Living in a semi-rural community some of us take for granted access to the countryside around us. But for some members of that community countryside access is increasingly under threat. I refer to the less able bodied who walk upon footpaths only to have their progress impeded by gates and stiles that are erected with no thought to their ease of us. Increasingly landowners are constructing stiles that are too high or require a fair amount of physical fitness in order to be negotiated Often the plank that serves as a step is missing turning the stile into a fence, or the top bar of the stile is to high making leg clearance difficult Of course landowners have a right to secure their stock but the old method that involved the use of "KISSING GATES" as they were known was much easier for the public to negotiate.

Joseph Thorne at the Quarry Viewing Platform

A ten year old from Gwaelod y Garth has awakened interest in the Old Iron Workings deep inside the Little Garth. Joseph Thorne wrote to the South Wales Echo asking for current news of the ancient workings after finding old newspaper cuttings from a decade ago about the local campaign to save the works.
   The old iron workings have a long history. In fact, iron cropping on the Little Garth was a vital to the iron age community 2000 years ago. In 1565, iron works were opened and worked until 1625. In the eighteenth century, the Blackmoor Booker company re-opened the old mine pit which had been abandoned when it became too deep to work safely. In 1815-30 new furnaces were built to burn coke instead of charcoal and eventually a tunnel was created in the North side of the hill to the bottom of the pit, about 400 feet down. There were other tunnels to the East and the West. Men and boys worked in the pit by candle light until it was closed at the end of the nineteenth century.

   There has always been public interest in the mine workings, with reports of visitors being taken on guided tours in the 1870's. More recently, cave divers have reported on the submerged old blacksmiths shop complete with tools and the fantastic underground lakes, one of which is known as the Blue Waters, due to a spectacular effect created by sunlight shafting down into the underground lake, cutting through the darkness.
   At the conclusion of the local campaign a decade ago, the site was declared to be worthy of national monument status and there was talk of Listing by the Archaeological Trust. Nothing has happened for a decade - until now. Prompted by a letter from Joseph Thorne to MP Kim Howells, CADW say that they will now reconsider the Listing of the site. In the meantime, Joseph has been shown around the quarry by quarry manager, Roger Shepherd, who is enthusiastic about the preservation of the iron working site.

at a time, but involved no climbing or undue physical effort. Some were fitted with springs that shut the gate behind you with a loud crash, preventing stock from getting out. Their advantage over stiles was that they stood the test of time, not rotting like wood, hence the old remaining examples in our area
   There is hope however, at least in the Gower area where I have seen modern versions in grey steel in use.

Simon John Roberts.

  Alas not many of these gates now remain in our area, but some can still be found in Gwaelod y-Garth and Pentyrch. Originally they were painted green and constructed of iron An iron gate opened within a semi-circular set of iron railings, which limited progress to one person