1303

First documentary evidence of mining in the area. Four German miners paid to search for copper ore (probably on Graig Fawr) but found only a small quantity of lead.

1632

Apparently next record of mining. Mining rights of Carrog Ffaylon (now Graig Fawr) leased to Sir John Conway of Bodrhyddan Hall and Robert Davies for 7 years: “a work was sett up and payeth to the profitt of the miners many hundreds of pounds beside what Sir john gott”

1639

New partnership William Salesbury, Maurice Wynn and Richard Newell until 1646 when the Civil War caused a stoppage of the works.

1650

to

1660

Legal disputes over boundaries. 1660 to 1680 several short-lived leases and disputes over inheritance.

1681

Lands in Trecastell and Llewerllyd leased to Roger Whitley of Peel, Cheshire. He came to live at Dyserth Hall. Also reference to smelting mill at Desart which appears to have been in Meliden Parish, but only worked spasmodically.

1705

Marriage of Elizabeth Whitley to the Earl of Plymouth.

1714

Lease of Dyserth mines to a partnership of Staffordshire men who probably introduced the first steam powered pumping engine into the area, but the water problem seemed to be too great. The Governor & Company for smelting down lead with pittecoal and seacoale took the lease of the Talargoch site to rework the surface tips for calamine.

1753

Paul Panton of Bagillt took lease of land between Dyserth and Talargoch for 21 years. At that time the mines all seemed to be in an abandoned state and great expense was incurred in reopening the mines. Panton had leat built in the mid 1750s to take water from Afon Ffyddion above Dyserth waterfalls along a course following the 200 feet contour line to the Talargoch site. This route of the leat caused much contention in later years. Panton acquired leases to land along the Talargoch vein.

1763

Agreement between Panton and the partnership of Daniel Seaman and Thomas Smedley who held leases to the Bishop of St Asaph’s Talargoch property. 1769-1775 losses totalled some £3300 though output of ore slowly increasing. Losses continued.

1782

Charles Howard of Hawarden commissioned to build an engine, whimsey and waterwheel at the Engine Shaft.

1794

First dividend paid to partners.

1802

Accident when the headgear and waterwheels fell into shaft of the Great Engine Shaft.

1805

Cottages built for the miners at Meliden.

1830

About 200 people employed at the mines.

1840

School built for local children.

1845

Engine started at the new shaft (Clive Shaft). Engine had 50 inch cylinder with 10 ft stroke and constructed at John Taylor’s Rhydymwyn foundry. The water for the engine was obtained via a new leat along the 300 feet contour from the Afon Ffyddion near Marion Mills. The leat was 16 ft wide at the top and 9 ft at the bottom.

1851

350 men working at the Clive end of the workings, but only 34 at the Mostyn end owing to water problems.

1856

Strike closed the mine for 4 months.

1857

Talargoch Mining Company Ltd formed.

1861

Search for ore to the south east fruitless.

1862

New 100 inch cylinder engine installed at Clive Shaft.

Sinking of the Mostyn Shaft 1080 ft deep.

1870s

Talargoch mainly producing zinc ores rather than lead.

1874

Talargoch Mining Company in liquidation.

New company floated - The Old Talargoch Mining Company Ltd but did not attract enough investors.

1875

The Talargoch Mining Co Ltd formed. John Lean appointed as agent.

1883

Mine auctioned as going concern. Bought by Messrs Hughes and Lancaster of Acrefair, Wrexham.

1884

Underground working finished for good.

Strike to try and prevent removal of underground plant.

Break up sale.

1884 to 1905

Various small companies reworked spoil heaps.