earlier, and lead was sought there as well as copper. Most of what is known of its working comes from the nineteenth century: the Hafod y Porth Copper Mining Company raised some ore in 1864, more was raised in 1868 and 1869, and in 1869 the output was only 18 tons of dressed ore at 6.4 per cent copper.

A prospectus for the Great Aran and Snowdon Copper Mines appeared in 1873, with a promotional plan showing nine intersecting lodes at the mine and four more near the farm, most of which carried little or no ore. The mine was renamed Maudslay after its owner in 1882-84, with Charles Kneebone as agent, and Aran in 1888 under E. H. Harmont; in 1890 it passed to the North Wales United Mines Company and was abandoned after this last change of hands. It had a 24-foot waterwheel and an eight-head stamp battery, and in its later years ore was taken over the pass to the Hafod y Llan mill. Official returns show it never made a profit.

Geology

Several intersecting copper lodes, with some lead, in volcanic breccias, tuffs, rhyolite and dolerite on the flank of Yr Aran.

Workings

At least seven adits, with ventilation shafts, an opencast at the highest level and many small trials up the valley, in a lower group of four adits by the buildings and an upper group of three.

Closure

Abandoned in 1890 after passing to the North Wales United Mines Company; much of its equipment had been sold off in its last years.

What remains

The buildings are roofless but well preserved. In 2011 several adits held standing water, one was collapsed at the entrance, and rails remained in place in others.

A manager's house with office, smithy and store, two powder houses, a barracks, dressing floors with ore bins, spoil tips, a long retaining wall and an engineered mine track with stone slab bridges.

Redevelopment

National Trust land on the Craflwyn and Hafod y Porth estate.

Related mines

• Hafod y Llan Copper Mine — In Hafod y Porth's last years its ore was taken over the pass to the Hafod y Llan mill.

Recorded claims

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

• The first record of Hafod y Porth mine dates from 1755. ^1,2
• In 1869 Hafod y Porth produced 18 tons of dressed ore at 6.4 per cent copper. ²
• A promotional plan of 1873 showed nine intersecting lodes at the mine and four more near Hafod y Porth farm, most of them of little or no ore value. ³
• The mine was worked by the Hafod y Porth Copper Mining Company in 1864, renamed Maudslay in 1882-84 and Aran in 1888, and taken by the North Wales United Mines Company in 1890. ¹
• Hafod y Porth was abandoned in 1890 after changing hands for the last time. ^1,2
• The surviving buildings include a powder house, a manager's house with office, smithy and store, a barracks and dressing buildings with ore bins, approached by an engineered track with slab bridges. ^4,5
• The mine has at least seven adits with several ventilation shafts and many small trials up the valley. ^1,6

Sources

1. (secondary) Hafod-y-Porth (Buddlepit Mine Database) — Buddlepit Mine Database
2. (observational) Hafod-y-Porth Copper Mine — Treasure Maps (Iain Robinson)
3. (secondary) Mine Workings, Hafod y Porth Farm (MNA135938) — National Trust Heritage Records
4. (secondary) Hafod y Porth Copper Mine (NPRN 411651) — Coflein (RCAHMW)
5. (secondary) Hafod y Porth, Footpath (NPRN 413713) — Coflein (RCAHMW)
6. (observational) Hafod Y Porth Mine (trip report, April 2011) — United Cavers Exploration Team forum

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