British Isles Explorer: Holyhead, Wales (3/30/2022)

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

View from our stateroom

Holyhead Breakwater Lighthouse (1873,
by John Hawkshaw) was automated in 1961

We had free time in the morning, so took a tender into Holyhead, Wales.

Holyhead Maritime Museum (est 1984) in the
oldest lifeboat station (c 1858) in Wales

Newry Street

Sign in English and Welsh

Holyhead Town Hall (1875, by John Thomas
in Gothic Revival style)

Remains of a Roman wall, part of a three-walled fort (the
fourth side met the sea) called Caer Gybi (c 1C CE)

The Roman fort was given to the future St Cybi who
founded a monastery on the site

Below the ramparts, a wall and gate were built at the street

Now within the fort stands the Church of St Cybi
(est 540 CE, built 13C with additions) (KSS)

Church of St Cybi cross and fish weathervane

Roman fort ramparts, and at the far end of the grass
was the residence of sea captain John Macgregor Skinner,
who was in the Royal Navy during the American Revolution
where he lost an arm; he later lost an eye while serving in
the Caribbean; however, he was able to bring his ship into
Holyhead in 1807 during a severe gale

Cemetery chapel is the remains of a 14C church,
which is reputed to have been built over the
monastic cell of St Cybi; in 1765 the building
was used as the first school in Holyhead  (KSS)

Holyhead Market Cross

We noticed pairs of blinking yellow globes on each side
of a crosswalk throughout the United Kingdom

On the right is the Skinner's Monument (1834), an
obelisk commemorating Captain John MacGregor Skinner RN,
commander of Holyhead mail packet, who drowned in storm 1832

Captain Skinner was actually born in the American colonies (New Jersey), but Holyhead was his home where he was a beloved benefactor of the poor.

The Celtic Gateway pedestrian bridge (2006) connects
the town to the railway station and ferry terminal

The town gateway to the Celtic Gateway

Venetian glass mosaic (by Gary Drostle) of St Cybi

Gleeson's Public House shows the
red dragon symbol of Wales

Gleesons pandemic sign

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals/RSPCA vintage collection box

We were able to purchase one postcard and 10 UK stamps for postcards to the United States.

Most auto license plates in the United Kingdom are yellow;
however, this plate also has the symbol for Wales

There seem to be semi-tropical plants in Holyhead

Terrace houses on Newry Street

Since I missed the opportunity to
photograph many Dublin doors, I took
pictures of Holyhead doors

This door seems a bit rustic

Blue is a popular color

The fog has lifted enough to see the Viking Venus
anchored outside the Holyhead Harbour

Holyhead is the busiest Irish-UK ferry port and
is home to the largest seagoing ferry in the world,
MV Ulysses of the Irish Ferries

We are waiting our turn to transfer from the tender to the ship

Next: Anglesey Isalnd, Wales.