Snowdon, Carnarvonshire
Historical Description
Snowdon, a mountain in Carnarvonshire, culminating at an altitude of 3571 feet, 9½ miles SE of Carnarvon. It is known to the Welsh as Eryri, signifying " eagle top;" comprises four rugged and precipitous ridges separated by caverns or hollows about 1000 feet deep, and consists chiefly of slate and porphyry; presents a rich variety of picturesque and savage scenery; and commands magnificent and extensive views. A railway to near the summit of the mountain, on the Abt rack system, was begun at the end of 1894 and opened in the following year. It is worked meantime by steam, as arrangements for storing sufficient water in connection with electric propulsion could not be made in time for the opening. Starting near the Victoria Hotel, 350 feet above the level of the sea, it has four intermediate stations, the first at Cennant Mawr, and the others at the height of 940, 1650, and 2530 feet. The terminus, sheltered by the actual summit, is at the height of 3490 feet. The gradient nowhere exceeds 1 in 5½. There are on the way several viaducts, one being 500 feet long and consisting of fourteen arches of 30 feet span, a second of four similar arches/'a third of one arch of 50 feet span, and five smaller ones.
Land and Property
The Return of Owners of Land in 1873 for Carnarvonshire is available to browse.
Newspapers and Periodicals
The British Newspaper Archive have fully searchable digitised copies of the following newspapers online: