1786 - 1801 Aquisition :: Edward & Mary Hughes
Edward Hughes (1738-1815) was a young curate who married Mary Lewis (1743-1835), the third and youngest daughter of his employer the Rector, Rev Robert Lewis. Over time their marriage would produce 3 sons and seven daughters and together they would found a dynasty.
The Lewis surname would be reflected in the middle name of their son William Lewis Hughes, most likely named after Mary's uncle William Lewis.
When her uncle William Lewis died without children in 1762, he left Mary a third of his estates which included the Llys Dulas Estate in Anglesey, Wales.
Parys Mountain formed part of the Llys Dulas Estate. Mary owned one half of Parys Mountain and a Sir Nicholas Bayley owned the other half.
At the time, Parys Mountain was a barren place which seemed worthless. It was no use as farming or grazing land because nothing would grow there. However, when a rich vein of copper was discovered there in 1768, Parys Mountain would provide its owners with fantastic wealth.
The copper mine they founded grew to be the largest in the world at the time and employed up to 1500 workers at its peak.
It generated upwards of £300,000 per year which was divided between its owners Rev. Edward Hughes and Sir Nicholas Bayley. In 1786 the value of each £1 was worth the equivalent of approximately £100.00 today, so the mine generated a huge sum of money each year.
Aquisition of Kinmel Park
The Kinmel Estate was purchased by Rev. Edward Hughes and his wife Mary Hughes in 1786 for £42,399 using money gained from their Anglesey copper mine.
They moved into a house known as Old Kinmel and in 1791, Edward hired Samuel Wyatt to build him a new house deeper within Kinmel Park.
This would become the location for two future incarnations built on the same foundations into what would become the current palatial Kinmel Hall.
Using the money generated by the copper mine, Rev. Edward Hughes began to acquire land, property and business interests. He built up an extensive estate including the 200 room Lleweni Hall and Cotton Estate, along with other estates in North Wales.
Death of Edward Hughes
Edward Hughes died in 1815 aged 77 years. His wife Mary died in 1835 aged 92 years. They are buried in a barrel vault in St George churchyard, Abergele, Wales, England.
Their son William Lewis Hughes would inherit the Kinmel Estate and further extend the influence and status of the Hughes family.