I was born here in Beaumaris and it's still a lovely place to live. I wouldn't live anywhere else. It's very friendly - though I am at an advantage because I know everyone, working in the library.
David Hughes School was originally situated in Beaumaris. It was founded in 1603 and was originally a private boys' school before allowing girls in much later. It changed from the grammar to the comprehensive system in the 1950s. We celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2003 and had a great reunion.
The school had to close because the population of the area was growing and they needed more land to increase the size of the school, which wasn't made available here. I was there when the school closed in 1962 - I'm in the last photo that hangs in the committee room of David Hughes Community Centre.
I moved with the school to Menai Bridge for my final year and I hated every minute of it. I loved the school in Beaumaris. The main hall is still in existence as part of the community centre.
They hold lots of classes in the centre now - Welsh, art, bridge club, dancing - they've even held weddings and a funeral there. We also have a film club on every fourth Thursday of the month showing quite up-to-date films.
Beaumaris was a great place to live as a child. We used to play in the castle - we just took it for granted as a great place full of scary corridors, nooks and crannies. There weren't any lights there back then, so it was a fantastic place to play and hide.
We used to have an outdoor swimming baths at the end of the green. The shell is still there but it hasn't been used. We had tennis courts, too, up in Happy Valley - before that they were inside the castle.
The gaol wasn't as it is now when we were young - it was a children's clinic! We went in there for treatment and it was a bit spooky, although we weren't supposed to go into lots of the rooms.
The last person to be hanged in the gallows of the old gaol cursed the clock of the church opposite. St Mary's and St Nicholas has a tower with four clocks on it - and he said the one facing the gaol would never tell the same time as the other three.
It didn't tell the same time for years - but that's because that side takes the brunt of the sou'westerly winds. Now it's had a bit of maintenance work done it works fine, but it is a great bit of folklore.
The church was quite well attended when we were young. Saint Joan's empty coffin is there - it was found in the woods years ago, being used as a horse trough.
There are also some really good misericords in the choir stalls of the church - carved shapes and images of the heads of local people. There's one carving of a fishwife's head.
They depict what was going on in the area before the town was built by Edward I in 1286, so they think they came from the original monastery. I'm told they're one of the best examples of misericords in the country.
Beaumaris is the best place on the island to visit - we get plenty of sunshine, even when the weather forecast says there'll be cloud every where else. We have a big annual regatta for a fortnight at the end of July and there are pleasure cruises round Puffin Island and down the Strait, under the bridges.
You also don't need to go abroad to see dolphins - I saw some myself in the seas off Anglesey just last year. There's also entertainment in White Lion Square (also known as Castle Square) each afternoon over the summer. Local bands play, and there's folk dancing and amateur dramatics - it's great.
your comments
Bond, Liverpool
I was evacuated there, 1942/45; 15 New Street, Mr & Mrs Williams. I remember the cinema. I was in the Blue Coat School, Liverpool, and the Government wanted the building so off we went. It was good of the people to suddenly have 150-odd children dumped on them. I thank God for the Williamses, never been away from home before, never stayed in another house. Got to know the gas works woods quite well, saw a kingfisher there one summer. Somewhere further upstream over the road there was an orchard. Later on we moved out to a bungalow out past Saunders Roe, where the road turns inland. I have been back with my grandson, visited the prison, castle, sea front and had dinner in the Buckley Arms. That was posh in those far off days of the war. There was a good turn out of the Home Guard meeting in the Church Hall at the side of the prison.
Tue May 19 09:47:54 2009
Alun Turner, Chwilog
Can anyone tell me any more about the Regal Cinema?Like when it opened and when it closed, when it was demolished.
Thu Mar 19 11:31:37 2009
Sherida Lee, Charleston New Zealand
My father worked at Saunders Roe for many years & growing up in Beaumaris was the sort of childhood today's youngsters would envy - freedom to play outdoors for hours on end without need for parental supervision, swimming at the baths after school, playing in the castle without health & safety restrictions and sailing in the weekends & long evenings on the Straits. In the next couple of weeks I will return for only my second visit since leaving school & moving overseas. Hiraeth is a powerful emotion.
Thu Aug 7 10:15:12 2008
Nick axon Beaumaris
I've lived here all my life and its the best place, one moment you are sitting on the beach and then the next moment you can be in the country side walking your dog along the many footpaths and see some real histrical sites along the way like the 90ft obelisk in memory of the bulkley family. and the views from the sea front of the snowdownia mountin range is sencond to none.
Mon Apr 21 10:39:26 2008
Allan Colcombe from Crewe
I lived in Beaumaris as a child, between 1960 and 1964. My Dad was Postmaster and we occupied the flat over the PO in Church Street. I remember the Evans family from the chemists next door, Sea Scouts, the awful swimming pool,jellyfish on the beach, the castle, the Regal, the Hot Penny throwing, and the Summer regatta. Happy Days! We moved to the Rhondda valley in '64 when Dad was promoted - and what a change that was! But we never forgot Beaumaris and I have returned with my own family a couple of times, to find much unchanged, which was a nice surprise.
