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Beaumaris

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"BEAUMARIS, a parish, market town, seaport, and municipal and parliamentary borough in the hundred of Tyndaethwy, in the island county of Anglesey, North Wales, 3 miles to the N. of Bangor, and 238 miles from London by the Holyhead railway. It is the county town of Anglesey, and is situated on the north-western shore of the beautiful bay of Beaumaris, near the north-eastern entrance of the Menai Strait. A town existed on this spot at a very early period, and was called Porth Wgyr, and afterwards Bonover. It attained considerable importance as a seaport. On the invasion of the island by Egbert, in the 9th century, a severe conflict between the Welsh and the Saxons took place near the town. The English, headed by the Earls of Chester and Shrewsbury, captured the town in 1096, and held the island in subjection till the arrival of a Norwegian force, under Magnus, compelled them to withdraw." [From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

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Bibliography

  • A guide to Bangor and Beaumaris : with notices of the isle of Anglesea. Manchester [etc.] : Abel Heywood & Son [etc.], [1902]
  • Adshead, Joseph. A circumstantial narrative of the wreck of the Rothsay Castle steampacket, on her passage from Liverpool to Beaumaris, August 17, 1831 ... London, Hamilton, Adams, and Co., 1834. 322p
  • Ambrose, John W. Beaumaris and its environs. 1859. 24p
  • Beaumaris : 16 photographic views. Frith's series. Roberts, 189-?. 16 leaves
  • Crean, Patrick J. Sir William Dai : a life of the Venerable William Davies, Catholic martyr executed in North Wales, at Beaumaris, 1593. London : Catholic Truth Society, 1985. 56p
  • Heywood, John. John Heywood's Illustrated guide to Bangor and Beaumaris. 1891. 32p
  • Llwyd, Richard. Beaumaris Bay : the shores of the Menai, and the interior of Snowdonia, ... Chester : London : J. Parry for the author ; H. Hughes, 1832. 68p
  • Morris, Jeff. The history of the Penmon and Beaumaris lifeboats. Coventry : Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society, 1997. 49p
  • Pughe, David W. History of Beaumaris Castle and the isle of Anglesey. Carnarvon : Printed and published by H. Humphreys, [1848?]. 42p
  • Raban, Denys. A note on Beaumaris parish register, 1649-1659, 1658-1723. Transactions of the Anglesey Antiquarian Society (1986), p. 79-85.
  • Steele, Phillip. Beaumaris : the town's story : hanes y dref. Porthaethwy : MAGMA, c1996. 48p
  • Taylor, A J. Beaumaris Castle (Castell Biwmares). Cardiff : H.M.S.O., 1980. 50p
  • The burgess roll of the burgesses of the borough of Beaumaris, in the county of Anglesey, entitled to vote in the choice of the councillors and auditors of the said borough, between the 1st day of November, 1894, inclusive, and the 1st day of November, 1895, exclusive. Beaumaris : E. Thomas, Printer, 1894. 13p
  • Thomas, J Hugh. English Presbyterian Church Beaumaris : centenary 1870-1970. 1970. 12p
  • Williams, John. Hen blas (the old palace) in Beaumaris, with illustrations. Holyhead : Printed by Enoch Jones, 1869. 8p
  • Williams, John. David Hughes, M. A., and his free grammar school at Beaumaris : an historical essay. Bangor : Printed by J. K. Douglas, 1864. 30p
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Business & Commerce Records

Bulkeley Arms Hotel, Beaumaris, papers 1854-1984 - details of extant records on Archives Network Wales

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Cemeteries

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Census

Census of Beaumaris, 1821 (part 1 & 2) - on the People's Collection Wales site

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Church History

Church and chapel data from The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 11, North Wales. Ed. by Ieuan Gwynedd Jones, UWP, 1981. The names given towards the end of each entry are those of the informants.

