Nant Yr Eira Bronze Age Copper Mine, Powys

Nant Yr Eira is a remote lead and copper mine high on the slopes of Plynlimon in west Montgomeryshire. The earliest working here is the deep open-cut (95 metres long by 6 metres wide and 7 metres deep) on the upper section of the stream which mined a vein of copper ore. Trench excavations across the old spoil tips lining the open-cut revealed broken hammer stones, charcoal and antler pick fragments indicating mining in the Bronze Age between 2000 and 1500 BC. Lower down the hillside can be seen the remains of the Snowbrook Lead Mine (1858 - 87) with a single ore bin and sorting platform and a stone tramway embankment leading to the head of the prominent wheel pit of the crusher house. Below the crusher house there is a formerly roofed over platform and down by the stream there are buddle and jigger processing tips with remains of the jigger platforms and circular buddles. On the slope above the crusher house are grass covered tips leading from the main shaft and a possible barrack and office building.