Other Mining & Quarrying

Limestone Quarries
There were several uses for limestone, and this is said to date back to medieval times. The main uses were for making lime mortar, whitewash and for improving acid soils, but it was also used for building.

The popularity and importance of limestone led to many large quarries being worked. A large coastal trade developed, and short canals were built from quarries to the haven. These can still be seen on the Carew river south and west of West Williamston, on Garren Pill, north of lawrenny, and at Llangwm Ferry.

Small ships took the limestone, along with locally mined coal, to limekilns at harbours and beaches all around the coast. There the limestone was burnt in the kiln until the limestone was broken down enough to be sown on the land by the local farmers.

In the 19th Century it was used as a tooled squared masonry block in the officers' houses at Pembroke Dockyard, and in all the massive forts of the mid 1800's which are found around the Milford Haven Waterway.

Granite Quarries
It was not until the 19th Century that granite became a popular material for building, paving and surfacing roads. The most significant granite quarry in the Pembrokeshire is found at Portgain on the north west coast. The stone was first quarried in the 1800's to make paving setts, which were exported to London and Dublin.

By the early 20th Century the granite was being crushed for roadstone and graded into giant hoppers located on the quay next to the harbour.

Ochre Mining
In the beginning of the 20th Century a Ochre Mine was opened up at Greenhill, just south of Haverfordwest. Ochre was and still is used to make paint and as a filler in various processes including the manufacture of brown paper.

The deposits at Greenhill were discovered during well sinking in 1910. The discovery was made by Mr J G Summons a local mining engineer who subsequently managed the mine for agents Messrs Eaton Evans on behalf of the landowner, a Mrs Bushe.

By February 1911 a number of miners, drawn from the coal workings in the Freystrop area, were engaged in opening up the deposit. There were two shafts, one had a small steam engine installed in a shed alongside it.

Once the initial development work was completed the workforce was reduced to five; two men employed underground and three at surface in 1911-12, with three underground and two at surface in 1913. Manpower shortages during World War I probably curtailed activity at Greenhill. The mine was idle by 1916 and finally abandoned in 1919.

Manganese Mining
A Manganese mine was opened up in 1889 on the south side of Esgyrn Bottom, near to Llanstinian. A level approx. 10 ft wide by 7 ft high was driven south with a small spoil heap on the hillside below. It is not known how long the mine was worked for, although some minor plant (tram wagons) are believed to survive.

Copper Mining
Treginnis is a small copper mine located on the cliff tops opposite Ramsey Island, 1000 yards south west of Treginnis Isaf farmhouse. It is reported to have been worked from 1820 up until 1883 when it was abandoned after fatal accident.

A small silver-lead / copper mine is found on landward side of Dinas Fawr, 1000 yards south of St Elvis Farm. This is believed to have been worked from as early as c.1528 although not on a large scale. There was an attempt to rework the site in the mid 19th century, but it did not prove successful and the mine has seen little action since.

Stone Quarries
As well as slate quarries, Pembrokeshire is home to many igneous stone quarries. The following are still being worked today:

Bolton Hill, Tiers Cross

Blaencilcoed, Ludchurch, Narberth

Middle Mill, Solva

Trefloyne, Tenby

Trefigin, St Dogmaels

Rhyndaston, Roch