TAL Y FOEL FERRY
Brynsiencyn
Tal y Foel Ferry Old Dock
Easter Bank Holiday
Monday, April 25th
BEING AT THE OLD FOEL FERRY DOCK
Nothing helps raise my spirits more than blueness and a broad spectrum of green. Therefore, where else better than anywhere taking a moment for myself along the Menai Straits?
I am satisfied emotionally, intellectually and my Soul must be relieved.
I leave the car to stand at the low wall with the rich hues of Spring Anglesey green behind me, the powder blue apparent calmness of the Menai Straits.
An equally powder blue sky above me and the green countryside of Gwynedd fading eventually to a hazy and not unwelcome gray on the mountains.
It doesn’t matter to me whether the tide is in or whether it is out, the pleasure of being here is not tarnished. As with the sea about Anglesey, each mood is captivating and I see the common differently each time.
Behind is the old Mermaid Inn where my friends and I would occasionally visit to stand in awe at the beauty of the local ladies.
We have very beautiful ladies on Anglesey.
PAGE CONTENTS
WHY A FERRY AT TAL Y FOEL
FERRY HISTORY
OTHER MENAI STRAITS FERRIES
BANKING IN CAERNARFON
ADDING QUALITY OF LIFE
GETTING HERE
THEN AND LUXURIOUS NOW
WHY A FERRY AT TAL Y FOEL
Looking across to beautiful, rounded peaks of Snowdonia as the gently cascade toward their demise at Uwch Mynydd on the Lleyn Peninsula.
In addition to being one of the reasonable crossing points by which the Romans invaded the Isle of Anglesey from Segontium in Caernarfon and brought the Druids of Mona under their vicious subjugation.
As if that wasn’t adequate historical significance, Tal y Foel was also a major point of commercial transportation between the South West of Anglesey and Caernarfon.
Why Caernarfon and not Llangefni, the administrative and main market town of Anglesey?
There is the question of distance and most importantly, less than half a mile across the Menai Straits was the important and thriving Gwynedd commercial centre of Caernarfon.
Stand here today and other than the ferry dock and supporting buildings, there is only the astonishing beauty of the Menai Straits and the Snowdonia mountains acting as a panoramic backdrop to Caernarfon.
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FOEL FERRY HISTORY
A farm worker’s wage was poor and it is no accident that part of the regular clientele of the Tal y Foel ferry were men who travelled to Snowdonia slate quarries.
They would travel on early Monday morning to return on Saturday afternoon. The quarrymen would live in ‘barracks’ and these barracks were renowned as crucibles of Welsh culture.
A ferry servicing commerce mainly travelled between Tal y Foel and Caernarfon between 1400 and the middle of the nineteenth century.
And interestingly, while it was accepted as alright for livestock to be transported by the ferry, human were discouraged by the strong diurnal currents that ran in an out through Abermenai Point at Llanddwyn.
There is a singular report of the wood constructed ferry being rotten with bits falling off during the crossing.
Caernarfon has been important since the time of the construction of Caernarfon Castle by Edward 1st.
It took an tremendous amount of food and materials to service the soldiers garrisoned there and it was therefore a longstanding market for West Anglesey produce.
The ferry service ran until 1952 from the existing dock though I do admit that I am uncertain where the original Tal y Foel Ferry docked. On my Beaumaris page I have written about my Aunty Ann.
My Aunty Nan, as I used to call her, was in service as a cook and house manager in the 1920s, used to work for a family that would 'Winter' in Caernarfon and spend summer in Amsterdam.
The house was supplied by Rhuddgaer Farm in Newborough and all fresh goods would be brought by the ferry.
The lady of the house knew when it was due and always knew when the farmhand had stopped in the local Caernarfon pub, the Alexandria before coming to the house.
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PWLLFANOGL DOCK
OTHER MENAI STRAITS FERRIES
Again, I have written previously about the Menai Straits Ferries and will leave you to find that. However, the significant ferries were those that serviced the garrisons of Edward 1st between Anglesey and the mainland.
Much later, apart from people and livestock transportation it would be the Royal Mail coach (or ‘Y Goets Fawr’) that insisted on a quality ferry service.
I write of the small commercial ferry at Pwllfanogl, where one of Wales’ greatest artist lived: Sir Kyffin Williams
At Moel y Don between Plas Coch and the Plas Newydd Estate of the Marquess of Anglesey was the ‘Passage of Llanidan’.
You’ll find the Marquess’ family church of Llanidan on your left as you travel down to Moel y Don.
It is a beautiful church overlooking the Menai Straits.
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LLANIDAN CHURCH AT BRYNSIENCYN
BANKING IN CAERNARFON
In an interview with Eryl Crump dated Jun 2 2008 for the Daily Post (also known locally as the ‘Daily Death’ because of its usually harrowing front pages), former Welsh Assembly Member, Mr Peter Rogers spoke about the hope for the revival of a Foel Ferry service between Anglesey and the mainland.
Making his plea, Mr Rogers recalled how popular the crossing was in Brynsiencyn before it stopped around 40 years ago.
“I came to farm here about 35 years ago and was surprised to find many businesses all did their banking in Caernarfon rather than Llangefni.
"I thought initially it was something to do with the service, but I found out it had nothing to do with it.
It had just been easier to pop across to Caernarfon on the ferry than drive all the way around to Llangefni.”
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SAILING ON IDYLLIC BLUE MENAI STRAITS
THE PAST GIVES WAY TO THE PRESENT
AND TO ADDING QUALITY OF LIFE
There you are. The past of the Foel Ferry is unravelled for your consideration, although you need none of this.
Allow a visit to Tal y Foel on a hot sunny day to be a part of your own personal or family history.
I believe that this is much more important. I know that we are all burdened by shadows, but I do encourage you to seek to add quality to your life.
It is vital for psychological health to recharge your spiritual batteries and it not only Tal y Foel that can aid you in adding quality to your life.
Inspect the many, many pages I have written about my favourite locations on Anglesey and take the time to visit.
Anglesey is loved by Prince William and Princess Catherine, and I am certain that a single visit will achieve the same result in you and draw you back again and again and again ...
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ANGLESEY COASTAL PATH AT BRYNSIENCYN
GETTING HERE
Very simple indeed.
Drive to Brynsiencyn from whichever direction you choose and find the village hotel/pub, Y Groeslon and turn down the road opposite.
Follow this road all the way down to the Menai Straits and then to its end past Anglesey Sea Zoo and Foel Farm
View Tal y Foel Ferry in a larger map
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Return from Foel Ferry to my ANGLESEY JOURNAL.
Return to HOME PAGE.
North Stack Fog Signal Station, just south of the Port of Holyhead, offers astonishing coastal walk and beautiful views of rugged Anglesey coastline.
Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. Astonishing coastal beauty. Award Winning Anglesey Green Flag Country Park. A superb green space for family fun and walks
White Beach really, really is a hidden gem. By that, I mean it is really, really well hidden. Dinner plate pebbles, nice picnics, CRAZY HORSES and some pretty good fishing.
