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Dear Bernard, I share your enthusiasm with mid-Wales sites, and indeed with the scenic location of Bryndyfi ( and perhaps also with the condition of its waterwheel pits, buddles and lay-out), but I think it is only fair to point out that this is not a mine with any particular history. If I am right in saying it only ever saw activity in the early 1880's, and in some respects was little more than a short-lived trial and a promotional folly. There are a number of other similar small mine sites. A little known 19th C. trial with similar well preserved and little used dressing floors is the Blaendyffryn Mine (Nantyrarian) near Goginan. This site has the added interest of the now dated earlier phase of prehistoric mining for copper ores within an old opencut, barely 100 metres from the 19thC dressing floor. This was the subject of archaeological survey and exavation in 1992 and dates from circa. 17-1800 BC. As you probably know, Bronfloyd Mine, which WMS and WMPT have been involved with (and which is scheduled) incorporates some of the best preserved 19h C.mine remains in mid-Wales and an extremely long and interesting history. It is quite right to point out the inconsistency of claims for preserving heritage, whilst land reclamation schemes such as at Cwmsymlog, Goginan, and Cwmerfin have unsympathetically dealt with the mining landscape as a whole. At Cwmystwyth the prehistoric mining and hushing remains on Copa Hill are protected, whilst the equally important focus of historical mining to the west (including exceptional preservation of mid-18th.century workings high on the hillside) is not. Just one of the many inconsistencies to note. All reclamation and safety work should have an archaeological component written into it - just as in urban archaeology today, no contractors should tender for work without first costing in and making time available for an archaeological watching brief. And of course, the work itself should have behind it the intention to preserve remains for the future rather than to soften all the corners, and uniformly conceal an interesting and varied landscape of coloured spoil under grass. Quite why spoil is not treated as part of history, whilst buildings are, I will never know (but of course we can all understand why it happens!). I feel I've digressed a bit. But you get my drift? Best wishes, Simon %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%