Thomas Jackson - The Visitors Hand-Book for Holyhead

WITH A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE

WONDERS OF SOUTH STACK AND THE GIGANTIC
NEW HARBOUR:

ALSO, INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STEAM PACKETS,
RAILWAYS, &c., AND OTHER OBJECTS OF INTEREST

IN

THE TOWN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.

BY THOMAS JACKSON, R.M.,

Author of Tourists Guide to Britannia Bridge, Tourists
Guide to Dublin , &c.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY SMITH AND SONS, 136, STRAND, AND MAY BE
HAD THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF ALL BOOKSELLERS
THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM.

1853.

Since the opening of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, thousands of persons have availed themselves of the opportunity, thus afforded, of visiting this extreme western point of the Principality. And though the claims of business are weighty and urgent, still, many will secure a few days in some of the summer months, for the purpose of repairing, in some measure, the physical and mental waste of a years toil. Such persons, having arrived at the spot where they purpose making a short stay, are desirous to know how the brief season may be at once profitably spent. Hence, the numerous inquiries made by many of the visitors to Holyhead, as to whether there were any objects worthy of notice in the town and neighbourhood, led the writer to infer that a small Hand-book, containing the desired information, was a desideratum. He has, therefore, made the attempt to supply the deficiency, by communicating all necessary detail of such objects of interest as the Tourist may become acquainted with in the space of a short time, at a very reasonable outlay, and he trusts the following sketches will be found to afford some hints and observations, not altogether useless to those who may have the good fortune to visit this romantic locality.

In the compilation of the present Guide, the writer has consulted most of the best authors on North Wales, and has availed himself of that assistance, without which the work would not have appeared in its present dress. The writer makes no apology for the religious sentences, occasionally interwoven in the following pages, for he is fully persuaded that no excursionist can really enjoy a ramble amid the beauties of creation, unless he looks through nature up to natures God.

In conclusion, the compiler has only to add, that if the reader derives any information, pleasure, or profit, from the perusal of the work, he shall think the time occupied in writing it by no means uselessly employed.

T. J.

Holyhead, 1853.

N.B.In the event of a second edition of this work being called for, the compiler would feel greatly obliged to any person who would furnish him with any additional information respecting any of the objects named in this Hand-book.

And thou, Holyhead!thy time-honoured name,
Shall henceforth flutter on the wings of fame.

To trace a mighty river to its source, has ever been considered a sublime and interesting employment. It is pleasing to ascend its course from the point where it opens into the ocean, and becomes an inlet of wealth to an empire, till we arrive at the spot where it bubbles up a spring just sufficient to irrigate the meadows of a neighbouring farm, and to observe, as it receives the confluence of tributary waters, how it diffuses its benefits to the tribes that dwell upon its banks. Still more engaging is the task to trace the history of flourishing cities and thriving towns. The rise and progress of Holyhead, from an obscure and mean condition to one of increasing prosperity, is full of interest. Its early history appears to have had but little attention, and perhaps deservedly, from the insignificancy of the object. In giving a succinct account of it, the writer finds himself somewhat perplexed, in consequence of the very scanty materials with which he is furnished. The historical guide-stones placed along the march of time are few and far between. There are centuries in which the footprints of its history are scarcely traceable. Roll back the tide of time, and you will find Holyhead a small fishing village, where

A band of fishers chose their humble seat;
Contented labour blessd the fair retreat:
Inured to hardship, patient, bold, and rude,
They bravd the billows for precarious food;
Their straggling huts were ranged along the shore,
Their nets and little boats, their only store.

When and by whom the Isle of Holyhead was first peopled is involved in obscurity; to us in this age, this part of its history is a profound secret; all that is, therefore, said on that subject must be mere conjecture. Antiquarians and historians have exercised their ingenuity with respect to the origin of the name of the town. On this subject there are various opinions. It was regarded as peculiarly sacred, in consequence of its being the place of interment of pious people, and thence called Holy Island. Some suppose the place was called Holy-head, from the great number of chapels or places of religious worship that were in it. Others assert that its most ancient name was Llan y Gwyddel; and they say that the word Llan probably signifies the Irishmans beach or shore, and not church, as generally accepted, for the shore is called in this parish, and no where else in Wales,