As part of ongoing work to create a national Mining Plans Portal, the British Geological Survey (BGS) is asking: do you have the oldest mine plan in Great Britain? Mining has occurred in Great Britain for around 5,000 years. However, despite this, the earliest detailed maps (mine plans) are only as recent as the 18th century. One of the earliest mine plans on record is from the Esgair-Hir lead/silver mine in Cardiganshire, dated 1704. (more…)