Mining In Wales. A Long Time Ago
Mining In Wales has long been a staple occupation in Wales starting in small-scale in the pre-Roman British Iron Age and passing to an industrial scale after the conquest of the Romans in 78 AD. Substantial quantities of gold, copper, and lead were extracted, along with lesser amounts of zinc and silver. Mining In Wales would continue until the process was no longer practical or profitable, at which time the mine would be abandoned. The extensive excavations of the Roman operations at Dolaucothi provide a picture of the high level of Roman technology and the expertise of Roman engineering in the ancient era.
The gold mining operations at Dolaucothi were characterized by a high level of advancement and sophistication, indicating that it was likely pioneered by the Roman army. This is supported by the writings of the Roman engineer Vitruvius in 25 BC, where he described the construction of dewatering machines. These machines were not only used for Mining In Wales but also had widespread applications in irrigation and lifting water in thermae.
The Romans were the first to extensively mine for gold and lead. One of the largest lead mines was at Cwmystwth where in the 18th century silver was also mined. Dolaucothi near Pumpsaint is the site of a Roman gold mine, the only one in Britain. The gold near the surface was exploited by open-cast working and the deeper ore was reached underground by galleries. The galleries were drained by a timber water-wheel, part of which can be seen in the National Museum in Cardiff. Each wheel would have been worked like a tread wheel, from the side rather than at the top, but it would have been a hard and lonely activity for the miners working these wheels lifting water from the mine bottom. Since the fragment of a reverse overshot water-wheel was found 160 feet below, it must have been part of a similar sequence at Dolaucothi to that in Spain. Underground coal Mining In Wales began in Wales over 400 years ago.
In the past, superstitions held significant influence in the coal Mining In Wales communities of Wales and were deeply ingrained in their culture, impacting various aspects of daily life. These superstitions were regarded with great seriousness and were an integral part of the community's traditions and beliefs.
In South Mining In Wales, Friday has long been regarded as a day associated with bad luck. It is a tradition for miners to avoid starting new work on Fridays, and pit men consistently refrain from entering the mines on Good Friday throughout Wales.
In 1890, at Morfa Colliery near Port Talbot, an unusual sweet rose-like scent was detected. This fragrance was believed to emanate from invisible "death flowers." On March 10th of that year, half of the miners on the morning shift chose to stay at home. Tragically, later that day, an explosion occurred at the colliery, resulting in the burial and subsequent loss of 87 miners in the disaster.
The presence of a robin, pigeon, and dove flying around the pithead was considered an ill omen, as these birds were known as "corpse birds." According to legend, these birds were spotted before the tragic 1913 explosion at Senghenydd Colliery in Glamorgan, which claimed the lives of 400 miners.
The efforts to ward off bad luck were not limited to miners. Women at home also played an essential role in this regard. For example, when drawing lots for a position at the coal face, a miner's wife would hang the fire tongs from the mantelpiece and place the family cat in the unlit oven, showcasing their active involvement in the community's superstitions.