Beaumaris Parish and Borough; Statistics; Area 1220 acres; Population 1200 males, 1265 females, total 2465

  • Beaumaris Paris Church (Diocese of Bangor) Attendance - morning 40 Welsh, English 220, scholars 167, afternoon 170 + 167 scholars "During the Summer months the Congregation is much larger from the influx of visitors to the Town" Hugh Jones, John Slater, Church Wardens
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  • Trinity Chapel, Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Erected 1802, enlarged 1833 Attendance - morning 278, afternoon school, evening 499 "The 'Sunday Scholars' are included in the General Congregation being in most part adults" William Bryan, Elder, Grocer
  • Zion Chapel, Independents Erected 1788, re-erected 1821 Attendance - morning 168, afternoon 205 scholars, evening 258 William Thomas, Minister, Church St
  • Horeb Chapel, Rosemary Lane, Baptist Erected 1827 Attendance - morning 26 scholars, afternoon 60, evening 70 William George Meason, Deacon, Wrexham St
  • Ebenezer Chapel, Wesleyan Methodist Erected 1808 Attendance - morning 214, afternoon 161 scholars, evening 280 Thos. Owen, Trustee, Stamp Office
  • Saints Mary and Nicolas' church " ......was built around 1330 to serve the borough of Beamaris........" coflein
  • Horeb Welsh Baptist, Rosemary Lane "......... was first built in 1827............. coflein
  • English Presbyterian Chapel, Church St on geograph.org.uk and "Beaumaris Presbyterian Chapel was built in 1870....." coflein
  • Capel y Drindod [CM], Chapel St on geograph.org.uk and Capel Drindod , Welsh CM [Chapel St] ".... was built in 1804, enlarged .... in 1833 and rebuilt in 1873........" coflein
  • Ebenezer Methodist [Wesleyan]Chapel [Church St] "........... was built in 1808, rebuilt in 1859, 1896 and rebuilt again in 1906..........." coflein
  • Capel Seion Welsh Congregational Chapel on geograph.org.uk and " Seion Congregational Chapel was built in 1788, rebuilt in 1821 and rebuilt again in 1873....." coflein
  • Mission Hall [CM], Margaret St coflein
  • CATHOLIC CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYRS, RATING ROW, BEAUMARIS coflein

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • MORTUARY CHAPELS, BEAUMARIS
  • YSGOLDY METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL, BEAUMARIS
  • SS MARY AND NICHOLAS' CHURCH, BEAUMARIS
  • Rees, Thomas & John Thomas Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). The Beaumaris section (in Welsh) has been extracted - with translation by Eleri Rowlands (Aug 2014)
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Church Records

Joyce Hinde has supplied a list of Parish Registers held at Anglesey Record Office.

Beaumaris English Presbyterian Church records 1870-1937 - details of extant records on Archives Network Wales

Held at Anglesey Records Office (NRA)

  • Beaumaris English Presbyterian Church;- 1870-1937: minutes, accounts, papers
  • Beaumaris Wesleyan Methodist Circuit; - 1858-1958: accounts, schedules, minute books, notebook
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Description & Travel

Welcome to Beaumaris - a tourist site

Journey to the past  - Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris Castle - photographs and articles on the Castle Wales site

Beaumaris Castle - on wikipedia

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Beaumaris Castle. Built by Edward 1st.in 1295
  • Various landscapes/seascapes
You can see pictures of Beaumaris which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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Genealogy

Archives Network Wales have details of extant records of the following (use on-site search box);

  • Hughes, Hugh, Rev., of Beaumaris, family papers 1744-1941
  • Laurie Collection of Anglesey Deeds and Family Papers 1662-1965
  • Papers of E. Madoc Jones, headmaster of Beaumaris Grammar School from 1895 to 1933
  • Priestley family, deeds 1758-1921
  • Baron Hill Manuscripts 1319-1996 (Bulkeley Family)
  • Henllys Manuscripts 1548-1895 (Hampton Family)
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History

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • W. A. Provis, 'An historical and descriptive account of the Suspension Bridge constructed over the Menai Strait' (1828)
  • Charter of Beaumaris, 1562
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Land & Property

Held at University of Wales, Bangor (NRA)

  • Beaumaris Borough;- 1650-1887: crown rent book, assessment book, roll of freemen and burgesses, borough court records, files of council proceesings, vouchers and financial records, corresp, rating records, minute books, and other records
  • Beaumaris Borough;- 1862-77, 1894-1908: court minute book and council declaration book
  • Beaumaris Parish;- 1809-35: poor rate assessment books, overseers of highways accounts

Held at Anglesey Records Office (NRA)

