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/ |
Sygun Copper Mine is an old copper mine from the Victorian era. It stopped mining in 1903. Later, in 1986, the Amies family reopened it. Now, it's a fun place for tourists to visit. You can take audio-visual tours deep underground. This mine used to be a big source of minerals in Wales. It's about one mile from Beddgelert village. You'll find it in the beautiful Snowdonia National Park in North Wales.
Contents
History of Sygun Copper Mine
Early Mining Days
People first started mining here a very long time ago. This was during Roman times. They dug small tunnels to find valuable minerals. These early mines were not changed much for many years.
Then came the Industrial Revolution. This was a time when factories needed lots of materials. The demand for copper grew a lot. So, miners started digging much deeper into the hills. By 1862, they had taken out between 2,000 and 3,000 tons of copper ore.
New Ways to Mine
In 1898, a new method was created. It was called the flotation process. The Elmore brothers, Frank and Stanley, owned the mine with their father. They developed this new way to get more copper from the ore. This process used a mix of oil and water.
However, by 1903, the mine was shut down. There wasn't enough copper left to make mining profitable.
Reopening as a Tourist Spot
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 rubble from the old mine. They also made it easier for people to get inside.
In 2002, the mine was put up for sale. This happened when the original developers retired. Today, the Ward Family owns and manages the mine. They have updated many parts of the mine and its attractions.
Awards and Recognition
In 1988, the Amies family received a special award. It was called the Prince of Wales Award. They got it for "the sensitive development of visitor facilities at Sygun Copper Mine." Prince Charles himself gave them the award. During the ceremony, he was given a copper ingot. This ingot was made from local copper ore.
Attractions at Sygun
The Sygun complex offers more than just the mine tour. It also has an art museum and an art gallery. The Sygun Museum of Wales includes a special section. This section is about Welsh mythology and Welsh history. It's called the Red Dragon Heritage Centre.
The museum has one of the largest art collections. It is owned by a private group in Great Britain. Only small parts of the collection are shown at different times. The art is divided into two main groups. These are antique art and 20th-century art.
