Anglesey's coastal history and archaeology

It is rumoured that Anglesey has one of the highest densities of ancient sites anywhere in the British Isles, and nowhere is the evidence more visible than along the island’s coastline.

The earliest settlers were never far away from the sea, and this is demonstrated by the Middle Stone Age site at Trwyn Du, Aberffraw and the burial chambers of the earliest farmers, seen at Barclodiad y Gawres at Porth Trecastell, Trefignaeth near Holyhead and at Lligwy burial chamber near Moelfre. This Celtic and prehistoric presence is also noticeable in the number of defended forts of the Iron Age, such as Caer y Twr at Holyhead, overlooking the Irish Sea, and Dinas Gynfor near Cemaes Bay or the enigmatically named Bwrdd Arthur (Arthur’s Table) overlooking Red Wharf Bay. Implements found at Llyn Cerrig Bach near Valley, remain the finest collection of Celtic artefacts recovered in Wales.

The churches of Anglesey are well represented along Anglesey’s shoreline. Fine examples of medieval churches are located at Penmon, Llaneilian, and Llangwyfan and St Beuno’s church at Aberffraw, which contains traces of the royal church at the main political centre of the kings of Gwynedd. Close to Newborough you can see the remains of the recently excavated llys or royal residence, Llys Rhosyr, while the church of Llanddwyn on Llanddwyn Island is associated with St Dwynwen, the Welsh Valentine.

More recent remains of industrial history are also represented along Anglesey’s coastline. On the north of the island atmospheric remains of former brickworks are a visual surprise such as those at Porthwen, Porth Llanlleiana and Cemaes with their towering chimneys. Along the same stretch of coastline is Amlwch Port, the last stronghold of sail. On the south coast the two bridges over the Menai are engineering masterpieces of the nineteenth century with Telford’s suspension bridge, opened on Monday 30 January 1826, and what was the world’s first tubular bridge, the Britannia Bridge, opened on 18 March 1850, only to be rebuilt following a fire in 1970 and reopened with not only a railway deck but also incorporating a road into the bridge.