Esclusham Mountain

Esclusham Mountain (Welsh: Mynydd Esclus or Mynydd Esclys) 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.

The underlying rocks are a Carboniferous Limestone along with some Millstone Grit to the east. The area was rich in minerals, particularly lead and zinc deposits. The South Minera Vein, a fault fissure rilled 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 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and are being targeted for development as a possible tourist and educational resource.

The area shows signs of use by Neolithic and Bronze Age farmers, and evidence of early inhabitants of the area exists in the form of several stone cairns 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.

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Wikipedia