  • Beaumaris Borough;- 1902-73: valuation lists, accounts and reports
  • Beaumaris land tax;- 1742-1869: assessments
  • Beaumaris Parish;- 1655-1971: records
  • Beaumaris tithes;- 1924-36: tithe Rent Charge account books

Item - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Report on the farms and buildings etc belonging to the David Hughes Charity in the county of Anglesey in 1877. The report was compiled by John Roberts and was presented to J. Rice Roberts, receiver of the David Hughes Charity, on 12 June 1877. At that time, these farms and buildings were owned by the feoffees or trustees of the David Hughes Charity. The charity was set up by David Hughes, who founded the Free Grammar School at Beaumaris in 1603.
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Law & Legislation

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • The entrance to Beaumaris Gaol; The Kitchen, Beaumaris Gaol; The Treadmill, Beaumaris Gaol; The Chapel, Beaumaris Gaol; The cell, Beaumaris Gaol; Beaumaris Gaol Visitors Book, 1862-78 - plus many others
  • Beaumaris Courthouse - which has been only slightly modified since its construction in 1614 - plus many others
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Maps

Gwynedd Family History Society have a diagram of the ecclesiastical parishes of Anglesey (under Parishes)

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Beaumaris parish in the County of Anglesey
  • The entrance of Beaumaris River and Cross Road

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SH597758 (Lat/Lon: 53.260874, -4.105496), Beaumaris which are provided by:

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Merchant Marine

Beaumaris Lifeboat

Pages from Beaumaris Shipping Register, 1821 - on the People's Collection Wales site

Held at Anglesey Records Office (NRA)

  • Beaumaris Customs and Excise;- 1897-1988: records
  • Beaumaris Port;- 1906-1988: ships fees and deeds books

Details of extant records are on Archives Network Wales for the following material (use on-site search box);

  • Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen (Beaumaris, Anglesey), records 1863-1913
  • Port of Beaumaris Custom and Excise Records 1897-1988
  • Caernarfonshire shipping registers
    "Beaumaris, Angelsey, was the principal port of North Wales until the Port of Caernarfon was established. Pwllheli was a sub-port of Beaumaris between 1840 and 1844 and a sub-port of Caernarfon after 1844..........."
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Military History

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Letter from the Mayor of Beaumaris with war widow gift by cheque to Eva Fletcher in memory of her husband's (Norman Fletcher)contribution to the war effort
  • Beaumaris Soldier Killed - North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality 04-08-1916
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Newspapers

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Occupations

Report of the Anglesey Agricultural Society, for the years 1836 and 1837 (Beaumaris, 1837) - on the People's Collection Wales site

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Poor Houses, Poor Law

Bangor and Beaumaris Workhouse - on Peter Higginbotham's site

Bangor and Beaumaris Poor Law Union Records 1828-1945 - details of extant records on Archives Network Wales

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Public Records

Details of extant records are on Archives Network Wales for the following material (use on-site search box);

  • Municipal Borough of Beaumaris Records 1902-1973
  • Beaumaris Castle Survey Drawings 1979
  • Anglesey Hunt Records and Artefacts ca.1757-1991
  • Beaumaris and Anglesey Manuscripts 1650 - 1974 - a collation of the administrative records of the borough of Beaumaris
  • Beaumaris Documents c. 1450-1880 - Miscellaneous documents relating to the borough of Beaumaris and the Bulkeley family of Baron Hill.

Held at Anglesey Records Office (NRA)

  • Beaumaris Post Office;- 1809-1830: account book
  • Beaumaris Quarter Sessions ;- 1872-75: books recording depositions and statements
  • Beaumaris Town Council;- 1880-1978: corresp, minutes, papers, bye-laws and publications

Held at University of Wales, Bangor (NRA)

  • Beaumaris Quarter Sessions;- 1650-1821: sessions rolls
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Schools

Details of extant records are on Archives Network Wales for the following material (use on-site search box);

  • Beaumaris Primary School Logbooks - Two logbooks, for Beaumaris Primary School, 1880-1902 and evening school, 1907-1910

Held at Anglesey Records Office (NRA)

  • Beaumaris Grammar School;- 1895-1936: school magazines, papers rel to examinations, school reports, admission and attendance registers, account books, fees books
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Social Life & Customs

Beaumaris Brass Band - including its history

Wedding present list, Beaumaris 1910 - on the People's Collection Wales site