Headquarters - The Anchor Hotel (Ye Olde Anchor Inn), Rhos Street, Ruthin, LL15 1DY.
Tel. 01824 702 813; Fax. 01824 703 050; E-mail 'info@anchorinn.co.uk'
(View Multimap Map) 

Organiser
  George Hall

Saturday 12^th June - Minera Mine - Leader C.J.Williams

  Meet at 11:00 at the museum car park (signposted from the main Wrexham-Ruthin road) at SJ 276 509.  (View OS Map)
There are extensive remains of these mines, operated by John Taylor & Sons between 1849 and 1914, including the Meadow or City Shaft engine-house.  The site was reclaimed by the local council, and opened to the public in 1994.  There is a display of artefacts in a building nearby.  Together these will occupy most of the day.  Lunch can be a packed lunch in the car park, but for those who want it there is a pub a short drive away. 
  We will also visit the Penrhos engine-house at SJ 291 532. (View OS Map)  This is a restored pumping engine-house for one of John Wilkinson’s collieries.  It was built about 1795, and is probably the earliest engine-house in Wales to survive to its full height.  Parking is however very limited, and we shall have to share transport.

  Alternatively, Mike Klimaszewski has offered to lead an underground trip to Cabin Shaft, Minera, on the Saturday.  Meet at 11a.m., at SJ 258 519, (View OS Map), the end of the yellow road at Gwynfryn.  Please note that Cabin Shaft is entered using a 30-foot electron ladder, and that there are several crawls.  If you intend to go on the underground trip please let George Hall know at least a week beforehand, so that he can advise Mike of the numbers attending.

 There are two useful books on this area : 
 - John Bennett (ed.), 'Minera : Lead Mines and Quarries' (Wrexham Maelor Borough Council,1995), with chapters by various WMS / WMPT members.
 - Nigel Jones, Mark Walters and Pat Frost, 'Mountains and Orefields : Metal Mining Landscapes of Mid and North-East Wales' (CBA,2004), which has well-illustrated sections on the early and later Minera mines.

Saturday Evening - Dinner at The Anchor Hotel

  Assemble at 6:30 p.m. for dinner at 7:00 p.m.  A menu was enclosed with the Newsletter, (copy available here)  – please notify your choices to George Hall by Saturday 5^th June.

Sunday 13^th June - Pool Park area  - Leader G.W.Hall
Meet 10:30 at SJ 254 512, the turning to Park Farm.  (View OS Map : Printable version)
(Click here for brief details of CPAT survey of this area.)

  We will be visiting several old mines on Minera Mountain, but while there are numerous complexes of dumps, foundations, sites of shafts, and so on, there are no substantial remains at any.  It is therefore more of a moorland walk than industrial exploration.  Chris Williams will be prepared to say a few words on the decoys on the mountain, which led to the area being heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War.

  Alternatively, there is the possibility of a trip to Ogof Dydd Byraf (mine workings leading to half a mile of natural cave) if there is sufficient demand.  Again, if you intend to go on the underground trip please let George know at least a week beforehand so he can advise Mike of numbers.

  Other sites of interest:
  Those staying the whole weekend might consider visiting the West End mines, about SJ 252 525, (View OS Map), where there is extensive evidence of early (medieval and later) mining, including the Hush Vein.  There is a public footpath to this area from the minor road to the north.

Accommodation 
The Old Anchor can provide single rooms with breakfast at £40 per night, double £60.  If you wish to stay there please make your own bookings direct with the hotel - full details above.

Some two-and three-star B&B establishments in the area are :
 Bryn Coch Farm, Tel. 01824 750 603
 Gorphywsfa, Tel. 01824 707 529
 Llainwen Uchaf Farm, Tel. 01978 790 235 (grade unknown)
 Pant Glas Ganol Farm, Tel. 01824 710 639
 Plas Efenechtyd, Tel. 01824 704 008
 Tan Rhiw, Tel. 01824 704 610

 The nearest camp sites are Lodge Farm, Treuddyn, Tel. 01352 770 291, and Bryn Bowlio, Loggerheads, 01352 810 484.  George Hall also has other addresses including self-catering accommodation.

Headquarters/Conference Venue
  Plas Dolguog Hotel, Penegoes, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8UJ.  Tel. 01654 702 244 
  Located just outside of Machynlleth on the A489 road to Newtown, at SH 761 017 (View OS Map)

Organisers
  George Hall, 'Abilene', Sheet Road, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1LR.  Tel./Fax. 01584 877 521
  Roger Bird (Programme Manager); Llys Owen, Blaenpennal, Aberystwth, SY23 4TL. Tel. 01974 251 400

Saturday 9^th October - Indoor Conference at Plas Dolguog.
  Refreshments, (i.e. morning coffee, lunch and aftenoon tea), will be included.
  Cost will be £25.00 per person, (includes a copy of the proceedings), and it is hoped, an excursion guide for the Sunday. 
  Enquiries and bookings to John W.Hine, The Grottage, 2 Cullis Lane, Mile End, Coleford, GL16 7QF (please enclose s.a.e.) or by email.

Saturday Registration and coffee from 10:30 a.m.  Conference will start at 11:00 with a welcome address by George Hall.  Presentation of conference papers chaired by David Roe.
 

Saturday Evening - Conference dinner, at the hotel, (to be booked in advance), £15.00 per person.
 Menu enclosed with the Newsletter - copy available here.  Dinner bookings, advising numbers and choice of courses, should be made to George Hall by 30^th September.

Sunday 10^th October - Site Visit / Field Trip - Location yet to be decided
 Field excursion in the Machynlleth or Dolgellau area led by David James or Simon Dominy.

Accommodation
 Plas Dolguog Hotel : The standard price of a double room for one night is £95, but Ms.Rhodes says that the ‘weekend break’ tariff will apply.  Conference attendees who wish to stay are requested to book direct, and if staying for more than one night should discuss the tariff themselves.

Some B&Bs (around £30) in the area are:
 Felin Crewi, Penegoes, Tel. 016524 703 113
 Hen Felin, Abercegir, Tel. 01650 511 818
 Aberhiriaeth, Cemmaes, Tel. 01650 511 518
 Mathafarn Farm, Llanwrin, Tel. 01650 511 226
 The Old Coach House, Aberangell, Tel. 01650 511 333
 Red Lion, Dinas Mawddwy, Tel. 01650 531 247

 There is a camp site at Morben Isaf, Derwenlas, and again George has details of additional addresses if required.