THE rich industrial history of north Ceredigion is the inspiration for a new novel.

By the Banks of the Rheidol by Geraint Roberts celebrates the building of the narrow gauge railways in and around Aberystwyth and is published this week by Y Lolfa.

It tells the story of Dafydd, a young lead miner forced to flee his home after he thinks he has killed a man in a fight.

He arrives in Aberystwyth and is helped by an acquaintance, Gwen, to find work in the railway industry.

Geraint Roberts has a degree in Mining Geology and therefore, unsurprisingly, local mining history is one of Geraint’s interests.

“I wanted to bring to life parts of local history that I have read about and utilise the rich industrial history of the area in the late 19th and early 20th century,” he said.

“I also wanted to bring in the mines and the two local narrow gauge railways; the Rheidol and the Hafan. There is limited information and literature about industries in this area.

“When people talk about Welsh mining, the world thinks of coal.”

Mining was important in Ceredigion from the Bronze Age until the early 20th century, with ores such as silver, zinc and lead being mined in Cwmystwyth and the surrounding area, including the Rheidol valley.

The local railways also hold a fascination for Geraint.

He currently works as retail manager at the Vale of Rheidol Railway, as well as having family links.

“My great-uncle was a driver out of Aberystwyth shed up to the 1950s and my primary school was next door to the railway. So I was never far away from the ‘Lein Fach’ [Little Line],” he said.

The book follows Dafydd to nearby Talybont, to help in the building of a new railway.

Appropriately, By the Banks of the Rheidol will be launched at the Vale of Rheidol Railway Station at 11am on Saturday, 22 September.

The launch will be held on a railway carriage, with a question and answer session with the author and readings from the novel.

Light refreshments will be available.

See this week’s south papers for the full feature, available in shops and as a digital edition now