The immense treasures contained in the Parys mountain, which is in the immediate vicinity of Amlwch, and to which the town owes its prosperity, were unknown and lay neglected until about the year 1765, when one Frazer, a Scotch miner, came in search of ores, and gave encouragement to other adventurers. Though he discovered copper ore by sinking shafts in the mountain, he was discouraged from proceeding by the influx of water. Sir N. Bailey, grandfather of the Marquis of Anglesea, who had leased the lead mines at Penrhyn-dû, in Caernarvonshire, to the Macclesfield company, bound them to make a spirited effort to work the Parys mine. This they did, but with so little success, that after some time they sent positive orders to the agent to discontinue his operations, and discharge the miners. The agent, however, fortunately disobeyed the injunction; and as a last attempt, collected all his mining force to one spot, where he sunk a shaft, and within seven feet of the surface discovered a body of ore which was worked with great success for many years. This happened on the 2d of March, 1768, whence St. Chad has ever since been a venerated patron of the Anglesea miners.
In the Parys mountain are two mines: of these, that upon the eastern side is called the Mona mine, the entire property of the Marquis of Anglesea, who works it, and also the smelting house at Amlwch. The Parys mine is the joint property of the Marquis of Anglesea and Lord Dinorben, and is now worked by a company. The stranger, in order to see the mines to advantage, should first furnish himself with a guide, to avoid danger, and follow the steps of Mr. Bingley, who thus describes his efforts to gratify his curiosity:—“Having ascended to the top, I found myself standing on the verge of a vast and tremendous chasm. I stept on one of the stages suspended over the edge of the steep, and the prospect was dreadful. The number of caverns at different heights along the sides; the broken and irregular masses of rock which everywhere presented themselves; the multitudes of men at work in different parts, and apparently in the most perilous situations; the motions of the whimsies, and the raising and lowering of the buckets, to draw out the ore and rubbish; the noise of picking the ore from the rock, and of hammering the wadding when it was about to be blasted; with, at intervals, the roaring of the blasts in different parts of the mine—altogether excited the most sublime ideas, intermixed, however, with sensations of terror.
“I left this situation, and followed the road that leads into the mine; and the moment I entered my astonishment was again excited. The shagged arches and overhanging rocks, which seemed to threaten annihilation to any one daring enough to approach them, fixed me almost motionless to the spot. The roofs of the work, having in many places fallen in, have left some of the rudest scenes that the imagination can paint; these, with the sulphureous fumes from the kilns in which the ore is roasted, gave it to me a perfect counterpart to Virgil’s entrance into Tartarus. To look up from hence and observe the people on the stages, a hundred and fifty feet above one’s head; to see the immense number of ropes and buckets, most of them in motion; and to reflect that a single stone, casually thrown from above, or falling from a bucket, might in a moment destroy a fellow-creature—a man must have a strong mind not to feel impressed with most unpleasant sensations.”
The mines are still prolific in their production of copper ore, and afford a great revenue to their proprietors.—There are also alum works, and a green vitriol manufactory in the neighbourhood of these mines. The principal inns at Amlwch are Ty Mawr and the Castle. About four miles distant is Llysdulas, the hospitable seat of Col. Hughes, brother to Lord Dinorben.
BALA,
(Merionethshire.)
| Corwen | 12 |
| Dinas Mowddwy | 18 |
| Dolgellau | 17 |
| Ffestiniog | 19 |
| London | 207 |
| Mawr Twrog | 22 |
Bala, or the Outlet of the Lake, is a small neat town consisting of one long street, with two or three others crossing at right angles, and a population of about 2500. There are two good inns here, the White Lion and the Bull’s Head, the former being an excellent posting house. This town is noted for its trade in woollen stockings, woollen comfortables, and Welsh wigs. Mr. Pennant remarks, that in his time, on a Saturday, their market-day, from two to five hundred pounds worth of these goods were disposed of; but this staple appears to have greatly decreased since that period. Still, however, knitting is here an almost universal employment; and whether you walk in the town, or the country around, you will scarcely ever meet a female unemployed, even while they carry water, or other burdens upon their heads.
Near the south-east end of the town is a high artificial mount, called Tommen-y-Bala, supposed to be of Roman construction: in the summer time it is usually covered, in a picturesque manner, with knitters of all ages. From the summit there is it fine view of Llyn Tegid and the adjacent mountains, which present a particularly grand and majestic aspect in this vicinity, successfully rivalling the glories of Snowdonia. The quarter sessions for the county are held here; and also the spring assizes. The town-hall is a plain building, standing in the principal street. A chapel-of-ease was erected in 1811 by subscription: it is a plain structure, with a low tower, surmounted by a spire. The parish church is situate at Llanycil, about a mile from the town: the service is performed there in the morning, and at Bala in the afternoon. The Rev. Thomas Charles, Calvinistic Methodist, the founder of the Bible Society, resided here. He was a great promoter of education and Sunday schools amongst his countrymen; and compiled a Welsh biblical dictionary in four volumes.
Bala Lake,
Llyn Tegid, or Pimblemere, (for this pool has these various names) is within a quarter of a mile south of the town, and is a fine expanse of water, with well-cultivated, sloping boundaries, clothed in many parts with verdant woods.