Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Great Orme Copper Mines
Llandudno, Conwy, Wales
A scheduled monument in Llandudno, Conwy, recorded as Copper Mine (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Copper Mine
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 26 January 1994
- Community
- Llandudno
- Unitary authority
- Conwy
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 53.33100, -3.84772
- SAM number
- CN216
- Cadw record number
- 3189
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of ScotlandNational Library of Scotland
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1883 map "Watershed map England, Wales 3." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1885 · OS One-Inch (Hills) 1885-1903 (National Library of Scotland)
- 1899 · 94 Beaumaris (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1930 · OS Popular Edition 1919-1947 (National Library of Scotland)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.
The Great Orme Copper Mines above Llandudno consist of an extensive complex of surface and underground workings exploiting copper ores in soft, easily worked strata. The true extent of mining operations here is unknown but it is believed to exceed 24,000 square metres, incorporating passages totalling more than five kilometres and penetrating to a depth of seventy metres.
Archaeological evidence from the fill of the galleries include well-preserved bone tools and broken hammer stones. Charcoal was also found and radio-carbon dates from it have led to suggestions of Bronze Age beginnings for mining at this location. Spoil dumps and capped shafts are also visible, dating from the nineteenth century.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric industry. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The areas themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and mining techniques.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Hut Circle, Bryniau Poethion, Great OrmeUnenclosed hut circleunder 1 mi
- Llandudno Burial ChamberChambered Long Cairnunder 1 mi
- Lych Gate of St Tudno's ChurchReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Telephone Call-boxCommunicationsunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.