Wern Ddu Claypits

Wern Ddu Claypits is a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Van in Caerphilly County Borough, South Wales. The woodland is known locally as Coed y Werin, which surrounds a 19th-century clay pit, dug to supply clay to the Caerphilly Brick Company. It is designated because of the important coal measure rocks exposed there.

Wern Ddu Clay Pits
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Wales
Area of SearchGwent
Grid referenceST1674785684
Coordinates51.563864°N 3.2024493°W / 51.563864; -3.2024493
InterestGeology
Area6.48 ha
Notification1 January 1979

Geography

The Wern Ddu Claypits are located to the west of Caerphilly Town centre.[1] The site is measures around six hectares (15 acres).[2] The site is owned by the Caerphilly Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission.[3]

History

The quarry at Wern Ddu is believed to be around 150 years old.[3] The area was the site of an opencast clay pit and a drift mine that provided material for brickmaking.[1][4] In the 1920s and 1930s the site was worked by the Black Vein Colliery and later the Caerphilly Brick Company.[5]

Production at the Claypits ceased in the 1960s and the area became largely derelict in the ensuing decades.[1] The site was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest on 29 October 1984,[2] mainly due to large deposits of carboniferous and westphalian geology which are estimated to be up to 300-million years old.[1] Caerphilly County Borough Council describes the area as "one of the most important sites for helping understand the Westphalian geological history of the southern province of Britain."[2]

At the start of the 21st century, The Caerphilly Woodlands Trust took possession of the Claypits site and began developing the area.[1] In 2007, the Countryside Council for Wales carried out an extensive clear up process to develop the site for visitors.[3]

See also
  • List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Mid & South Glamorgan

References
  1. "Wern Ddu". British Institute for Geological Conservation. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  2. "Statutory Protected Sites for Biodiversity Conservation". Caerphilly County Borough Council. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  3. "Quarry clearance is a rock-solid investment for Wales". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. "History". Caerphilly Woodlands Trust. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  5. "Coal seam excavated for heritage in Caerphilly woodland". BBC Sport. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
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