Fri Oct 19 11:28:34 2007
Maggie McIntyre
I helped in the running of the Cottage Restaurant from 1984 until 1987. I had a brilliant time, especially when we could put out the hanging baskets on that beautiful balcony! Maria and Jim Gregory were like my surrogate parents. I met so many brilliant characters.
Fri Oct 5 09:39:57 2007
Mary Novikov from Queensland
What a great site, and what great memories. I loved reading about all those happenings and holidays. I went to Beaumaris during the war and stayed till December,1952 attended the BGS as it was then, worked at Saunders Roe. My family name was Yates, Joy, Monica, Anne, and Gerard are all siblings.Regards to all.
Fri Aug 17 09:12:16 2007
John Owen. (John Bangor)
Lovely to read the comments about our great little town of Beaumaris, I came to live here 53 years ago when I married a local girl. we both worked in Saunders Roe,I applied for a job there whilst on my demob leave. I spent nine years fitting engines in the torpedo patrol boats, inshore minesweepers, airsea rescue craft, and a myriad of other small craft, until I applied for a vacancy in the planning office, from where we planned all sorts of interesting contracts. Over the years I found the people of Beaumaris the friendliest anywhere, I was accepted as a Bangorian, hence my nickname! I also served 25 years in the lifeboat service, starting as a winchman in the boathouse, then as crewman on the "Smuts", serving with Hugh Bach, Norman Jones, Harold Jones, Roy Jones, Bertie Jones, Eric Evans (Cokey)the two Girling brothers,and many others, when the "Smuts" was withdrawn I went on as helmsman on the inshore lifeboats, I have vivid memories of Sir Jimmy Saville being enrolled as an Honorary crewmember, and how he laughed at the stories told him by Dave "Gally". we also made a short film of launching the "Smuts" which was used for one of the "Top of the pops" introductions. One thing I shall always remember too is going to visit Derek Jones' widow in Fontain Valley California, the very man who had interviewed me for the job in Saunders Roe all those years ago.
In conclusion, I do hope that sense will prevail over the marina issue,and that we go on to enjoy such an amenity in the town, it really does have a great potential, I only hope we regrasp it, before it's too late.
Thu Aug 16 10:13:38 2007
Allen Grey from Litherland Merseyside
I first discovered Beaumaris about 7 years ago while touring Wales in a V.W. camper. I make a point of visiting every summer at least once. I miss the crab fishing and the cafe by the green. I absolutely love the place and if ever I can afford to, will definitely live there.
Mon Apr 16 12:21:16 2007
Phillip Roberts now live in Perth Western Australi
I too was born and bred in Beaumarisand I remember the sea pool still being used in the early 1960s.
I also remember the Regal Cinema ,saturday morning girls on the left boys on the right.
I also remember spending my pocket money at Kershaws in stepel lane, Gwalia stores in New street, Woods papershop on Castle st. I had a great childhood in Beaumaris
Fri Dec 29 10:34:58 2006
Chris Urmston
I used to love going in the goal and the courthouse, went many times. Funny now 41 and became a magistrate, loved the walkman tour when you could listen to history, what a lovely place.
Thu Jul 13 16:32:26 2006
Mabybliw Cheltenham
Personally I think it's a disgrace that there should be a fee for parking your car on the Green, as I was given to believe that it's common ground, just like Mountfield, where - not so many years ago - a gentleman by the name of John Roberts (Go) used to graze his cows, and as kids we used to play games and camp the night out on the Green. It's land reclaimed from the sea, so come off it you town councillors, stop been penny pinchers!
Tue Feb 7 21:15:11 2006
Bryan Hope from Hernando Florida
Sheila Jones is quite right about the weather - I grew up on Caellepa in Bangor and looking out of my bedroom window over the Straits, Beaumaris always seemed to be bathed in sunshine. Oh for a pint of Bass at the Bull or lager at the George and Dragon. Next summer hopefully.
Thu Jan 26 22:48:07 2006
Alan Mitchell from Rhyl
Thank you for that potted history of Beaumaris. Needless to say, whenever I take my Audi in for service at Pentraeth, Beaumaris is the first place my wife and I head for. We love to park on the green (£3 - but who cares) and then walk up the headland where we were once "attacked" by thousands of flies, and having survived that we then go to the Sailors Return for a delicious meal having picked up the car late afternoon. Oh, yes, we love Beaumaris :-)
Thu Jan 26 12:21:19 2006
Town librarian Sheila Jones is Beaumaris born and bred. Here she reminisces about her childhood here and explains why she thinks it's the best place on the island.
