Pentre Halkyn

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Pentre Halkyn (Welsh: Pentre Helygain) is a small village in Flintshire, North Wales. It is situated approximately three miles from Holywell, and on junction 32 of the A55 North Wales Expressway. It has a quarry, a small hotel and a local shop but not much else. Pentre Halkyn is located on Halkyn Mountain.

[edit] Mining and quarrying

Lead ore was first mined in Roman times and was then smelted at Flint. The lead that was produced there was stamped wth the insciption Deceangli, which was the name of the Celtic tribe occupying the area. In the 17th century an intensive period of lead mining begun, drawing the interest and the investment of the London Lead Company and Derbyshire mining entrepreneurs. Shortly after, new rich veins were discovered and these were quickly exploited, bringing a large number of skilled miners to live in Halkyn.

The existing villages of Pentre Halkyn, Halkyn and Rhosesmor grew rapidly in these times as more miners came to the area. New communities were developed as the villages grew, to house the newcomers. This resulted in the development of the villages and hamlets of Rhes-y-Cae, Moel-y-Crio, Wern-y-Gaer, Berthddu, Pant-y-go and Windmill. By the 19th century the lead mines were well developed and concerns arose necessitating mining techniques. This raised the problem of flooding due to the digging of deep drainage tunnels, with the most important being the Milwr tunnel from Bagillt.

Mining ended in the 1970s but quarrying is still an important local industry with two new large limestone quarries dominating the surrounding area. As a result of these quarries opening, new institutions were needed to support the community with new churches, chapels, a school and village halls being opened in the 19th century.

Nowadays, the only part of Pentre Halkyn of any note seems to be the village bus shelter. Well, according to the rapidly growing gang of cider-drinking, hooded, underage chavs that frequent it, it is.