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Holyhead / Caergybi

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"HOLYHEAD, a parish, market town, seaport, and parliamentary borough, on Holy Island, in the hundreds of Llyfon and Tal-y-Bolion, county Anglesey, 24 miles W. by N. of Beaumaris, and 260 from London by road, or 264¼ by the London and North-Western and the Chester and Holyhead railways, which latter has an extensive terminus here. The distance from the station to the pier is about a mile, although the rails are carried, for the convenience of the mails and through traffic for Ireland, to the very end of the pier, near the side of the harbour, where the Dublin Company's mail steamers lie, which leave Holyhead twice, and sometimes oftener, every day for Kingston, doing the distance of 63 miles in less than four hours, and thus reducing the time between London and Dublin to eleven hours by the mail train. " [From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

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Bibliography

  • A catalogue of the books and rules for the management of the Holyhead Parochial lending Library and Reading Room : established January 1st, 1849. Holyhead : Jones, pr, 1849. 16p
  • Baughan, Peter Edward. The Chester & Holyhead Railway. Newton Abbot : David and Charles, 1972. 324p
  • Cowell, John. Holyhead and the Royal Mail : a postal history. Caernarfon : Gwynedd County Council Library Service, 1990. 27p
  • Elis-Williams, M. Packet to Ireland : Porthdinllaen's challenge to Holyhead. Caernarfon : Gwynedd Archives Service, Gwynedd County Council, c1984. 147p
  • Harper, Charles George. The Holyhead road: : the mail-coach road to Dublin. London : Chapman & Hall, 1902.
  • Hornsey, Brian. A cinema miscellany : Wales and borders. Part 16,; Aberdare, Barry, Chepstow, Holyhead, Kington (Herefordshire) picture house, Monmouth, Pontypool. Stamford : Fuchsiaprint, 2001. 40p
  • Jackson, Thomas. The visitor's hand-book for Holyhead, comprising a history of the town, the antiquities and sublime scenery of the mountain, 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. London : Smith and Sons, 1853. 71p
  • Lloyd Hughes D. and Dorothy M. Williams. The Story of a Port - Holyhead. 1967
  • Morris, Jeff. The story of the Holyhead Lifeboats. [Poole?] : Royal National Lifeboat Institution, 1989.
  • Owen, Alun. Holyhead : images of an island. Holyhead : Holy Island, 1990. 47p
  • Owens, Edwin R. The Holyhead breakwater and quarries. Holyhead : E.R. Owens, 1987. 73p
  • Owens, Edwin R. Mynydd Twr = Holyhead Mountain. Holyhead : Edwin R. Owens, 1989. 171p
  • Pearsall, A W H. The Holyhead steamers of the L.N.W.R. [London] : London & North Western Railway Society, [197-?]. 33p
  • Photographic views of Holyhead. Holyhead : E.J. Williams, Bookseller, [190-?]
  • Rowlands, Eryl Wyn. ' - for want of schooling - ' : church education in Holyhead 1748-1998 : a brief history. Caergybi : [S.l.] : Ysgol y Parchedig Thomas Ellis ; 250 Group, 1998. 28p
  • Rowlands, John. Holyhead - people, prosperity and poverty. [Caernarfon] : Gwynedd Library Service, 1989. 34p
  • Scott Roberts, Peter. The Ancestry, Life and Times of Commander John Macgregor Skinner R.N. Holyhead Maritime Museum, 2007
  • Stanley, Arthur P. A record of St. Cybi's church, Holyhead : and the sermon preached after its restoration, 1879. London : Nopps and Tarrant, [18--?] 40p
  • Stanley, Wiliam O. Memoirs on remains of ancient dwellings in Holyhead Island,mostly of circular form, called Cyttiau'r Gwyddelod : explored in 1862 and 1868 ... London : Printed for the author, 1871.
  • Stretton, Clement E. The history of the Holyhead Railway Boat Service : a paper read on the ... jubilee of the railway companies' working, August 1st, 1898. Leeds : Goodall and Suddick, Printers, 1901. 19p
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Business & Commerce Records

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Holyhead Marine Workshops papers
    "The Marine Yard at Holyhead undertook boat and ship repairs. W. G. Taylor was a turner at the Yard...."
  • Papers of Thomas Bugbird & Son Ltd 1836-1941 papers - including engineering works at Holyhead Harbour
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Census

Joyce and Douglas Hinde have provided a transcript of the 1851 Census of Holyhead (Surname order and Address order).

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Churches

There are more than 30 churches identified in this place. Please click here for a complete list.
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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.

