Category: Era

8 January 2018

From Anglesey to Bodelwyddan

Yesterday I went from Anglesey to Bodelwyddan Castle in Denbighshire. Nothing unusual there; I often drive by it, promising myself that I will one day stop to have a closer look, but never managing it. So, I made a special trip out there. As I toured around and looked at the story of its various owners I discovered that the...

Categories 15th century/19th century/20th century/biography/museum/Old Houses Comments: 4

2 September 2017

Romantic View of Beaumaris Castle

I’m not a huge collector of postcards, but given my interest in old buildings of Anglesey, I do keep an eye on eBay for new listings of particularly interesting old images of past and present structures. I usually go for ones that show intriguing differences between then and now, or simply attractive ones. My latest acquisition ticks both boxes. The...

Categories 13th century/20th century/castles/postcards/Uncategorized Comments: 0

8 May 2017

St Baglan Church, Llanfaglen, Caernarfon

I haven’t blogged much lately, because I’m writing a new book (details to follow!), but the very nice weather drew me out today to explore a church I’ve not seen before. It required crossing the Strait, so isn’t strictly Anglesey History, but is still a very interesting place. And it overlooks Anglesey! St. Baglan’s Church stands in an isolated position,...

Categories 13th century/18th century/cemeteries/churches/graveyards/medieval Comments: 2

8 January 2017

On The Trail of Edward Greenly

One thing leads to another. While working on the new section of my Anglesey History website on Prehistoric Monuments I wanted to compare the geology of one site to the types of stone that were used to build the monument. I thought I had a geological map of Anglesey, but couldn’t find it, so ordered a new one. It arrived yesterday, and...

Categories 20th century/biography/cemeteries/geology/graveyards Comments: 0

11 November 2016

Surprises in Llanddyfnan

It was a clear, frosty morning, and I was thinking of standing stones. A couple of days previously I had driven over to Holy Island, aiming to clear my mind of the recent American election results, as well as visit the Penrhos Feilw standing stones (more on these some other time). As I looked at the photos from there I...

Categories 19th century/21st century/Bronze Age/cemeteries/graveyards/megaliths Comments: 0

30 October 2016

The Irishman in Church Island Cemetery

When visiting historic churches, I always have a wander around the cemetery, looking at inscriptions old and new. I often wonder what this person was like, or how that person lived their life. Occasionally, the inscription gives a tantalising clue to an interesting story, which I will sometimes try to follow up later. On a recent trip to the St...

Categories 19th century/cemeteries/graveyards Comments: 0

1 October 2016

History of the House in the Marsh

Most history about buildings is written about large and interesting houses, churches, castles, shops and other places. However, sometimes the history of small, remote and obscure dwellings can be just as intriguing. One of my favourite nearby places for a short walk is Cors Bodeilio. This National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest lies between Pentraeth and Talwrn. It...

Categories 19th century/fresh water/natural history/Old Houses/wetlands Comments: 3

20 September 2016

An Iron Age Tardis? Bryn Eryr roundhouses at St. Fagans

It’s bigger on the inside than it appears from outside, and it lets you travel back in time, like Dr. Who’s Tardis. That was my first thought when I ducked through the low entrance into the high-ceilinged space of the reconstructed Bryn Eryr roundhouses at St. Fagans open air history museum. I’ve been wanting to visit St. Fagans for quite...

Categories archaeology/Iron Age/museum/Old Houses/Roman/Roundhouses Comments: 3

5 September 2016

Bodior Tide Mill

After visiting Bodior house, a smaller group of Anglesey Antiquarian Society members walked across a couple of fields in the rain to the shore of Holy Island. Our goal was to see the Bodior Tide Mill. The most familiar type of mill on Anglesey is the windmill. Thirty two of these dot the island, and at most places with distant views you can...

Categories 17th century/Mills/Tidal mill Comments: 2

4 September 2016

Visit to Bodior House with AAS

Yesterday saw a good turnout for the Anglesey Antiquarian Society’s last excursion for 2016.These trips are always interesting; visiting historic sites around the island, often places that you wouldn’t normally be able to access. The tours are led by knowledgeable guides, and there are usually several visitors in the group who can spot interesting features and contribute additional bits of information to complete...

Categories 16th century/19th century/Anglesey Antiquarian Society/Old Houses Comments: 4