Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for ORMES-HEAD (Great)

ORMES-HEAD (Great), a bold peninsulated promontory, on the N coast of Carnarvonshire; 3½ miles N of Conway. It projects into the entrance of the Menaistrait or Beaumaris bay, on the W; overhangs the town of Llandudno, on the E; rises precipitously from the sea, round three-fourths or more of its circuit; consists ofenormous masses of limestone rock; attains an altitude of 750 feet, or upwards; forms a conspicuous feature in the entire range of the N coast of Wales; and commandsmagnificent views over both sea and land. A telegraphstation, one of the links in the old chain of communication between Holyhead and Liverpool, is on a spot of it676 feet high; and a lighthouse was erected, in 1862, at a cost of about £5,000, on the part of it called Y-Plu-mawr. Close scenes of great interest are within itslimits; many good casts of fossils are found on itsrocks; and some rare plants are found on its scantysoil. The ancient British fort of Pen-y-dinas is on its Eside; a rocking-stone, called Cryd-Tudno, also is there; and copper mines exist, with traces of Roman workings. The ship " Hornby" was wrecked on Great Ormes-Headin 1824; when all persons on board, except one, perished.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a bold peninsulated promontory"   (ADL Feature Type: "capes")
Administrative units: Caernarvonshire AncC
Place names: GREAT ORMES HEAD     |     ORMES HEAD     |     ORMES HEAD GREAT
Place: Great Ormes Head

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