Welsh Mines Society

David Bick Dylife - 2001

THE BICKFEST.
In celebration of the late David Bick’s distinguished, highly individual, and influential contribution to British mining history, the Welsh Mines Society held a two-day meeting on September 29^th and 30^th, 2007.

On the Saturday there was a one-day indoor conference, titled ‘The Lode of History’, at the Mellington Hall Hotel, Church Stoke, Powys, SY15 6HX, Tel. 01588  620 456, on the border of South Shropshire and Montgomeryshire (Powys).

Speakers included Peter Claughton, Simon Dominy, George Hall, Simon Hughes, David James, Robert Protheroe Jones, Simon Timberlake and Rob Vernon on a range of topics from remapping the Dylife Lodes via Geophysical Prospecting to the introduction of gunpowder into mid Wales.

Dinner at Mellington Hall on the Saturday evening, consisted of three courses and coffee.

Download booking form - Conference / Evening Meal

The GR. of the entrance to the hotel drive is :  SO 253 930  View 1:50,000 OS or Road Atlas
The hotel is in a beautiful and secluded situation, with its own gardens and extensive grounds (through which the Offa’s Dyke path passes), with particularly fine trees, and views of the South Shropshire hills.  The Stiperstones and the Longmynd are near at hand; Ironbridge, Ludlow, and Powis Castle are easy drives.

On the Sunday there was a walk, led by members of the Society, to the Bryntail and Pen-y-clun mines, near Llanidloes.  At the latter site the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust have been instrumental in arranging for comprehensive repair work to the 19th century engine-house.

The conference was arranged and organised by George Hall, and Barry and Mary Dupree, with Dave Linton editing the conference proceedings, and David James and Graham Levins leading the field trip.