Holyhead Parish and Borough; Statistics; Area 6988 acres; Population 4594 males, 4269 females, total 8863

  • Holyhead Parish Church (Diocese of Bangor) Attendance - morning 200 Welsh, 130 English, afternoon 50 English, 167scholars, evening Welsh 220 4 services of which 2 in Welsh Informant; William Hughes, Parish Clerk
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  • Bethel, Wesleyan Methodist Erected 1808, rebuilt 1848 Attendance (usual) - morning 300, afternoon 220 scholars, evening 560 Informant; Thomas Evans
  • Hyfrydle, Calvinistic Methodist Erected before 1807, enlarged twice since Attendance - morning 577, afternoon 574 scholars, evening 1038 John Roberts, Deacon, Edmund ASt
  • Tabernacle, Independents Erected 1823 Attendance - morning 350, afternoon 219 scholars, evening 478 Wm. Griffith, Minister
  • Silo, Baptists Erected 1850 Attendance - morning 132, afternoon 120 scholars, evening 200 "This is a new place of worship where none was before - and the Sunday School removed from a part of the Graywen School for the convenience of an increasing population" William Morgan, Minister
  • Bethphage, Calvinistic Methodist Erected 1850 Attendance - morning 160, afternoon 171, evening 177 Henry Williams, Deacon, 4 Llaingoch, Upper Mountain
  • Bethel, Baptist Erected 1850/1 in lieu of one built c 1808/10, same site Attendance - morning 153 scholars, afternoon 405, evening 366 William Morgan, Minister
  • Ebenezer Chapel, Calvinistic Methodists Erected 1850 Attendance - morning 135 scholars, afternoon 244 Edward Edwards, Elder, Penrhos
  • Welsh Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Erected 1808 Rebuilt/enlarged 1847 Attendance - morning 362, afternoon 235 scholars, evening 542 Methusalem Thomas, Superintendant Minister, Amlwch
  • English Wesleyan Methodist Erected 1835 Attendance - morning 98, afternoon 65 scholars, evening 103 William T Nelson, Minister
  • English Baptist chapel, Newry St - on geograph.org.uk
  • New Park English Baptist chapel, Newry St - on geograph.org.uk and ".... was built in 1861......." coflein
  • Seilo Welsh Baptist chapel, Llaingoch - on geograph.org.uk
  • Bethel Welsh Baptist chapel, Edmund St - on geograph.org.uk and "......was built in 1810, rebuilt in 1817, 1851 and rebuilt again in 1895......" coflein
  • Capel Noddfa (Baptist), near Trearddur - on geograph.org.uk
  • Baker St Baptist Mission Room, Baker St coflein
  • Black Bridge Baptist chapel "....... has been disused for many years but the exterior of the building remains much as built in the early twentieth century........." coflein
  • Capel Hebron, Kingsland Hill - on geograph.org.uk and "Hebron Baptist Chapel [Kingsland Rd] was built in 1862, rebuilt in 1878 and again in 1902........." coflein
  • Porth-y-felin Welsh Baptist chapel (Ysgoldy;Bethel) "........ was built in 1860........" coflein
  • See Welsh Chapels and Churches for a photograph of Hyfrydle, Calvinistic Methodist Chapel and Hyfrydle Welsh CM chapel, Thomas St - on geograph.org.uk and ".......the first Hyfrydle Methodist Chapel built in 1808........ in 1847, rebuilt in 1856 and then rebuilt again in 1888......" coflein
  • Capel Disgwylfa - on geograph.org.uk and "Disgwylfa Methodist Chapel [London Rd] was built in 1881, rebuilt in 1889 and rebuilt again in 1909........" coflein
  • Ebenezer chapel (CM), Kingsland - on geograph.org.uk and "The first chapel .... was erected in 1850 and enlarged in 1859-60. ... and by 1901 a schoolroom..added ......." coflein
  • Salem Sunday School (CM) - on geograph.org.uk
  • Capel Penrhosfeilw (CM) - on geograph.org.uk
  • The English Presbyterian Chapel, Newry St - on geograph.org.uk and "... was built in 1891........." coflein
  • Armenia Welsh CM chapel, Armenia St " .........was built in 1860........" coflein
  • English Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Longford Rd - on geograph.org.uk
  • English Wesleyan, Lhassa St coflein
  • Capel Gwynfa, Longford Rd (Wesleyan) - on geograph.org.uk and "Gwynfa Wesleyan Methodist chapel [Newhaven Rd] ........was built in 1888.........closed in 1960 (after use by the Salvation Army) coflein
  • Bethel Welsh Wesleyan chapel, Victoria St - on geograph.org.uk and "....... was first built in 1808, rebuilt in 1848, enlarged in 1866 and rebuilt again in 1901....." coflein
  • Cross Street Wesleyan Methodist Church, Holyhead ....."was built in 1835......." coflein
  • Llain-goch Wesleyan M chapel (Mynydd Seion) ".............was built in 1852 and closed in 1974.." coflein
  • Capel Pentecostaidd Elim Mount Pleasant [Newhaven Rd] (former Brynhyfryd Congregational Chapel) - on geograph.org.uk and geograph.org.uk and "Elim Pentecostal Chapel was originally known as Mount Pleasant Independent. The present chapel [Mount Pleasant St] was built in 1883.........." coflein
  • Capel Tabernacl (Ind), Thomas St - on geograph.org.uk and " Tabernacl Independent Chapel was built in 1823, enlarged in 1845 and 1856 .. rebuilt in 1913...." coflein
  • Tabernacle Newydd Independent Chapel, Newry St was built in 1866 ........... rebuilt in 1885 and again in 1913........." coflein
  • Noddfa Welsh Ind chapel, London Rd "........was built in the early twentieth century......" coflein
  • Tabor Welsh Independent chapel, Holyhead Mountain " ......... was built in 1848 and rebuilt in 1904..........." coflein
  • Catholic Church of St Mary Help of Christians "Built in the Late 20th c style......" coflein
  • The Ucheldre Arts Centre at the former Good Saviour Convent Chapel - on geograph.org.uk

