In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Great Ormes Head like this:
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.
Additional information about this locality is available for Llandudno
Great Ormes Head through time
Great Ormes Head is now part of Conwy district. Click here for graphs and data of how Conwy has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Great Ormes Head itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Great Ormes Head, in Conwy and Caernarvonshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/25722
Date accessed: 19th April 2024
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