North Wales has a number of sites of interest that can be visited by delegates in any spare time they have.

Note that some of these sites have entry fees.

Great Orme Mines

Uncovered in 1987 during a scheme to landscape an area of the Great Orme, the copper mines discovered represent one of the most astounding archaeological discoveries of recent times. Dating back 4,000 years to the Bronze Age they change our views about the ancient people of Britain and their civilized and structured society 2,000 years before the Roman invasion.

Over the past 28 years mining engineers, cavers and archaeologists have been slowly uncovering more tunnels and large areas of the surface landscape to reveal what is now thought to be the largest prehistoric mine, so far discovered in the world.

Great Orme Mines are offering discounted entry for all delegates throughout the conference. If you present your ticket/pass to prove you are attending the conference Entry fee will be reduced to £7.50. Normal Entry Fee is £12.50.

 Great Orme Mines

Location: SH 77075 83043

© Text and picture from museum website

Penrhyn Castle

Penrhyn Castle (Welsh: Castell Penrhyn) is a country house in Llandygai, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales, constructed in the style of a Norman castle. The Penrhyn estate was founded by Ednyfed Fychan. In the 15th century his descendant Gwilym ap Griffith built a fortified manor house on the site.

In the 18th century, the Penrhyn estate came into the possession of Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn, in part from his father, a Liverpool merchant, and in part from his wife, Ann Susannah Warburton, the daughter of an army officer. Pennant derived great wealth from his ownership of slave plantations in the West Indies and was a strong opponent of attempts to abolish the slave trade. His wealth was used in part for the development of the slate mining industry on Pennant's Caernarfonshire estates, and also for development of Penrhyn Castle. In the 1780s Pennant commissioned Samuel Wyatt to undertake a reconstruction of the medieval house.

The castle has a display of railway carriages and trucks from the slate quarries. This year, there are also slate splitting demonstrations, part of the travelling extension of the temporarily closed Dinorwic museum.

Penrhyn Quarry (SH 62272 65226) is still working although it is also used as a tourist destination.

 Penrhyn Castle

Location: SH 60259 71901

© Text from Wikipedia, pictures Nigel Dibben

Dinorwic and Llanberis

Dinorwic Quarry at Llanberis is on the opposite side of the same hill as Penrhy Quarry. At Dinorwic, there is the slate museum but sadly it is closed for refurbishment this year. However, there are still sights to see at Dinorwic such as the extent of the main quarry, the Vivian's Quarry, inclines (including one refurbished) and the railway.  Dinorwic quarry

Location: SH 58237 59887

© Text and pictures Nigel Dibben

Minera Mines

Minera Lead Mines and Country Park offers a fascinating glimpse into the industrial past of the beautiful Clywedog Valley. Situated at the head of the valley, Minera is a great starting point for accessing the beautiful surrounding countryside, including Minera Mountain for dedicated walkers. Covering 53 acres of grassland, woodland and archaeological sites, Minera Country Park boasts a great variety of wildlife and endless opportunities to explore in peace and tranquillity. The site includes the Taylor's Shaft engine house and other remains.  Minera Mines

Location: SJ 27144 51150

© Text and pictures Nigel Dibben

Bersham Iron Works

There was an ironworks at Bersham in the mid 17th century. Bersham was a great location for making iron. The ironmaster needed iron ore, charcoal, limestone and water-power. In the 18th century he needed coal as well. All were available nearby: Coal and iron ore from pits in Ponciau, Rhos and Llwyn Einion. Limestone from quarries in Minera. Charcoal from the woods around Coedpoeth. Waterpower from the River Clywedog.

There was also a growing market for iron goods in Wrexham and Chester.Charles Lloyd, a friend of Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale (Abraham Darby was the famous ironmaster from Shropshire. He pioneered the production of iron using coking coal – a key event in the Industrial Revolution.), built a blast furnace here in c. 1717 to supply the Pont y Blew forge in Chirk. In the 1730s Bersham ironmasters started to make cast iron goods like cooking pots, but there were problems. Raw materials’ costs were increasing, the price of iron varied and making cast iron was difficult. Successive ironmasters failed.

In 1753, Isaac Wilkinson, a north-country ironmaster and inventor, keen to find an ironworks with potential, took over Bersham Ironworks. He expanded the works and made pots, pipes, rollers, and armaments, but he too was in financial trouble by 1761. His son, John Wilkinson, was more successful.  Bersham Iron Works

Location: SJ 31154 49210

© Text and picture from museum website

Llechwedd Slate Caverns and Blaenau Ffestiniog

The Llechwedd Slate Caverns are a living breathing museum based above the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. Railways take visitors deep beneath the ground for a fascinating tour of the caverns.

Tableaux and sound and light presentations, demonstrate mining skills and graphically describe the hardships suffered by the miners. Above ground, there is a Victorian village with old-fashioned shops and a pub.

The mines extend for over 25 miles beneath the mountains around Blaenau. The Miners Tramway takes you through some of the other caverns within the mines many of which are the oldest parts of the Llechwedd Slate Caverns. The tour guides explain what life was like doing the different jobs required in the mine in the days before electricity.

As well as Llechwedd Slate Caverns, the village is worth a visit to see the massive tips and remains of the slate industry.  Llechwedd

Location: SW 82380 44892

© Text from museum website, picture from Trip Advisor

Parys Mountain

Copper has been recovered from this mine since the Bronze age, 3500 years ago. During the 18th and 19th century they formed the largest copper mine in the world. The underground workings were last mined in the early part of the 20th century. With the kind permission of The Marquis of Anglesey and Anglesey Mining PLC some areas of the mine have been reopened for exploration.

It received its English name from a former land owner called Robert Parys who received the land as payment for service to the Crown in 1406. Its original Welsh name of Mynydd Trysglwyn described it as being topped with a grove of trees covered in scabby lichens. The trees have now disappeared following the general deforestation of the land and in particular the industrialisation of the area in later centuries.

The mountain has a history of copper mining going back 3500 years. However, it was in the 18th and 19th Centuries that the greatest amount of copper was produced. It is thought that in 150 years over 3.5 million tons of ore was raised, mostly by hand, from the Mona and Parys mine both located on the mountain.

The pictures show the site before and after the lake was drained. Today the scarred site is much quieter, although one company Anglesey Mining PLC still retains the mining rights and are actively looking for polymetallic ores at the site.  Parys Underground Group site

Location: SH 44255 90388

© Text from PUG website, pictures Nigel Dibben