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Amlwch and Holyhead English Circuit, Wesleyan Methodist Church, papers 1842-1981
  • Capel Tabernacl [Ind] Newydd, Caergybi, [Holyhead] documents 1867-1983
  • New Park Street English Baptist Church, Newry Street, Holyhead 1886-1988
    Founded c1860, building still standing March 2005
  • Diaries of Rev. William Morgan 1825 - 1868 and Register of Bethel Baptist Chapel, Holyhead 1825-1861
  • Rees, Thomas & John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes (published 1871+). Here is the entry from this book for Y Tabernacl Newydd, Caergybi chapel (in Welsh) - with translation. Also Caergybi chapel - translation by Eleri Rowlands (Apr 2016). Also Tabor - translation by Eleri Rowlands (Nov 2013)

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • The Collegiate Church Of Holyhead
  • CROSS STREET ENGLISH METHODIST CHURCH, HOLYHEAD
  • Children of Capel Hebro (Baptist), Holyhead
  • EBENEZER CALVINISTIC METHODIST CHAPEL, HOLYHEAD (Internal/external)
  • HYFRYDLE CHAPEL (WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODIST), THOMAS STREET, HOLYHEAD
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Church Records

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

Baptisms in the Parish of Holyhead in the year 1891 - on the People's Collection Wales site

Held at Anglesey Record Office (NRA);

  • Holyhead English Wesleyan Methodist Circuit;- 1867-1984: baptism registers, circuit schedule books, account books, corresp (some in Welsh)
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Description & Travel

Welcome to Holyhead site

Journey to the past - Holyhead

Holyhead - on wikipedia

Caergybi - on Caergybi.com

Various landscapes/seascapes - on the People's Collection Wales site

You can see pictures of Holyhead / Caergybi which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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Genealogy

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Ty Mawr Mynydd, Holyhead - Hughes family correspondence 1841-1936, 1984
  • Rev. Huw Llewelyn Williams Papers 1836-1974
  • Lucy Williams Papers 1741-1957 (accumulated 1938-1957) - local historian
  • Ceinwen Rowlands papers 1924-[1980s] - singer, born Holyhead
  • Jane Henrietta Adeane Papers c. 1920-1971
    Jane Henrietta Adeane (1842-1926) of Plas Llanfawr, a member of the Penrhos family of Holyhead
  • John Lloyd Griffith, solicitor (1839-1902) - collection of legal material involving local families 1667-1902
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History

Presentments made by Grand Jury: that Joseph ap Robert Owen and Elin verch William Owen were illegally married; that the bridge called Pont Aber, pa.[rish] Aber between Conwey [Conwy] and Holyhead has fallen down; and that the house of correction needs 'stocke and reparacion'. Appended: Note that £50 is to be levied on the county for the house of correction. 25 April 1655 - on the People's Collection Wales site

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Land & Property

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Holyhead Deeds and Legal Papers 1753-1917
    "The properties covered include, Penycei, Willow Garden, Swift & [?] Court and others......"
  • Lucy Williams Collection ca. 1941 - inc. history of the houses in Swift Square, also sea shanties and poems
  • Panton, Priestley and Garreglwyd Papers 1766-1905 - papers relating to family property and trusts
  • Penrhos Manuscripts 1430-1972 - one group of deeds and documents relates to the Owen family of Penrhos

Held at Anglesey Record Office (NRA);

