Admiralty Arch, Holyhead

For the arch in London, see Admiralty Arch.

Admiralty arch, Holyhead in 2006

Admiralty Arch, in Holyhead, Anglesey, was built in 1824 to mark the end of Thomas Telford's Holyhead road.[1] The arch was designed by Thomas Harrison and its main purpose was to commemorate the visit of King George IV in August 1821.[2] The King arrived in Holyhead on the royal yacht Royal George on the 7 August, continuing to Plas Newydd where he stopped overnight. He returned the next day to his yacht, but due to poor weather his departure was delayed and the decision was made to transfer to the steam packet Lightning which conveyed him on the 12 August to Howth, near Dublin for his state visit to Ireland. The change to the packet boat was met with widespread approval.[3][4]

Funded through public subscription the structure took two years to complete and was made of stone quarried at Red Wharf Bay on the eastern side of Anglesey.[5] Due to its history it is known alternatively as the George IV Arch by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales[6] or the Triumphal Arch.[7] The Grade II* listed[3] arch is situated within the Port of Holyhead on Ynys Halen and cannot be accessed by the public due to safety reasons. In 2017, plans to move it to a more open location were mooted.[8] At present the best place from which to view it is from St Cybi's Churchyard.[9]

At the seaward end of the Admiralty Pier, beyond the arch, is the Grade II listed Holyhead Mail Pier Lighthouse, completed in 1821 it was designed by John Rennie the Elder as part of extensive improvements to Holyhead Harbour.[10]

  • George IV arriving at Holyhead, 7 August 1821
    George IV arriving at Holyhead, 7 August 1821
  • George IV on board the 'Lightning' en route to Dublin, 12 August 1821
    George IV on board the 'Lightning' en route to Dublin, 12 August 1821
  • A plan of the triumphal arch, pier and lighthouse
    A plan of the triumphal arch, pier and lighthouse
  1. ^ Geraint Jones; Gwenllian Jones Rowlinson (6 July 2015). Anglesey Towns and Villages. Amberley Publishing Limited. pp. 55–. ISBN 978-1-4456-5153-8.
  2. ^ Deborah Fisher (2010). European Royal Wales. University of Wales Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7083-2214-7.
  3. ^ a b Cadw. "George IV Arch (Grade II*) (5773)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  4. ^ "George IV on board the Lightning, the first Post Office Steam Packet to Dublin, 12 August 1821". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  5. ^ "George IV Arch and Salt Island, Holyhead". Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Admiralty Arch; George IV Arch, Holyhead Harbour (41261)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Calls to move Holyhead twin of London's Marble Arch to prominent location". 12 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Call to relocate Holyhead's 'twin' of London's Marble Arch". BBC News. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Heritage Trail 2". Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  10. ^ Cadw. "Lighthouse on Admiralty Pier (Grade II) (14758)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 6 August 2020.