Sygun Copper Mine facts for kids
Inside Sygun Copper Mine
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Beddgelert, Snowdonia |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 53°01′06″N 4°04′52″W / 53.0183°N 4.0811°W |
| Production | |
| Products | Copper |
| History | |
| Active | From: 18th Century to 1903 Reopened: 1986 as tourist attraction |
| Owner | |
| Website | official website: http://www.syguncoppermine.co.uk/ |
The Sygun Copper Mine is an old copper mine located near Beddgelert in the beautiful Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. It was a very important place for getting minerals in Wales a long time ago. The mine first opened way back in the Victorian times.
The mine stopped working in 1903. But don't worry, it didn't stay closed forever! In 1986, a family called the Amies brought it back to life. They turned it into a cool place for visitors to explore. Now, you can go on special tours underground and learn all about how copper was mined.
Contents
The Mine's History: From Ancient Times to Today
Mining for copper at Sygun started a very, very long time ago, even when the Romans were in Britain! Back then, people dug small tunnels to find valuable minerals. These early tunnels were not changed much for many years.
Why Did Copper Mining Grow?
Things changed a lot during the Industrial Revolution. This was a time when new machines and factories needed a lot of copper. So, miners at Sygun started digging much deeper into the hills. They needed to find more and more copper to meet the growing demand.
In 1836, the copper ore found at Sygun was worth about £2,800. By 1862, miners had taken out between 2,000 and 3,000 tons of ore from the mine! That's a lot of copper!
New Ways to Get Copper
In 1898, a new method called the "Flotation process" was invented. Two brothers, Frank and Stanley Elmore, owned the mine with their father. They developed this new way to get more copper out of the ore using a mix of oil and water. This helped them get copper faster.
However, by 1903, most of the copper had been taken out. It became too expensive to keep digging for the small amounts left. So, the mine had to close down.
Reopening the Sygun Mine
The mine stayed closed for many years. Then, in 1983, the entrance was opened again. Restoration work began in the autumn of 1986. Workers removed hundreds of tons of rocks and dirt from the old mine. They also made it safer and easier for people to visit.
In 2002, the family who first reopened the mine decided to retire. So, the mine and its other attractions were put up for sale.
Awards and New Owners
The Amies family, who worked hard to reopen Sygun Copper Mine, received a special award in 1988. It was called the Prince of Wales Award. They got it for making the mine a great place for visitors in a careful and thoughtful way.
Prince Charles himself gave the award to the family. They even gave him a special gift: a block of copper made from the local ore! Today, the Sygun Copper Mine is owned and managed by the Ward Family. They have made many improvements to the mine and its visitor areas.
What Can You See at Sygun?
The Sygun Copper Mine complex is more than just a mine! It also has an art museum and an art gallery.
The Sygun Museum of Wales
Inside the museum, you can find a special section called the Red Dragon Heritage Centre. This part teaches you all about Welsh mythology and the history of Wales.
The museum has one of the biggest art collections owned by a private museum in Great Britain. Only small parts of the collection are shown at different times of the year. The art is divided into two main groups: very old art (called antique) and art from the 20th century.
Images for kids
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Inside Sygun Copper Mine
