Penrhyn Dû Mines
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Coordinates: 52°48′28″N 4°29′33″W / 52.807639°N 4.492378°W
The Penrhyn Dû Mines are a collection of mines situated near Llanengan on the Llŷn Peninsula. It encompasses the Penrhyn, Assheton, Western and Tan-y-Bwlch mines.[1][2] The whole region can be called Penrhyn Du which literally means "black headland".
Tan-y-Bwlch Mine was probably the richest of the mines with a recorded output of 8,722 long tons (8,862 tonnes) of lead ore, 450 long tons (460 tonnes) of and 4,652 long tons (4,727 tonnes) of copper ore between 1873 and 1886.[1]
History[]
There is a possibility that Roman miners were the first to mine the Penrhyn Dû headland[3] After any Roman mining the mines were rarely worked until the reign of Elizabeth I[3] where the need for lead was high. In 1637 Thomas Bushel was asked by Charles I[2] to inspect and report on the prospects for Welsh mining. In his report of that year Bushel states:
"...that at Pottherly [sic] there is a vein which has never been wrought though known about these twenty years..."[2]
The main period of working was in the 19th century but by the turn of the 20th century the mining operations had mostly ceased.[1] The last recorded output was in 1930 at just 5 tons.
Location[]
The Penrhyn Dû mines are located within Gwynedd in north-west Wales. There are south of the village of Abersoch[4]and east to the village of Llanenganon
Recent history[]
After the mines closed modern developments have covered up many of the workings.[2] Some evidence of the Cornish miners has been left, the most prominent of which is the house Cornish Row made up of the old cottages of the Cornish miners.[4]
Ore list[]
References[]
- Llanengan
- Former mines in Gwynedd
- Lead mines in Wales
- Copper mines in Wales
- Manganese mines in the United Kingdom
- Zinc mines in the United Kingdom
- Iron mines in the United Kingdom