Back in the 16th century, a hunter named Thomas Ap Harri was on his way home from a hunt in the Halkyn Mountain when he was challenged to clear a lead mine shaft that was 25 feet wide. Thomas Ap Harri accepted the bet and successfully jumped over the mine shaft on his steed.

Located in North East Wales, the Halkyn Mountain is the upland area that is virtually the backbone of Flintshire. The land’s vast reserve of lead has been involved in the histories that even date back to the age of the Roman Empire. Old Roman pigs of lead that were produced in Flintshire were engraved with the inscription Deceangli, the name of the British tribe living in the area.

With veins of lead reserves, Flintshire was favored by miners, most of whom came from Derbyshire. A lot of these miners settled, intermarrying with Welsh locals and becoming Welsh-speaking themselves. Their descendants, bearing non-Welsh family names such as Bateman, Bagshaw, Harrison, Carrington, Ingleby, Hooson, Nuttall, Martin, Redfern, Oldfield, Stealey, and Spencer, still inhabit the area.

As time passed and mining technology became more advanced, investors and miners continued to drive to Flintshire, like the London Lead Company and Derbyshire mining entrepreneurs.

Along with the mining boom, Flintshire flourished into a larger community that thrived from the profits lead mining brought.

Mining operations was virtually stopped in 1970, as the activities resulted to flooding. Quarrying became the area’s main source of income afterwards. At present, two massive limestone quarries operate in the area.

Given these, one can easily see that the lead mines and their shafts have their places in the history of Halkyn Mountain.

It is a small wonder then that the region’s populace is commemorating Thomas Ap Harri’s historic leap, affirming that indeed, the mines have deeply intertwined themselves with the lives of the inhabitants of the area.

A painting of Thomas Ap Harri’s jump on his horse will be put near Naid y March (Horse’s Leap), the actual site of the leap. The painting is done by Bethesda-based artist Chris Hull through the commission of the Flintshire Countryside Service. The painting will be encased in an iron frame and will be showcased alongside a display panel.

Local legends have it that Thomas Ap Harri was probably under the influence of alcohol when he did his leap of faith, which was either brave or foolhardy, as Halkyn mountain ranger Rachael Watson put it.

Watson explains that Thomas Ap Harri’s horse would have been sturdy but heavy, which makes the animal unfit for jumping and clearing 25-feet mine shafts.

The commemorative painting is funded by the Cemex Foundation, a charitable trust set up by quarrying company Cemex. Prior to Chris Hull’s rendition of Thomas Ap Harri’s jump, two stones have been erected to commemorate the jump. According to Watson, those stones are actually Bronze Age in origin and must have come from somewhere else but were brought to the site to commemorate Thomas Ap Harri’s achievement.

Tags: Roman Empire