Esclusham Mountain
Encyclopedia
Esclusham Mountain is an area in the north-east of Wales
and is part of the Ruabon Moors
. It rises to a height of 460 m (1509 feet), with the nearby spur of Cyrn-y-Brain, to the west, reaching 473 m (1550 feet). It lies mostly within the community
of Esclusham
. A smaller spur to the north, known as Minera Mountain, is within the neighbouring community of Minera
.
along with some millstone grit
to the east. The area was rich in mineral (particularly lead
and zinc
) deposits. The South Minera Vein, a fault fissure rill
ed with mineral matter, ran through the area of Esclusham Mountain, and until the second decade of the 20th century there were many lead mines in the area, some of whose levels joined with the substantial system of natural caves beneath the mountain.
The 8km long Minera Caves Ogof Llyn Parc
and Ogof Cefn-y-Gist have their entrances on the moor. These have passages close to Ogof Dydd Byraf and Ogof Llyn Du whose entrances are in Minera Limeworks
.
These are Site of Special Scientific Interest
, and are being targeted for development as a possible tourist and educational resource.
and Bronze Age
farmers, and evidence of early inhabitants of the area exists in the form of several stone cairn
s and other features. The high ground was good summer pasture
, and in the mediaeval period there are references to hafodydd (summer houses for those overseeing the grazing flocks) in the possession of Valle Crucis Abbey
on the northern part of Esclusham Mountain.
Though there may have been small-scale mining of lead on the mountain in earlier periods, development of the area's mineral resources started in earnest from the eighteenth century and into the nineteenth, with the application of techniques brought from Cornwall
. The mines were further developed in the nineteenth century under the guidance of the mining engineer and entrepreneur John Taylor
: at their peak they were the most productive lead mines in Britain.
, bilberry
and sedge
; rarer plants include the dark red helleborine
. Hill farming
is still practised, with sheep grazing across the moor. There are still surface remains of former lead workings, particularly in the areas known as Pool Park and Gwter Siani, with the foundations of old engine-houses, managers' residences and chimneys being visible in some places.
The moorland supports a rich variety of wildlife including black grouse
, red grouse
, short-eared owl
and ring ouzel
.
A single-track road runs across the northern part of the mountain from Minera
, through Pool Park and Gwter Siani, to Eglwyseg
and on towards Llangollen
. Several footpaths, popular with ramblers, also run across the mountain, including the Offa's Dyke Path
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and is part of the Ruabon Moors
Ruabon Moors
Ruabon Moors are an area of upland moorland in Wales to the west of Ruabon and Wrexham. They lie partly within Wrexham county borough and partly within Denbighshire....
. It rises to a height of 460 m (1509 feet), with the nearby spur of Cyrn-y-Brain, to the west, reaching 473 m (1550 feet). It lies mostly within the community
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
of Esclusham
Esclusham
Esclusham is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.The community includes the villages of Bersham, Rhostyllen, Aber-oer, Llwyneinion and Pentre Bychan, as well as a number of smaller settlements, the park at Erddig, and an area...
. A smaller spur to the north, known as Minera Mountain, is within the neighbouring community of Minera
Minera
Minera is a small village, and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.The community, which in addition to Minera village includes a number of smaller hamlets such as Gwynfryn and New Brighton and large areas of farmland, had a...
.
Geology
The underlying rocks are a Carboniferous limestoneCarboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
along with some millstone grit
Millstone Grit
Millstone Grit is the name given to any of a number of coarse-grained sandstones of Carboniferous age which occur in the Northern England. The name derives from its use in earlier times as a source of millstones for use principally in watermills...
to the east. The area was rich in mineral (particularly lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
) deposits. The South Minera Vein, a fault fissure rill
Rill
A Rill can be a:*1.) natural fluvial topographic feature;*2.) functional constructed channel to carry a water supply from a water source some distance away;*3.) aesthetic garden water feature.-Natural:...
ed with mineral matter, ran through the area of Esclusham Mountain, and until the second decade of the 20th century there were many lead mines in the area, some of whose levels joined with the substantial system of natural caves beneath the mountain.
The 8km long Minera Caves Ogof Llyn Parc
Ogof Llyn Parc
Ogof Llyn Parc usually known as Pool Park is a cave on Esclusham Mountain that has a 100m entrance shaft, normally descended by winch to the mine levels. Further caving and two ladders reaches the natural cave levels in which there are streamways....
and Ogof Cefn-y-Gist have their entrances on the moor. These have passages close to Ogof Dydd Byraf and Ogof Llyn Du whose entrances are in Minera Limeworks
Minera Limeworks
The Minera Limeworks were extensive lime quarries and kilns at Minera in Wrexham, Wales. It was located at , near the villages of Gwynfryn, Minera, and Coedpoeth and was locally referred to as The Calch.-History:...
