Parys Mountain/Mynydd ParysMountain or HillParys Mountain/Mynydd Parys is located south of the town of Amlwch in north-east Anglesey. It was the site of a large copper mine that was extensively exploited in the late 18th century.
The mountain was mined for copper ore in the early Bronze Age, as shown by subsurface debris nearly 4,000 years old revealed during excavations in 2002. Since then access has been regained to the sealed underground workings of the Parys mine revealing further evidence for this ancient mining. Parys Mountain is thus one of the few sites in Britain where there is evidence for the prehistoric beginnings of the British metal mining industry.
Parys Mountain dominated the world's copper market during the 1780s, when the mine was the largest in Europe. Its rise severely damaged the mining industry in Cornwall. The copper from the mine was used to sheath the British Admiralty's wooden ships of war, to prevent the growth of seaweed and barnacles and to protect the wood from attack by shipworms. This increased the speed and manoeuvrability of the vessels, and enabled them to remain at sea for longer as there was less need to return to port for maintenance.
In response to a national shortage of small currency, the Parys Mine Company produced its own coinage between 1787 and 1793. The Parys Penny, also known as the Anglesey Penny, was used by the mine to pay workers, and also by the populace at large. It is thought that around ten million pennies and half pennies were minted.AmlwchIsle of AngleseyUnited Kingdomhttp://www.showmewales.co.uk/?dms=3&venue=1142416
Parys Mountain/Mynydd Parys
Mountain or Hill
Parys Mountain
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Parys Mountain/Mynydd Parys is located south of the town of Amlwch in north-east Anglesey. It was the site of a large copper mine that was extensively exploited in the late 18th century.