Amlwch Lighthouse

Amlwch Lighthouse stands on the outer pier of Amlwch, at the northeast tip of Anglesey. It is a square tower built in 1853, the fourth lighthouse on this site. The base is of fine ashlar masonry, battered by time, standing 4.6 metres high. A later lantern was added to the top of the tower. Two short piers were built in 1793 after an act of Parliament improved the harbour. The lighthouse once served the shipping of Parys Mountain, home to one of Europe’s largest copper mines. The New Seaman’s Guide described the first two octagonal houses with small lanterns as ‘small white houses displaying lights at night’. In 1816 an outer pier, about 46 metres long, was built to protect ships inside the harbour. A small lighthouse with a light 8.5 metres above high-water mark followed in 1817. Visitors find a sturdy stone tower with a later lantern on top. The surrounding pier extends into the sea, offering views of the working harbour. The site links to the historic copper trade of Parys Mountain. The lighthouse forms part of a heritage site recognised for its international importance. The drydock and lighthouse once supported the export of copper from one of Europe’s largest mines.