Anglesey

 

For more than two thousand years Anglesey has been a major western gateway to and from Britain and has also been described as the bread basket of North Wales, which has meant that it has been considered of strategic importance to both local rulers and those seeking to control the mainland routes including the Romans and Edward the First of England. In more recent times it has contributed to the industrial revolution, is a major link for trade and recreation with Ireland and a holiday destination.

 

A map of the island produced by Anglesey Museums and Cultural Attractions

A view of eastern Anglesey taken from the Great Orme, showing the mouth of the Menai Strait with Puffin Island (see below) to the right of the picture

Telford’s Suspension Bridge which provided the first road connection with the mainland in the early nineteenth century

Stevenson’s Britannia Bridge was originally designed to take the railway across the Menai Strait but now carries road traffic on the A55 as well

Incoming (to the left of the picture) and outgoing Irish Ferries at the Port of Holyhead, which is at the western tip of Anglesey

South Stack Lighthouse (now part of an RSPB reserve) stands on a site that was used as a beacon for Roman ships seeking harbour at  Holyhead

The base of an ancient Round House illustrating farming activity on Holy Island, near South Stack, approximately two thousand years ago

The old causeway linking Holy Island with the main island of Anglesey. These days the new bridge carrying the A55 is the principal crossing.

Modern reconstructions of Round Houses seen with a renovated windmill (only 300 years old) at the Anglesey Museum, Llynnon (marked ‘3’ on map above)

Plas Newydd (with the Britannia Bridge glimpsed to the right) is managed by the National Trust and was built for the Marquis of Anglesey

Llanddwyn Island, south west Anglesey, with the north Lleyn coast in the distance, this peninsular is adjacent to Newborough forest and beach

Puffin Island is at the most easterly end of Anglesey beyond Beaumaris

Beaumaris Castle, built by Edward I, stands guard over the eastern entrance to the Menai Strait and the North Wales coast beyond

Beaumaris is considered to be technically the finest castle in the chain constructed by Edward I to help control North Wales