Anglesey Towns in North Wales
New Guide Book
‘Môn Mam Cymru’ the guide to Anglesey’ is a comprehensive and fascinating 264-page book about the island, its history and ancient sites, its language and culture, its natural habitats and wildlife, its towns and villages, its famous people. The guidebook is illustrated in full colour throughout and includes a gatefolded map. Many special sections describe everything from the medieval harpists of Anglesey to the experimental popular music of the 21st century, and a Directory rounds up all of the up-to-date information needed by visitors.
• The new book (ISBN 1-872773- 77-X) is stocked by Oriel Ynys Môn and elsewhere ...but to order a post-free copy, please send a cheque for £17.95 to MAGMA, Llansadwrn, Anglesey LL59 5SR / magmawales@hotmail.com / tel. 01248 810833.
Five Anglesey Towns
Anglesey towns have character and historic interest, good shopping and great places to eat, drink and relax
The natural beauties of Anglesey are justly famous. Visitors will also enjoy exploring the island’s towns. Many of the towns’ wonders are well known: a pioneering suspension bridge, a breakwater that was 28 years in the making, and a ‘state of the art’ medieval castle. You’ll make some surprising discoveries too: a wooded nature reserve in a river valley just a few footsteps away from the centre of a market town, a little harbour that once exported the bulk of the world’s copper ore, a perfectly preserved Victorian gaol, and an ancient parish church built inside the high walls of a Roman fort.
Amlwch
The historic former copper-ex- porting harbour, ‘Porth Amlwch’, is set in a sheltered creek. Parys Mountain, the source of the valuable ore, lies a mile inland. Amlwch’s town centre – around Queen Street and its shops – includes the Georgian Church of St Eleth, a sprin- kling of nonconformist chapels, and public houses. Westwards along the coast is the village of Bull Bay with a seaside golf links.
The Industrial Revolution’s Copper King. The man responsible for Amlwch’s development, Thomas Williams (1737–1802),was an Anglesey lawyer who reopened the copper workings on Parys Mountain. By the end of his life he controlled half of all copper production in the British Isles. Unusually for a successful capitalist in that age,Williams was reckoned to be a straight dealer and fair employer, and was known locally as Twm Chwarae Teg – ‘Tom Fair Play’.
Menai Bridge
Walk from the shopping centre along narrow side-streets, following the shoreline under the world’s fi rst large iron suspension bridge towards Church Island for views – over the whirlpools of the Menai Strait – to Robert Stephenson’s rail bridge. Return along a woodland path that leads to a former schoolroom,where a heritage display (open seasonally) tells the story of the two bridges.
The 250th anniversary of the birth of an engineering genius. The Suspension Bridge is an International Civil Engineering Landmark, designed by the Scottish engineer Thomas Telford (1757- 1834). Opening in 1826, it carried his A5 road over the Strait. The link between London and Holyhead, the port for Dublin, was thus completed: the first vehicle to go across – 100ft above the waterline – was the London to Holyhead mail coach, whilst tall ships made their passage beneath.
Holyhead
The town’s Welsh name, Caergybi, commemorates Saint Cybi, whose church was founded within the walls of a remarkable Roman fort. The attractions of Anglesey’s largest town include a maritime museum (open seasonally), a Country Park, the sight of ferryships berthing in a modern port terminal, the Ucheldre Arts Centre, and the region’s widest choice of shopping. The Captain – and his Raven. An obelisk overlooking the harbour commemorates.
John Skinner (1760–1832). Born in America he was a Royal Navy officer during the War of Independence. Entering the Post Offi ce shipping service, he then served for 33 years as a respected captain of the Holyhead to Dublin steam packet boats. His pet raven would fl y out from Holy- head to meet its returning master. Captain Skinner met his end when he was washed overboard in stormy seas off North Stack.
Llangefni
Anglesey’s small capital town has twice-weekly markets, traditional stores and modern supermarkets
Follow the boardwalks of the Dingle nature reserve along the banks of the river Cefni through trees and past environmental sculptures. Nearby,Oriel Ynys Môn,which has become one of Wales’s top regional art galleries, off ers the best introduction to the island’s heritage.
Beaumaris
The town became a fashion- able ‘watering place’ in Victorian times, boasting everyone’s idea of a romantically- crumbling moated castle and incomparable views from a pier reaching out into the Menai Strait. Its range of fascinating buildings include an oak-panelled Dickensian courthouse, a grim gaol, and some well-appointed hotels.