The Fascinating History Of The Copper Kingdom

Now it is no more than a sleepy town on the north Anglesey coast, but in the mid 18th century Amlwch, coupled with its coastal outlet, Poth Amlwch was at the very centre of the world’s copper mining trade, with vast deposits of copper ore having been discovered at Mynydd Parys.

Resulting in an entire re-shaping of the local landscape, in their heyday the Parys mines were among the wonders of the world – visited by men like Michael Faraday and James Watt, the most prominent scientists and engineers of the day.

Such was the importance of the port, that in 1793, it was enlarged and regulated by way of an Act of Parliament. The leap from a “small cove between two steep rocks” into the world’s major exporter of copper was complete.

Inspired times bring forth inspired people, and such a man was Anglesey-born lawyer Thomas Williams, and under his guidance, novel uses of copper were introduced including sheathing for the hulls of wooden warships. Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory was a recipient of this, providing extra speed and manoeuverability crucial to success at Trafalgar.

With the raw materials on site, Amlwch even minted its own copper coins.

Fortunately, when the copper mining industry waned as quickly as it had risen, men of vision came to fill the gap, and the port at Amlwch developed its own thriving ship-building industry, launching vessels famous for their fine appearance and speed.

As a result of this vibrant past, there is much for you to explore today. The abandoned mine workings at Mynydd Parys remind many people of a moonlike landscape, and film makers obviously think the same as it is a regular film set. The rock formations are visually stunning with red, yellow and purple coloured rocks. Your holiday experience is maximised by heritage trails in the mountain area, allowing you to discover for yourself the vast man-made opencast pits and ruined mine-buildings. Truly an unforgettable experience!

Take in also the quiet majesty of the old port at Porth Amlwch. Close your eyes and visualise how things must have been when the copper and ship building trades were at their peak. There are original buildings to explore, now standing idle. See the Copper Bins, the Watch House and the Workshop Chimneys.

At the Sail Loft Visitor Centre, enjoy a delicious snack or browse the gift shop but don’t miss the exhibition of Amlwch’s world renowned ship-building heritage.

                                                            http://www.amlwch.org/

                                          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parys_Mountain