Going Underground | Inside a Roman Gold Mine

Going Underground | Inside a Roman Gold Mine

Author: National Trust July 18, 2024 Duration: 24:21

Deep under the hillsides of Carmarthenshire lie the remains of the UK’s only known Roman gold mines.  

With a head torch to guide the way, James Grasby ventures into the void to unearth the secrets that lurk in the darkness and finds out the pioneering efforts that the Romans went to in order to extract this precious metal. 

Click here to view these show notes in Welsh

[Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust 

Production
Host : James Grasby
Producer : Jack Glover
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez 

Discover More
The Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mine is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html 

For info on visiting Dolaucothi and it’s Roman History please visit  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi 

Join in with this year’s festival of archaeology taking place at Dolaucothi and other National Trust properties  nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi/events/01df4ea5-2586-4968-8836-84909387a9fd

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

There’s a story waiting in every landscape, a secret history woven into the hedgerows and hidden in the soil. Wild Tales | Nature Podcast, brought to you by the National Trust, goes beyond the guidebook to find those narratives. Each episode is a quiet exploration of the intricate connections between the natural world and our own place within it. You might find yourself listening to the surprising biography of a centuries-old oak tree, learning how coastal erosion reveals forgotten chapters of human history, or understanding the subtle language of birdsong at dawn. This isn’t just a catalog of facts; it’s an immersive audio experience that considers the science of a changing ecosystem alongside the cultural traditions it sustains. We visit specific places-ancient woodlands, rugged coastlines, and working farms-to hear directly from the people who know them best: rangers, historians, ecologists, and local communities. The result is a thoughtful collection of stories that change how you see the world outside your window. Tune into this podcast for a deeper sense of connection, a moment of calm reflection, and a renewed appreciation for the wild and historic places that shape our shared story.
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