South Wales Caves

Chartist Cave Description

Chartist Cave (known as Ogof Fawr in Welsh) sits high on the moors above Trefil near the summit of Mynydd Llangynidr (map), its arched entrance being formed by the gritstones that cap the limestone in this area. This is a long known cave and derives its name from a period in 1839 when it was used by Chartists to manufacture and store weapons such as pikes for thier attack and seizure of Newport in November 1839. A plaque by the entrance commemorates the 150th anniversary of this act of treason. Two passages lead off from the large entrance chamber, the one to the right closing down after about 30m. The passage to the left leads to a high level rift that closes down and a hole in the floor that leads to a crawl that enters a lower chamber. A multitude of passages and rifts radiate from this chamber but all close down with sand or rock fill. There must be great potential for much more cave beyond this chamber.