See Anglesey Coast from Menai Straits Bridge, Road Link to Anglesey Built by Telford
The iconic Menai Straits Bridge which carries the A5 across to Anglesey was the inspiration of renown civil engineer Thomas Telford, whose 250th year was celebrated in 2008. For its day the engineering challenge facing Telford and his team was significant, and needed a bold and innovative design to reach across what are very tidal waters between island and mainland. If you come to North Wales this Menai Suspension Bridge is a key attraction to experience for all.
Turn back the history pages and you may see that what is the busy little town of Menai Bridge today, may have been a Roman village, which people reached by crossing in a small ferry across the Menai Straits where the gap between island and mainland is narrowest. To the north are the Lavan sands where Augustinian monks heading for Penmon Priory would struggle across at low tide, heading for Llanfaes, near Beaumaris.
How did Telford come to be commissioned to build this magnificent Menai Straits Bridge, what is an clearly an innovative example of nineteenth century bridge building? Greater pressure was placed for a closer link between Ireland and Britain after the Act of Union in 1800, and so the bridge to Anglesey was important for connection to Holyhead.
The story of the famous composer Handel trying to get to Dublin in 1742 suggests how difficult it was to travel between England and Ireland. As if it was not enough to get through the Snowdon Mountains, the traveller still had to negotiate crossing the Menai Straits and then sail from Holyhead to Dublin.
With a sea route across to Ireland and a port at Holyhead, the missing link was an improved crossing to Anglesey island. Political pressure was applied in the right places, and work began on the bridge in 1819, with the two massive landmark towers being constructed from Penmon limestone. While the bridge was originally supported by 16 huge wrought iron chain cables that reached across the 175 metres of expanse, they had to be replaced by steel cables just before the Second World War.
Just stop to think how travel has changed enormously since the times before this bridge was built. Prior to 1826 a journey from London to Holyhead would take around 36 hours, and the opening of the Menai Suspension Bridge reduced that to a mere 27 hours. Today you can get from London to Holyhead by road in about 6 hours or so, thanks to a combination of motorway, internal combustion engine and Thomas Telford’s Menai Straits Bridge.
Arriving on Anglesey witness some beautiful coastal and woodland scenes from this iconic bridge across Menai Straits, and nearby some well signposted coastal paths with fairly easy access. Cast your eyes northwards from the bridge and you will see Menai Bridge harbour with small yachts and motor craft moored nearby. These are strong tidal waters and you may see a yacht passing below the bridge, making its way for Beaumaris and then Puffin Island.
As you stand on the bridge looking south west, see how the strong Menai Straits currents flow towards the dual rail and road Britannia Bridge and on past Caernarfon Castle to the open sea. Off the Anglesey Coastline to the south is a small island, Ynys Gorad Goch, while on the shoreline a Statue of Admiral Nelson stands, and nearby is the former Indefatigable Sailing School. You can indulge your senses in all these experiences from the high vantage point of this enigmatic Menai Straits Bridge.
The author, David Phillips, writes from beautiful Anglesey, North Wales, and runs a helpful website covering local news and features about the island. Discover more about Menai Straits Bridge, a remarkable attraction and example of 19th century civil engineering achievement.
