Exploring the Mine

What to expect on your visit

Kitting up with miner's lamp, lamp belt, helmet and safety clips [+]

Your Corris Mine exploration starts from the Corris Craft Centre where you're kitted out with a miner's cap lamp, helmet, lamp belt and safety clips. Mark, your guide, explains how the equipment works and then you set off on the short walk to the mine entrance.

Once in the mine, you're in complete darkness, following the route of entry made by the miners back in the 1800s. Once your eyes adjust to the dark surroundings you will discover the miles of underground tunnels and caverns. These were once a part of the working Welsh slate mine of Braich Goch.

At the start of the journey your guide will take you through the safety procedures and you will practice clipping on to the safety ropes.

Miles of winding tunnels [+]

Mark explains how the mine worked and how it was first excavated by the miners. You will find abandoned tools and machinery, candles and even a packet of cigarettes. You will hear of the miners' tough working lives and the reality of their working conditions. This is a real eye-opener into our social history.

You can take a 1 ½ hour taster tour or a half day exploration. On the taster tour you explore underground workings from the later years of the mine's history from the 1900s up to the 1940s.

On the half day exploration you will explore parts of the mine from all periods of it's history. From areas worked in the earliest days of the mine from 1836 (which were then reworked at a much later date) up to workings from the late 1960s when the mine was finally closed.

See the stark comparisons in working conditions, tools, machinery and health and safety come to light.