Cylchgronau Cymru

2. A section through one of the mounds to the north and west of the lighthouse showed it to be a natural projection of the main limestone mass. 3. Some too yds. to the west of the lighthouse enclosure a bank, about 2 ft. high by 3 ft. wide, runs northwards from the southern cliff top for about 10 yds. and then turns sharply eastward, to fade away after about the same distance. A section through the corner showed the bank to consist of loam and rough limestone fragments. No artefacts were found. 4. 50 yds. to the northwest of 3. (above), at a depth of 18 in., were the remains of a coal fire. It was about 3 ft. in diameter, and contained some red lead oxide but no associated artefacts. 5, About 20 yds. to the north of the point where the ditch round the lighthouse enclosure bends rather sharply to the east are the remains of a stone building. This measured roughly 40 ft. by 10 ft., with its long axis aligned east and west. It appeared to be divided into two equal parts, with an entrance in the centre of the south side. A section was cut through this from north to south at a point just to the east of the entrance. The 15 -in. walls, built of limestone blocks were found to rest on a rubble of small limestone fragments. There was no sign of a floor and no artefacts. This was reputed to be, and probably was, a peasant's cottage. CAVES Only two of these seemed to be of interest:- 1. A cave high up in the cliff to the north-east of the foghorn station. It is approached by a steep path down the cliff and by another up from the rock ledge. Its entrance is low, and it is reputed to have led into the centre of the island.13 A mass of heavy red clay was removed for a distance of 20 ft., exposing three chambers which sloped first down and then upwards, and led towards the south. A blocked opening in the last chamber indicated a further upward and southward continuation. The roofs and walls of all the chambers were intact, and had been evened off with a tool in some places. It is thus apparent that the clay must have come from a collapse of the roof or wall at some point further to the south and considerably nearer to the surface, which confirms the story of a collapse during lead mining operations. Evidence of a thick flooring of oakum and bitumen came to light, together with signs of an original wall of masonry across the entrance. Fragments of a clay pipe and some galena were also found, but no evidence of very early occupation. This cave is marked on the 25-in. O.S. map as a lead mine, and is probably the 'Smuggler's Hole' described by Knight.14 2. At a higher level, and to the south-east of this, is another cave, the mouth of which was closed by a wall of weathered limestone blocks. This was empty, but it narrowed to a passage which could only be traversed by lying prone. It was not explored further. WELLS Catchment wells exist for the farm-house, the hospital, and the lighthouse. Two others are described by Knight15: — 1. A 'Dripping Well' in a high, shallow cavern in the eastern cliff. Its sides have been built up by brick, which is so worn as to make its age conjectural. 2. 'Bottles Well,' an old mine shaft with built-up tunnels radiating from the bottom. It is marked as a well on the 25-in. O.S. Map, and is used as such. It fills only at low tide. 13 F. W. Wotton, loc. cit., p. 108. 14 Loc. cit. 13 Loc. cit.