Why Copper? - Parys Mountain
Amlwch was once deemed by a local eighteenth century cartographer and customs official to be undeserving of being included on a map of sheltering ports for ships and sailors, since it was a "mere cove between two rocks".
Rowland Puw, a local miner, changed all that, since he, like the Romans, discovered copper deposits nearby at Parys Mountain. Mr Puw’s “find” was to catapult Amlwch, for a short and explosive period during the eighteenth century into one of the world’s most important mining sites. He was rewarded for his enterprise with a bottle of whisky, and free accommodation.
The local lawyer and entrepreneur Thomas Williams, known as “Tom Fair Play” naturally fared a little better than Mr Puw.
Copper was needed everywhere. The industrial revolution was underway, coins were being minted, and Nelson wanted copper sheathing for his ships. As many as 40 copper cargos and in-bound tobacco leaf ships could be anchored at Amlwch, and such was the congestion that an Act of Parliament was passed to enlarge Amlwch’s access and berth capacity. The “mere cove between two rocks” was now on every nautical map.
The source of copper was Parys Mountain, where some 1500 men and women were employed in hazardous conditions. The men mined, and the "Copper Ladies" cleaned the ore.
The legacy of Amlwch’s copper age is the fiery red, orange and purple lunar landscape of Parys Mountain. It now attracts visitors and film directors – it is an unreal location, and the incredible story of Amlwch, is told in the old Sail Loft exhibition centre. Or just simply walk the heritage trails.
All parts of Amlwch Copper Kingdom can be visited at any time except the Sail Loft Visitor Centre which is open: Easter to Whitsun - 11.00am to 2.00pm, Whitsun to end of September - 11.00am to 5.00pm.
