situate on the north bank of the Evyrnwy, a continuation of the rich
enclosed country, showing to advantage the agriculture of these parts,
attended us till we reached the foot of the hill of Llanymynach. From
the summit of this we enjoyed a most beautiful and boundless prospect,
commanding the whole dome of the sky. All individual dignity was
overpowered by the immensity of the whole view, which consisted more
particularly of the rivers Virnwy and Tannad, joining their waters with
the Severn; the lofty waterfall of Pystyll Rhaiadr—the Breddin Hills—and
the Ferwyn Mountains. The geological observations on Llanymynach Hill,
by Mr. Aikin, are so accurate, that to attempt any further description
would be deemed highly presumptuous in me; I shall therefore avail myself
of an account, so ably delineated.
“The hill of Llanymynach is not only remarkable for the fine prospect
from its top, it is still more worthy notice, as containing by far
the most extensive lime works of any in this part of the country.
The lime of Llanymynach rock is in high request as a manure, and is
sent by land-carriage as far as Montgomery, New-town, and even
Llanidloes: it sells at the kilns for sevenpence a bushel; and from
thirty to thirty-six bushels are reckoned a waggon load; the coal
with which it is burnt, is brought partly from the neighbourhood of
Oswestry, and partly from Sir Watkin Williams Wynne’s pits, near
Ruabon. The lime lies in strata, parallel to the horizon, varying in
thickness from three inches to five feet; it is of an extraordinary
hardness, with but little calcareous spar, and few shells, or rather
marine exuvial; its colour reddish brown, burning to almost white.
Between the strata of lime we found a very tenacious smooth clay,
orange colour ochre, and green plumose carbonate of copper, or
malachite. It was in search of this copper, that the Romans carried
on here such extensive works, of which the remains are still very
visible: they consist of a range of from twenty to thirty shallow
pits, the heaps of rubbish from the mouths of which abound with small
pieces of copper ore, and a cave of considerable dimensions,
terminating in an irregular winding passage of unknown length,
connected with which are two air shafts still remaining open, and the
appearances of several others now filled up: in some of these caverns
are found large and beautiful specimens of stalactite. One of the
levels was explored some years ago, and in it was discovered a
skeleton, with mining tools, and some Roman copper coins. The whole
mass of the hill seems more or less impregnated with copper: whenever
the surface is uncovered, there are evident marks of the presence of
this metal, and the stones composing the rampart of Offa’s Dyke,
which encompasses two sides of the hill, are in many parts covered
with cupreus efflorescences. Between the village and the rock passes
a branch of the Ellesmere canal, which, when navigable, will add much
to the value of these works, by rendering them more accessible to the
surrounding country, and may induce some spirited adventurer to
re-commence a search after copper, which, it is evident, was formerly
prosecuted with considerable success.”
This description of Llanymynach Hill we pronounce, from our own
observation, to be very accurate, so that the length of the quotation
will be readily excused. Leaving the pretty village of Llanymynach,
situated on the banks of the Virnwy, we resumed our journey to Welsh
Pool. The face of the country was pleasing; and we soon reached the
Breddin Hills, on whose summit a column is erected to commemorate the
victory of Admiral Lord Rodney over the French, in the year 1782. Not
far from hence we passed a handsome aqueduct, admirably constructed over
the river Virnwy, of great strength and stability. The vale of the
Severn affords much picturesque scenery, and we at length arrived at