  • Holyhead land tax;- 1744-1815: assessments
  • Holyhead Parish;- 1737-1992: records
  • Holyhead Rural Community Council;- 1883-1976: financial and administrative papers, minutes
  • Holyhead tithes;- 1924-36: Tithe Rent Charge account books
  • Holyhead Town Council;- 1832-1986: minutes, financial records
  • Holyhead UDC;- 1860-1974: minute books of local government board, minutes and ledgers of council, committee minutes, rate books, maps, plans, misc papers; 1924-1967: misc corresp, committee minutes, financial papers
  • Holyhead window tax;- 1751-1760: assessments

Holyhead 1894 - part of a sales catalogue for property/land at Bodrewyn, with map showing locations of properties. - on the People's Collection Wales site

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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

  • Holyhead OS Map, 1900
  • The parish of Holyhead in the County of Anglesey
  • Holyhead Tithe Map, 1841

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SH240806 (Lat/Lon: 53.293043, -4.641595), Holyhead / Caergybi which are provided by:

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Merchant Marine

The Maritime History of Holyhead - on the Anglesey.info site

Holyhead Lifeboats - history and pictures

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Opening of the New Holyhead Harbour 1880
  • Marine Yard, Holyhead - marine service buildings mostly built 1850-1900. A huge range of skilled work was carried out by engineers and craftsmen of all trades

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • "Alfred Dutton Papers 1915-1920 -
    Alfred Dutton was the Paymaster on the HMS Tara during the First World War. The Tara was formerly a passenger steamer called the SS Hibernia of the London & North Western Railway Company, which carried passengers between Holyhead and Dublin. Following the outbreak of war in 1914, the renamed ship was requisitioned by the Admiralty, and converted into an armed boarding ship................."
  • Diary of John Roberts, Assistant Harbour-Master at Holyhead 1855 July 2-1858 August 3
  • North Wales Port Book 1725-1730 - containing accounts of the ports of Beaumaris, Conwy, Pwllheli, Caernarfon and Holyhead

Held at Anglesey Record Office (NRA);

  • Holyhead Harbour;- 1905-29: bye laws
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Military History

Letter - Private Richard Williams was in B Company & C Platoon, 17th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers. The letter was sent home from the trenches in France to his mother and father in Glynafon, Rhydwyn, Holyhead. He was killed in action in Ypres, Belgium, in 1917. - on the People's Collection Wales site

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Newspapers

Newspaper extracts

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • Holyhead Mail and Anglesey Herald, 30 January 1890
  • Holyhead Mail and Anglesey Herald, Thursday Jan 16 1890
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Occupations

B Tukes, Watchmaker and Jeweller, Market Street, Holyhead. - on the People's Collection Wales site

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Poor Houses, Poor Law

Holyhead Workhouse - on the Peter Higginbotham site

Held at University of Wales, Bangor (NRA)

  • Holyhead Parish;- 1837-1842: overseers accounts

Held at Anglesey Record Office (NRA);

  • Holyhead Poor Law Union;- 1870-1957: records
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Public Records

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Holyhead Vestry Books 1816-1881
  • Harbour of Refuge Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity Friendly Society, Holyhead, records 1863-1910
  • Holyhead and District Boy Scouts Local Association Records 1917-1980
  • W. H. Austin (County Water Engineer) Papers re Holyhead Waterworks Co 1866-[ c. 1970]
  • Holyhead Harbour Bye Laws records 1905-1929
  • Holyhead Motor Ambulance Committee records 1936-1948
  • Holyhead Salvation Army, records [1930s]-1981
  • Holyhead Urban District Council, records 1772-2001 (accumulated 1894-2001)
  • Holyhead and North Wales Gas and Water Company papers 1854-1970
  • Stanley Sailor s Hospital, Salt Island, Holyhead 1925-1959
    Founded in 1871, taken over by the National Health Service in 1948, closed in 1987
  • Dean, R. J., collection of railway plans 1843-1966 (inc. Holyhead Railway)
  • Holyhead Road Labour Accounts 1819-1836
  • Shrewsbury and Holyhead Road Correspondence 1884-1887 - correspondence and papers relating to the letting of the tolls of Anglesey and Caernarfonshire gates on the Shrewsbury and Holyhead Road

Held at Anglesey Record Office (NRA);

  • Holyhead Valley Hospital; - 1870-1957: records
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Schools

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Trevor Lovett Papers 1943-1980 - local headmaster (inc Holyhead County Grammar, and Holyhead County Secondary schools)
  • Holyhead British School Committee Minute Book 1846-1897

 

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales site

  • School log book, Ysgol Y Parc, Holyhead, 1897
  • British School, Holyhead, Standard III, Girls Department.
  • Holyhead British School (Boys Department) Log Book, 1863-86