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Holyhead

Holyhead photos (22 available)

Old photo of Holyhead

Holyhead maps (2 available)

Old map of Holyhead

Holyhead books (2 available)

Holyhead memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Gwynedd below.

Gwynedd memories

Life in the village

Llanfachraeth, c1960

Was wonderful to see this postcard, as I was a child of 7 living in the village, when the photo.was taken. When we moved to the village in 1954 there was no electricity, water was from the village pump and people used chemical or earth closets. In 1960, there was mains water and electricity but no proper sanitation. I have wonderful memories of living in the village, playing in the fields and having easy access to the beach. I have visited the village quite a few times in the past 10 years and have met up with old child hood friends.
A memory of Llanfachraeth contributed by Bob Hughes

Maelog Lake Hotel

A schoolfriend of my former wife (now sadly deceased) married a Rhosneigr man and lived in the village. In order to visit them  my wife, I and our year old daughter visited Rhosneigr first in 1971, again in 1973 and for the last time in 1977 when our son was three years old. We stayed each time at the Maelog Lake Hotel which was then run by Dennis and Elsie Clutton.  We had marvellous holidays in Rhosneigr and spent many hours on the wonderful beaches with our children.  We also spent many hours in the bar of the hotel with Dennis and some of the locals sampling some of Dennis's cocktails and, more potently, his 100% dark rum!

I can ...read more here
A memory of Rhosneigr contributed by Colin Carey

Guest houses in Beach Road

Rhosneigr, c1965

I spent most of my earliest summer holidays in the Fifties and Sixties at Rhosneigr and have idyllic memories of whole days spent with family or with friends of my age in the sand-dunes; campfires, charred sausages, shrimping in the rockpools and ice cream from the Marigold, pocket money to be spent at the Bon Marche or Madge Britton's shop opposite the clock. It was a case of history repeating itself, for my father, Clifford Hughes, had spent his summers there too in the 1920s at the guest house, Erylmor, in Beach Road run by his Aunt Mary, who retired to Beach Terrace. We stayed further down at The Anchorage, then run by the Bowdens - he, Geoff? was in the ...read more here
A memory of Rhosneigr contributed by Adrian Hughes

our parents owned Quality Stores next to the old Cinema

Rhosneigr, c1965

I am Delphine Chapple's sister and I lived in Rhosneigr for all my years at Holyhead Grammar School.  The walk or bike ride to the station was indeed more than any young person would contemplate these days.  With reference to Nicholas Farmer's comment above, if I remember correctly, the name of the local Doctor who lived next door to Pennyburn (Pen-y-Bryn?) was Dr Lloyd.  My husband and I were married at the parish church in Llanfaelog in 1967 by our grandfather -- Rev. H.L.Hughes who was retired and lived in a small cottage in Llanfaelog.  Our aunt, Betty Lloyd-Williams, owned The Marigold Cafe at the bottom of Beach Road, her son was Kevin Lloyd-Williams, who unfortunately passed away very suddenly a ...read more here
A memory of Rhosneigr contributed by Velvor Jones

Extracts From Holyhead & Gwynedd books

Holyhead, South Stack Lighthouse 1892

Holyhead is best known as the ferry port for Ireland, and stands on Holy Island, linked by a causeway to the Isle of Anglesey. It is the point of destination of Telford’s most famous road, now the A5, built rapid communication between London and Dublin. Holyhead has a long tradition of seafaring: the remains of a possible Roman naval base lie next to St Cybi’s church. The rocky islet is joined to Holy Island by a footbridge at the bottom of a zigzag path. The lighthouse was built in 1809; its keepers left for the last time in 1985, when it was automated. The ancient folded rock cliffs are a superb breeding site for seabirds.
An extract from from"North Wales Photographic Memories".

Holyhead, South Stack Lighthouse 1892

Holyhead is best known as the ferry port for Ireland, and stands on Holy Island, linked by a causeway to the Isle of Anglesey. It is the destination of Telford's most famous road, now the A5, coming from London. The rocky islet is joined to Holy Island by a footbridge at the bottom of a zigzag path. The lighthouse was built in 1809.
An extract from from"Welsh Address Book".

Holyhead, Market Street c1955

Like any seaport town, Holyhead is cosmopolitan, noisy and busy, as shown by this picture of Market Street with its fine array of shops. It has been the main port for Ireland since the early 19th century. Its local industries of shipbuilding and ropemaking gained new life after the building of a new, deeper 2,000 foot-long harbour in 1880. Before this, packet steamers were unable to land passengers.
An extract from from"North Wales Photographic Memories".

Holyhead, Market Street c1955

Holyhead has seen a decline in recent years, although Swift was able to write in 1727 that it was ‘scurvy, ill-provided and comfortless’, so recent trends may have followed a pattern. Modern regeneration initiatives have not yet helped the situation, as the town utilised off-the-peg townscaping schemes even though these may attempt to ape earlier architectural themes. The town is an important ferry terminal en route to Dublin in Ireland. Here we see a very traditional streetscape, with original shop fronts and a unified feel uncluttered by the traffic of today.
An extract from from"Wales Living Memories".