Ironstone shafts – Cefn y Hendy

The large open area at Cefn y Hendy is the site of nineteen century ironworkings.

Archaeological work carried out in the fields here in 1991 and 1992 identified a series of isolated industrial remains, pits, shafts and associated waste tips ; these were interpreted as 19th century surface workings associated with the Bute Haematite Works which were centred on Mwyndy nearby.

The Bute Estate map of 1824 does not show any of the surviving features, and fieldwork carried out failed to identify earlier workings on the ground with certainty.

It is believed that there was earlier extraction in the area as earlier mine workings were discovered during initial operations at the Bute works in 1854

For more information about the history of the community of Pontyclun please visit our online museum