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Cwmsymlog
Cwmsymlog is a short valley, sheltering a hamlet of the same name, in Ceredigion, in the west of Wales. Once an important mining area, but the mining slowly declined and finally came to an end in 1901. Now it is peaceful, open countryside with a few mining remains, scattered houses and farmland. It is also the name of a Site of Special Scientific Interest at that location.
Nowadays Cwmsymlog lies hidden amongst the trees, surrounded by fields of sheep. The small settlement itself has a chapel (now disused and in private ownership) and a few scattered houses. One of these has a standing stone in front of the house. Another, called Plas Wigwam, was the grand home of the mine captain, his family and staff. There are the derelict remains of several houses around the village from when it was a thriving mining community. 2024 saw the building of the first new house in the village for over 100 years when a barn was demolished and a modern house built on the site.
The mine chimney dominates the landscape but everywhere around are traces of mining. There are many ruined industrial buildings and mine shafts, and the stream has been engineered into adits and leats. Spoil piles from the mine works are slowly being reclaimed by nature with gorse bushes and rare ferns. The mine chimney, nineteenth century, was restored in 2006 with extensive repairs to the top. Smaller stones were used for the top section to show the difference between the old construction and the restored part.
The Borth to Devil's Bridge to Pontrhydfendigaid Trail runs through the valley and the mountain bike trails of Bwlch Nant yr Arian skirt around the edge. The valley is also popular with off road drivers and motorcyclists.
The presence of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic hunters is unlikely, but that of Neolithic farmers cannot entirely be ruled out.
In the Bronze Age several standing stones were erected. Dating of these holy places: c.2300-800 BC. Two stones are near Pen-bont Rhydybeddau (Head of the bridge Ford of the graves), one is near the hill-fort Pen y Castell, one in front of a house called Pant y Garreg Hir (Hollow of the Long Stone) and two lie close together with the name Buwch a'r Llo (Cow and Calf) east of the last one. Near-by these paired monoliths is another one. Also built in the Bronze Age are two burial mounds (cairns/piles of stones): Garn-Wen (White Cairn) lies near Pent-bont Rhydybeddau and Carn Dolgau (Cairn of Meadow of hollow) is near Cwmerfyn (cwm/valley).
The standing stone called Garreg Hir was tumbling and eventually fell in 2017. The Dutch archaeologist Lex Ritman contacted CADW in 2018 and with the cooperation and initiative of Louise Mees, regional inspector of ancient monuments and archaeology, the project started to re-erect this ancient monument. The reinstatement concerns a scheduled monument. It is legally protected. The reference name is Standing Stone c.500 m SW of Llyn Pendam, reference number CD 230. It is on the list of scheduled monuments at risk.
In the Iron Age several hill-forts were constructed with ramparts and ditches. Banc-y-Darren (banc/hillside) lies south of Pent-bont Rhydybeddau and Pen y Castell (Head of the Castle) north of it. These defended villages are about 2000 years old.
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Cwmsymlog
Cwmsymlog is a short valley, sheltering a hamlet of the same name, in Ceredigion, in the west of Wales. Once an important mining area, but the mining slowly declined and finally came to an end in 1901. Now it is peaceful, open countryside with a few mining remains, scattered houses and farmland. It is also the name of a Site of Special Scientific Interest at that location.
Nowadays Cwmsymlog lies hidden amongst the trees, surrounded by fields of sheep. The small settlement itself has a chapel (now disused and in private ownership) and a few scattered houses. One of these has a standing stone in front of the house. Another, called Plas Wigwam, was the grand home of the mine captain, his family and staff. There are the derelict remains of several houses around the village from when it was a thriving mining community. 2024 saw the building of the first new house in the village for over 100 years when a barn was demolished and a modern house built on the site.
The mine chimney dominates the landscape but everywhere around are traces of mining. There are many ruined industrial buildings and mine shafts, and the stream has been engineered into adits and leats. Spoil piles from the mine works are slowly being reclaimed by nature with gorse bushes and rare ferns. The mine chimney, nineteenth century, was restored in 2006 with extensive repairs to the top. Smaller stones were used for the top section to show the difference between the old construction and the restored part.
The Borth to Devil's Bridge to Pontrhydfendigaid Trail runs through the valley and the mountain bike trails of Bwlch Nant yr Arian skirt around the edge. The valley is also popular with off road drivers and motorcyclists.
The presence of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic hunters is unlikely, but that of Neolithic farmers cannot entirely be ruled out.
In the Bronze Age several standing stones were erected. Dating of these holy places: c.2300-800 BC. Two stones are near Pen-bont Rhydybeddau (Head of the bridge Ford of the graves), one is near the hill-fort Pen y Castell, one in front of a house called Pant y Garreg Hir (Hollow of the Long Stone) and two lie close together with the name Buwch a'r Llo (Cow and Calf) east of the last one. Near-by these paired monoliths is another one. Also built in the Bronze Age are two burial mounds (cairns/piles of stones): Garn-Wen (White Cairn) lies near Pent-bont Rhydybeddau and Carn Dolgau (Cairn of Meadow of hollow) is near Cwmerfyn (cwm/valley).
The standing stone called Garreg Hir was tumbling and eventually fell in 2017. The Dutch archaeologist Lex Ritman contacted CADW in 2018 and with the cooperation and initiative of Louise Mees, regional inspector of ancient monuments and archaeology, the project started to re-erect this ancient monument. The reinstatement concerns a scheduled monument. It is legally protected. The reference name is Standing Stone c.500 m SW of Llyn Pendam, reference number CD 230. It is on the list of scheduled monuments at risk.
In the Iron Age several hill-forts were constructed with ramparts and ditches. Banc-y-Darren (banc/hillside) lies south of Pent-bont Rhydybeddau and Pen y Castell (Head of the Castle) north of it. These defended villages are about 2000 years old.