GC22EDB "Young Ellie's Village" Stac Y Foel (Traditional Cache) in South Wales, United Kingdom created by Rudi and Ellie Mentry

This cache has been archived.

Andalusite: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

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Andalusite
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GC22EDB ▼

A cache by Rudi and Ellie Mentry Message this owner

Hidden : 12/30/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Stac y Foel was built between 1835 and 1838, and was the outlet for the fumes from Cwmafan Copperworks, near Port Talbot. It was demolished soon after the start of the second world war.

Young Ellie and her friends used to 'go for the day', taking a picnic up the the Foel.

This is the village the pre-geocaching "Ellie Mentry" grew up in. “Rudi” came to live here 36 years ago and he is still not from the village !!!!

The "Stac" was a flue which was constructed to carry the toxic fumes away from the populated areas of Cwmafan, to the top of the Foel Mountain, where the stack was situated. During the Second World War, the area would become a prime target for enemy bombers due to the docks and the high volume of industry.

This stone culvert (or flue) was constructed from these works drew the noxious copper smoke dispersing it into the air through a large stack or chimney built on the summit of the Foel.

The stack carried the poisonous fumes away from the village of Cwmafan to the top of the mountain, but by doing this it destroyed everything that grew on the Foel Mountain. This could be the reason why the mountain may have been called 'Y Foel', because in English it means barren or bare.

The culvert was an engineering achievement of the time and was nearly one mile long, climbing the mountainside. This tunnel was 15ft in width and 11ft in height. The Stack was the largest of its kind at the time and was considered one of the wonders of Glamorgan.

During this industrial time there was an Iron Works, Copper Miners Tinplate Works, Brick Works and Gas Works and several collieries in the area of Cwmavon.

There were also old coal tips which came from surrounding mines and coal pits and slants. These have now disappeared and the area has been landscaped.

Long after the Cwmafan Works ceased to operate, the Stac-y-Foel remained a prominent local landmark. It was finally demolished in 1940, allegedly because it was a landmark for German warplanes, although it is unlikely to have made any difference in that respect.

The former stack was circular in shape and strongly buttressed it stood some 30 feet in height. The smoke could be seen on clear days from across the Bristol Channel and in adjoining counties. Local people used it as a means of telling the weather and wind direction.

You can still see the channel up the mountain, which was the path of the tunnel

A Neath correspondent wrote to the “Cambrian” newspaper in 1853:

When down the northern side of Mynydd Vole
The smoke in columns dense is seen to roll,
Sure index of approaching storms and rain,
Fair weather then we may expect in vain,
But should the sulphurous fumes rise high in air,
We can predict the weather fair.

I would suggest hill-walking kit at all times!! .

A good choice of approach to this cache is either from Pontrhydyfen or off the Bwlch Road, between the Afan and Neath valleys. There is parking at either start point. Do consult an OS Map.

THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE IS DANGEROUS

The cache is open access land, but you may choose to approach on Forestry Commission paths. Please continue to follow the Countryside Code.

The cache is a litre clip lock box with various bits and pieces in.

It is hidden at the point where the Stac-y- Foel was sited. The trig point is 20-25 metres away.

Because the is a large rock field you may need to use the clue and/ or the spoiler photo. Please take care to cover the cache up again as there are a surprising number of walkers in the area

Also on the top of Foel Fynddau (370m), are three transmitter masts which can be seen as far away as Swansea. These transmitters may affect your GPS?

The views up here are spectacular. On clear day you can see Port Talbot, the Sandfields and Baglan in the foreground, and in the distance you can see the Mumbles and the Gower. Looking north you can the big peaks of the Brecon Beacons

WELL DONE 'LOWLANDERS' ~FTF~ in extremely challenging weather!!!! I put the cache out around New Year's Eve, in the snow. I thought it wouldn't be found for weeks!! Great picture.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybbx sbe na veba ebq jvgu n ebhaq gbc

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)