Rat Sandwich
Ynysybwl Drift Mine
I don't know much about this. All the info I've got was from the Black Mountains Site From what I can make out it
was a trial drift but no coal was found and it was abandoned. Trials further south found coal and were successfully mined.
Above the entrance and set back slightly is a large stone built wall with a single archway. The wall is approx 3-4 foot thick and was known as the 'Strawberry Wall'. I've no idea what the wall was
for. If anyone has any ideas please email me.
I've received the following information regarding 'The Strawberry Wall'
The site of which is, as rightfully stated, the remains of a failed mining venture by 'The Great Western Mining Co' and was abandoned some time during the mid 18th century and was built on the original access road to Cribyn Du farm which was widened considerably in order to accomodate the stone built haulage house and other smaller buildings (remains removed circa 1970) and provide storage space for the necessary supplies etc.
This large stone structure was an intended retaining wall for the banks of the excavation of the considerable widening of the road and would have been backfilled with hardcore to reinforce and aid drainage of the brick arch which would have been the entrance and exit of the drift mine and any subsequent underground workings but was never completed.
The intended retaining wall was abundant with wild strawberries until the ivy eventually killed the last of them off about 10 years ago, hence the name.
The existing tunnel which is almost directly in line and approx 50 feet lower than the brick arch entrance on the South East downstream bank of the brook known as Llys Nant pictured on your site would have been for ventilation only and gets partly flooded during prolonged heavy rainfall.
With thanks to Lyndon J. Ireland
All images Copyright © 2010 Ratsandwich
