Conlig (Irish: An Choinleac, meaning 'the hound-flagstone')[1] is a village and townland in County Down in Northern Ireland. It is considered a suburb of Bangor.

Conlig
Main Street
Conlig is located in County Down
Conlig
Location within County Down
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townNEWTOWNARDS
Postcode districtBT23
Dialling code028
UK Parliament
NI Assembly
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Down
54°37′41″N 5°40′41″W / 54.628°N 5.678°W / 54.628; -5.678
Conlig Presbyterian Church

Mining

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The area includes extant ancient copper mines. Weapons forged with the copper from this mine have been found across Europe, and was traded for tin from Cornwall during the Bronze Age. Copper mining in the area declined, though the site at Whitespots in the village subsequently became one of the most important sources for minerals in the United Kingdom during the 19th century. At this time, the mines were the largest such complex in Ireland, and produced around 13,500 tonnes of lead between the late 17th century until the end of the 19th century, making it one of the major lead mines of the British Isles during that time.[2] Production stopped in 1900, after a decline from 1854.[3]

The area contains the only known occurrence of the mineral harmotome in Northern Ireland.[4]

Much of the area has been developed by the Department of Environment (DoE) as a country park, and the site can be accessed via the Somme Heritage Centre's car park.[4]

Whitespots has been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) by the DoE in 1998.[4][5]

Places of interest

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Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Conlig, County Down". Northern Ireland Place-Name Project. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Base metals, mineral resources, Northern Ireland".
  3. ^ Habitas (Ulster Museum Sciences Division) web site: Whitespots summary
  4. ^ a b c Habitas (Ulster Museum Sciences Division) web site: Whitespots full report
  5. ^ "Environment & Heritage Service". Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Clandeboye Golf Club". Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Assisi Animal Sanctuary". Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  8. ^ "The Ark Open Farm". Retrieved 20 August 2011.