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Situated on Holy Island and connected to Anglesey by Four Mile Bridge and a causeway known locally as the cob, Holyhead is the largest of Anglesey's towns.
Best known today as a ferry port, crossing to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire, the town has a remarkable history.
Settlements in the area date back to prehistoric times, with the UK's highest concentration of standing stones, burial chambers and circular huts. Holyhead mountain, the highest point on the island, is a fine example of Holyhead's prehistoric past. Remains of a hill fort known as Caer Y Twr, stand on some for Britain's oldest rock formations, surrounded by a stone rampart which in parts still stands 3 meters in height. The Ty Mawr huts, situated close to the nearby South Stack lighthouse, are another fine example of this period.
The center of Holyhead's town is built around another historic building, the church of St.Cybi The church was built inside the remains of one of Europe's only three walled Roman forts. Another example of the presence of the Romans to the island is the watch tower built on Holyhead Island which was used as a semaphore signaling station. Although their is archeological proof of people sailing between Holyhead and Ireland for the past 4000 years, it was in the 19th century, with the construction of the breakwater that the area was at it's most prominent. The new harbor created a safe haven for vessels during bad weather, bringing a great boost to the local economy. It was also at this time that the new post road built by Thomas Telford, made Holyhead the port from which the Royal Mail was dispatched to and from Ireland. Another interesting monument in the town from this period is the Admiralty Arch. Built in 1821 to commemorate a visit by King George IV, the arch marks the end of the A5 road, while Marble Arch in London marks it's start.
Today Holyhead has two main industries. The first is the ferry port, from which Stena Line and Irish Ferries, transport more than 2 million people to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire each year. The second is an aluminum smelting plant - Anglesey Aluminum. The plant which sits on a huge site at the entrance to the island, has a nearby jetty where cargo's of aluminum and bauxite from Australia and Jamaica are transported on an underground conveyor belt which runs beneath the town to the plant.
If visiting Holyhead, the Maritime Museum is well worth a visit. The exhibition tells the story of the town, with many interesting artifacts on display including the remains of a mammoth, found whilst dredging the nearby harbor.
Nearby places of interest is Moelfre - The Royal Charter.
Visiting Holyhead? Click here for a map.