e g d i r B i a n e M Exploring
Steve Goodier crosses the ‘Gateway to Anglesey’ and discovers all that Menai Bridge has to offer…
There are three things that always spring to my mind when the town of Menai Bridge is mentioned. Obviously Thomas Telford’s iconic suspension bridge that first linked Anglesey with the Welsh mainland, a fishery in the hills above the town I was commissioned to write a feature on for an angling magazine many years ago, and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier I bought as a pup from a breeder in the area. I believe the fishery, Llyn Y Gors is still there and I remember my feature was called ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ – but sadly poor old Zeus (the ‘Staffie’) passed away about eight years ago. Menai Bridge is often called ‘The Gateway to Anglesey’ and it’s a shame really that many who come over Telford’s Bridge today continue northerly on the A5025 and miss the town completely
bridge. It is 1,265 ft/305 metres long with a central span of
as they continue up the island to the likes of Red Wharf Bay,
579ft/177 metres. The roadway is set at 98ft/30 metres above
Benllech Bay and Amlwch.
the Menai Strait and this was originally done to give adequate clearance for the tall ships that still plied the oceans in those
Those who are heading for Beaumaris and its lovely castle
days.
drive North West once over the suspension bridge and pass through Menai Bridge and perhaps, if you haven’t done it
Twenty four years after Menai Bridge opened, Britannia
before, or for some time, you should join them and have a look
Bridge (Pont Britannia) opened in 1850. It was designed by
what is on offer here.
William Fairbairn and Robert Stephenson, and was originally built to carry rail traffic but was converted to a double decked
Menai Bridge is located at the narrowest crossing point for The
structure following a huge fire in 1970 – today it carries both
Menai Strait and it is quite probable that a village and community
rail and road traffic.
of sorts existed here since as long ago as Roman times. The Menai Bridge took seven years to build and due to a lack The first recorded ferry across the Menai Strait ran in 1292
of stiffening trusses soon proved to be highly unstable in wind.
and a service linked the mainland with the island at this point
The bridge was strengthened in 1840, 1893, 1938 and again
continually until Thomas Telford opened his bridge on 30th
in 1999 when it was closed for a month for the road to be
January 1826.
resurfaced and the structure to be further strengthened. A very short walk from the centre of Menai Bridge town brings
For many centuries the town was known as Porthaeth which
you to the base of the bridge and from here, underneath it, you
derived from Porth (harbour) and Daethwy (the name of a local
really get to realise you how huge a structure it is and how
Celtic tribe and later of a medieval commote) but regularly took
impressive an engineering feat it was for its time.
the name of the new bridge once it was officially opened. You can’t begin to look at Menai Bridge (the town) without
If you fancy a walk along The Menai Strait you can follow
taking in the Menai Bridge which literally transformed life on
The Belgium Promenade which leads south west to a tidal
the island of Anglesey. Today the bridge (Pont Menai) is classed
causeway linking Church Island (also known as Llandysilio
as a Grade I listed building, and when it was built almost two
Island) and the ancient Church of St Tysilio to the shore. If you
hundred years ago it was the world’s first iron suspension
get the chance to have a walk around the church yard itself you
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