.
These are Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, and are being targeted for development as a possible tourist and educational resource.
History
The area shows signs of use by NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
and Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
farmers, and evidence of early inhabitants of the area exists in the form of several stone cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
s and other features. The high ground was good summer pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
, and in the mediaeval period there are references to hafodydd (summer houses for those overseeing the grazing flocks) in the possession of Valle Crucis Abbey
Valle Crucis Abbey
Valle Crucis Abbey is a Cistercian abbey located in Llantysilio in Denbighshire, Wales. More formally the Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Valle Crucis it is known in Welsh both as Abaty Glyn Egwestl and Abaty Glyn y Groes.The abbey was built in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, Prince of...
on the northern part of Esclusham Mountain.
Though there may have been small-scale mining of lead on the mountain in earlier periods, development of the area's mineral resources started in earnest from the eighteenth century and into the nineteenth, with the application of techniques brought from Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. The mines were further developed in the nineteenth century under the guidance of the mining engineer and entrepreneur John Taylor
John Taylor (Civil Engineer)
John Taylor was an English land surveyor and civil engineer. He was born in Norwich, England and showed an interest in mining at a young age; in 1796 he improvised a mechanised copper ore crusher at Wheal Friendship, a mine just outside of Tavistock, Devon. This machine was improved over time and...
: at their peak they were the most productive lead mines in Britain.
Landscape and wildlife
The lower eastern slopes of the mountain have a landscape of pastureland, small farms and woods. The higher moorland above Fron-dêg, known as the Fron-dêg Flat, has typical moorland vegetation of heatherCalluna
Calluna vulgaris is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to tall, or rarely to and taller, and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade...
, bilberry
Bilberry
Bilberry is any of several species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium , bearing edible berries. The species most often referred to is Vaccinium myrtillus L., but there are several other closely related species....
and sedge
Sedge
- Plants :* Acorus calamus, sweet flag, a plant in the Acoraceae family* Any of the plants in the family Cyperaceae- Animals :* A collective noun for several species of birds, including bitterns, cranes and herons* Sedge-fly, caddisfly- Other uses :...
; rarer plants include the dark red helleborine
Dark Red Helleborine
The Dark Red Helleborine or Royal Helleborine is an herbaceous plant from the family Orchidaceae.The plant is hardy and has a short rootstalk, often with multiple, fleshy roots. It blooms from June to August with erect, mostly purple inflorescences with dense hair on the tops, standing between 20...
. Hill farming
Hill farming
Hill farming is extensive farming in upland areas, primarily rearing sheep, although historically cattle was often reared more intensively.Cattle farming is usually restricted by a scarcity of winter fodder, and sheep stocks, grazing at about 2 hectares per head, are often taken to lowland areas...
is still practised, with sheep grazing across the moor. There are still surface remains of former lead workings, particularly in the areas known as Pool Park and Gwter Siani, with the foundations of old engine-houses, managers' residences and chimneys being visible in some places.
The moorland supports a rich variety of wildlife including black grouse
Black Grouse
The Black Grouse or Blackgame is a large bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in moorland and bog areas near to woodland, mostly boreal...
, red grouse
Red grouse
The Red Grouse is a medium sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the Willow Grouse but is sometimes considered to be a separate species Lagopus scoticus...
, short-eared owl
Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...
and ring ouzel
Ring Ouzel
The Ring Ouzel is a European member of the thrush family Turdidae.It is the mountain equivalent of the closely related Common Blackbird, and breeds in gullies, rocky areas or scree slopes....
.
A single-track road runs across the northern part of the mountain from Minera
Minera
Minera is a small village, and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.The community, which in addition to Minera village includes a number of smaller hamlets such as Gwynfryn and New Brighton and large areas of farmland, had a...
, through Pool Park and Gwter Siani, to Eglwyseg
Eglwyseg
The Eglwyseg valley is an area to the north east of Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales; it is within the boundaries of Llantysilio Community. The name also refers to a widely-scattered hamlet in the valley....
and on towards Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
. Several footpaths, popular with ramblers, also run across the mountain, including the Offa's Dyke Path
Offa's Dyke Path
Offa's Dyke Path is a long distance footpath along the Welsh-English border. Opened in 1971, it is one of Britain's premier National Trails and draws walkers from throughout the world...
.