History in Structure

Walls of upper churchyard

A Grade I Listed Building in Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey

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Coordinates

Latitude: 53.3114 / 53°18'41"N

Longitude: -4.6328 / 4°37'58"W

OS Eastings: 224696

OS Northings: 382619

OS Grid: SH246826

Mapcode National: GBR GMYY.DN9

Mapcode Global: WH31B.T137

Plus Code: 9C5Q8968+HV

Entry Name: Walls of upper churchyard

Listing Date: 26 September 1951

Last Amended: 25 July 1994

Grade: I

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 5415

Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary

Also known as: Roman Wall Surrounding St Cybi's Churchyard
Walls Of Upper Churchyard, Market Square

ID on this website: 300005415

Location: Between Stanley Street and Victoria Road enclosing St Gybi’s Church, and Capel-y-Bedd, entered by gateway from Market Square.

County: Isle of Anglesey

Community: Holyhead (Caergybi)

Community: Holyhead

Built-Up Area: Holyhead

Traditional County: Anglesey

Tagged with: Castle Castellum Churchyard wall

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History

Late Roman small coastguard fort. Probably originally consisted of rectangular enclosure with tower at each corner, and, at lower level to E, flanking walls perhaps to quay. Former Roman E wall rebuilt in Medieval period, and again in C19, when lower churchyard was created. Some rebuilding of upper part of NE tower (itself medieval rebuild), possible C17. SE tower rebuilt C19.

Exterior

Enclosure approximately 75m (N-S) by 45m (E-W). Wall approximately 4m high and 1.7m thick built of rubble with dressed facing stones, sometimes set in herring-bone fashion, with occasional levelling courses on inner face; 2 rows of putlog holes, lower close to ground level, and upper approximately 1.5m above. Parts of wall, especially to N survive to wall-walk level, with parapet up to 1m high. Towers approximately 5m in diameter. SE tower rebuilt on Roman foundations, and now forms part of Stanley House, as does part of S wall. South gateway of 2 arches follows original plan but rebuilt. Part of S wall incorporated into rear of No 1 Market Square. SW tower largely incorporated into C19 buildings. Parts of W wall built into tower of Church. NW tower exists partly to wall-walk level. Gateway in N wall later insertion with brick-lined arch. NE tower stands approximately 8m high from rock foundations in lower churchyard, and has, to E, bonding stones for former wall flanking quay. E wall (circa 1m thick) mainly modern. Stone stairs down to lower churchyard (which was created in early C19).

Reasons for Listing

Scheduled Ancient Monument: A 31.

Listed Grade I as outstanding structure from late Roman period.

Group value with Parish Church and Capel y Bedd.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

  • I St Cybi's Church
    In chuchyard overlooking inner harbour, entered by archway from Market Square.
  • II Capel y Bedd
    In churchyard overlooking inner harbour, entered by archway from Market Square. To S of St Gybi’s Church near archway to churchyard.
  • II Stanley House
    At SE corner of Churchyard, adjacent to entrance arches, with rear facing over Holyhead inner harbour.
  • II The Captains Table
    At SE corner of Churchyard, adjacent to entrance arches, with rear facing over Holyhead inner harbour.
  • II Lower Churchyard Walls and Gateway
    Below St Cybi’s Church, parallel to road enclosing lower level of churchyard.
  • II Market Hall
    In town centre on sloping site. Set back and above the street behind single storey shops; side and rear elevations to Summer Hill and Trearddur Square.
  • II Caernarfon Castle P H
    At top of Summer Hill facing down towards Stanley Street.
  • II Tabernacl Chapel
    On corner with Baptist Street.

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