The relatively unknown Llanengan metal mining field is found on the St. Tudwal's headland, on the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula, North Wales. Its isolated position meant that it never was given the same publicity as many of the major metal mining areas. Nevertheless it was a hive of activity in the latter half of the 19th century, and the mines were deepened with the aid of steam power, used for pumping water out of the workings, and for winding ore to the surface. Everything, from mine engines to coal was brought into the area on ships. The book details the history of mining in the area from the 17th century through to its eventual demise at the end of the 19th century. Initially mining was conducted by partnerships that were eventually superseded by London based companies that acquired capital to purchase the necessary machinery to deepen the mines. Now there is very little to show that this area was once a hive of industrial activity, although the final chapter does suggest a small heritage walk around the area. For a number of years, John Bennett and Rob Vernon were involved with the historical study of Welsh metal mining. Their series of seven detailed books on the Gwydyr Forest mines was a substantial contribution to the recording of Welsh mining history. In addition, they were also involved with mine site conservation projects in the Gwydyr Forest and elsewhere in Wales. John sadly died in 2019, and Rob is now involved with other aspects of mining history. At the time of the publication of the first edition of Metal Mines of Llanengan in 2002, it did take their interests further and brought into the public domain a relatively unknown Welsh mining area. The publication of this second edition will hopefully make another generation of mining historians aware of this interesting mining field and is dedicated to John and his wife Elizabeth.

Jutting out some thirty miles into the Irish Sea, from the western edge of Snowdonia, the Ll?n Peninsula, in north-west Wales, is renowned for its stunning beaches and countryside, with much of its landscape designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The peninsula is also home to a remarkable and abundant collection of archaeological sites and monuments, some of national importance, which bear witness to the ancient societies who once inhabited this narrow finger of land on the western fringe of Britain. This abundantly illustrated book examines this rich corpus of archaeological evidence, beginning with the faint but fascinating traces that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers have left in the landscape of the Ll?n Peninsula and ending in the early medieval period, with about 9,000 years of human habitation thus covered in its pages. In the course of the book, we will encounter a wealth of fascinating archaeological evidence, which includes impressive megalithic tombs and an axe ‘factory’ from the Neolithic; burial mounds and mysterious standing stones from the Early Bronze Age; rural settlements and magnificent hillforts occupied in the Iron Age and Romano–British period; and memorial stones erected by early Christian communities. Much more besides will be found in the pages of this volume, which throws considerable light on the ancient peoples of the Ll?n Peninsula, and the rich archaeological heritage of this special part of the United Kingdom, which has much to offer those who are interested in the distant lives of our ancestors.

Mines of the Gwydyr Forest: Mining Ventures in the Heart of North Wales (Second Edition) This book was published as a series some 30 years ago. The second edition combines all seven books and has been updated. It provides a history of metal mining in the Gwydyr Forest which is located immediate north of Betws-y-Coed, a popular tourist destination. The book starts with an Introduction followed by a section on the geology and mineralisation. This is followed with examples of early mining in Gwydyr. Much of the more detailed mining information comes from the latter-half of the 19th century, and the following sections follow a similar format to the original series.The central areas, south and north, deal with Llanrwst and Hafna mines, respectively, plus related mines; North-East Gwydyr is primarily Parc mine and the plateau area to the south; North-West Gwydyr includes Pandora and the Llyn Geirionydd area; South-West Gwydyr includes the Cyffty and Coed Mawr Pool area; Aberllyn and adjacent mines are discussed in the section on South-East Gwydyr. The penultimate chapter covers the mines on the northern edge of the Gwydyr Forest, Cae Coch and adjacent mines. The book concludes with an Epilogue