"Examples of Roman occupation of Anglesey can be found in a small signal or watchtower, situated on the coast overlooking the Irish Sea on Holyhead Island. It is known by its Welsh name of Caer y Twr. It probably dates from the 4th Century. Near to this also are the remains of a small hut village, which was Roman-British. The signal tower at Caer Y Twr is probably a defensive structure and parts of the wall are over ten feet thick.
If it was a defensive structure then its role may well have been to alert the fortlet in Holyhead town of the imminent arrival of Irish raiders, overlooking, as it does, a splendid view of the Irish Sea.
Other historians have said it may also have been a Pharos, a lighthouse, situated to warn Roman warships and merchantmen of the dangers close in to the coast.
To visit Caer y Twr requires stamina and a map because it is situated at the rear of Holyhead Mountain. It is not on the tourist trail. The views from such a vantage point are well worth the exertion needed to reach it however, and a smaller pull upwards to the summit of Holyhead Mountain will reward the visitor with a glimpse of Ireland on an exceptionally clear day. The views of Holyhead and Anglesey from this vantage point are also worth the effort.
In a good season, with few people around to spoil your thoughts, one could be forgiven for imagining the lot of a Roman soldier charged with guard duty at such a hostile spot. For when the wind brings in the freezing fog from the Irish Sea or gales blast the coastline, one's mind could be forgiven for wandering. The high sea cliffs amplify the rollers that crash against the land and the shrieking cries of the hundreds of seabirds must sound like the tormented wailings of lost souls. With the wind finding every nook and cranny, and the isolation at this far edge of the Empire evident, the soldier's lot must have been far from a popular posting.
Also in Holyhead town are the remains of a fortlet, overlooking the harbour. Standing on the West side of the port, it consisted of three massive walls sited to the north, west and south of the port. Three circular towers stood at each corner with the sou'east side being omitted. Today, only the northwest tower is wholly Roman, the other two having been rebuilt over time by other cultures. The fortlet was built around 300AD to guard against Irish pirates and, it is thought, was also part of a naval port, home to a small fleet of warships - though there is no evidence to support this.
It is also thought that a quayside was incorporated into the fort, under the northeast tower. When the Irish were not raiding, did they trade with the locals and the garrison here?
Considering the fact that Anglesey was invaded twice during the occupation of Britain, little remains to testify to this. Later occupation and garrisoning can be seen in the ruins mentioned above - and Caernarfon, on the mainland, has an excellent museum which records these times.
However, there is little evidence to show of the Roman campaigns, one of which must rank as one of the bloodiest operations in the Roman occupation of Britain, whilst remaining an outstanding example of Roman leadership, logistics and planning."
Read about the Romans' initial invasion of Anglesey, and also their return to the island.
your comments
G Price from Talwrn
I live near this roman road and it is known locally as Lon Bwbach. it is well worth a visit
Mon Sep 1 10:04:15 2008
Dave from Anglesey
Mr G Yates...There are 3 very straight one mile long roads on Anglesey that I am aware of that still exist: 1. On the A4080 between Dwyran and Newborough ending at Penlon roundabout. 2. On the A4080 between Hermon and Aberffraw across the dunes. (Important Ruins are found in Newborough and Aberffraw). 3. On B5109 between Pentraeth and Llansadwrn. Possibly Roman?
Mon Jun 30 10:06:16 2008
Dick Griffiths
To Joe Bruno If you click on Amlwch .net ,and find the link to old photos (Bull Bay )you will see old photos of the 'Roman Baths'. There is no evidence that the Baths are of Roman origin,and I cannot explain why they were called this name.
Thu May 1 10:11:30 2008
Joe Bruno
When I moved to Ynys Mon some 30 years back, new bungalows were allowed to be constructed over Roman remains, such as Roman Baths at Poth Llechog (Bull Bay). What is left of these baths and how can one find them please?
Mon Dec 3 10:31:38 2007
Anita Jones. Wrexham
Does anyone has any idea exactly where the Romans fought the Druids on Holyhead? Is there any kind of land mark or monument to pin point the area?
Wed Jul 18 09:11:52 2007
John Morris Williams
Dear Terrance Morgan, yes it seems its true there is a crossing under the Porthmadog embankment, through or below meol y gest towards wern and cricieth, and there is a roman road from say the old dump at moel y gest running towards Tremaodg on the penamser road.In Tremadog at the school there is a roman bath house and maybe a full fort, but up until today they have not fully excavated this area.I am looking at the roads in north wales and it seems what people drive on today are as close to the roman roads of a few centuries past.
Fri May 25 09:57:51 2007
Buddha.Brynsiencyn,Mon
i thought that there were NO proven Roman roads on Mon. The sea-road-caernarfon-aberffraw-holyhead.Oldest trackway LON CAERAU MAWR(prehistoric?)- SW Anglesey opp. Caernarfon.At least that was the situation when i left gwynedd archaeological trust @1985
Mon Aug 14 10:35:22 2006
John Jones, Holyhead
The fortlet at Holyhead could also have been intended to support the ill fated invasion of Ireland by the Romans?
Wed Jul 19 09:45:01 2006
John Griffiths Kidlington ex Holyhead
There is an excellent Roman Britain website - look for the maps and references which should show you where the known roads where.
Thu Mar 2 10:16:45 2006
Richard Keatinge, Anglesey
For the mainland you might like to get a copy of "The Roman Roads of North Wales: Recent Discoveries, by E. Waddelove" Details from Amazon:
Paperback 341 pages (December 1999)
Publisher: Edmund Waddelove (i.e. privately published, may well be out of print, so try the second hand sites.
Fri Dec 16 13:40:25 2005
John Grifiths, Kidlington
Nidge,
It sounds like some form of anchor - but whether Roman or not it would be hard to say. I took a look through 'Roman Britain and the Roman Navy' by DJP Mason but no description of any form of anchor appears in the quick look I had. Interestingly, Holyhead was mentioned as it was the only three sided fortlet in Britain (the only others being in Germany and Hungary.
Holyhead may well have been a trading port, attached to which would possibly have been a small naval force - but whether these vessels ever fitted with anchors is, alas, unknown to me.
I will try and see what i can find and will post back.
Wed Nov 30 22:08:48 2005
Nidge from Anglesey
During a dive at Porth Trecastell (Cable Bay) we came across what looked like a stone anchor on the sea bed. It was teardrop in shape, approx 2'high X 14" wide with a broken hole/eye at the top.
I intend to return and photograph it soon but in the mean time can you tell from the description if this is of the roman era, if so it may be of interest to our local museum.
Sun Oct 2 17:07:34 2005
Terence Morgan ex Criccieth
I have a vague memory of there being a Roman road just to the north of Wern between Criccieth and Porthmadog. Was this fact or fiction?
Fri Apr 22 09:04:52 2005
Brian Lewis, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
There is a section of road in Penhelig (Aberdovey) known locally as the Roman Road. Was this, in fact, built by the Romans?
Wed Sep 8 21:11:26 2004
Steve Sharpe, Anglesey
There is still a small section of visible Roman road near Talwrn on the Island. It has been excavated several years ago, and a section left exposed. It now forms a track/public footpath between two large sections of farmland, but it is well worth a quick visit to see exactly how they put them together.
Wed Aug 25 10:06:05 2004
Dave Clements from Holyhead
Sorry but I haven't found any walls 10ft thick, only some sections of the hill fort walls may come anywhere near that! Can't fault you on the views though - one of my favourite walks with the dog.
Wed Aug 18 01:44:27 2004
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John Griffiths describes what remains of the Romans' bloody invasions of Celtic Anglesey.
