Menai Bridges, Anglesey, Wales
Jake Davies
The Menai Strait is the narrow channel of water that separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.
About 25 kilometers in length, the strait is narrow and shallow being just over a kilometer wide at its widest, and just 400 meters at its narrowest. In appearance it looks like a tidal river.
Though shallow, the strait could at times be dangerous. In 1785, 54 people lost their lives when their boat ran aground on a sandbar, and it was not until 1819 that construction started on the Menai Bridge, designed to make access to the ferry port of Holyhead more convenient.
Menai Bridge
Designed by the Scottish engineer Thomas Telford (1757-1834), it was decided to make it a suspension bridge so that ships could continue to easily pass through the strait.
The total length of the bridge is 417 meters and the central span is 176 meters and connects to 5 stone piers with 7 arches. The suspension was provided by huge iron chain cables. Originally with a wooden deck, it was replaced with steel in 1893.
To increase the weight limit of traffic over the bridge the iron chains were replaced with steel in 1938. The A5 now crosses the bridge.
Brittania Bridge
With the expansion of the railway network it was decided to build a line that connected to the ferry port at Holyhead so the Britannia Bridge was born.
Located less than 2 kilometers west of the Menai Bridge, the Britannia Bridge was designed by Robert Stephenson and opened in 1850. The original bridge was constructed out of wrought iron rectangular tubes in four spans, the longest of which was 140 meters.
In 1970 a disastrous fire damaged the bridge so severely that it was decided to be easier to replace the bridge rather than repair it. Using the existing stone supports a new two tier bridge carries the train line on one tier and the A55, known as the North Wales Expressway, on the other.
Anglesey Coastal Path
Between the two bridges is a very popular section of the 200 km Anglesey Coastal Path. Along the path close to the Menai Bridge is a small island accessed by narrow bridge with an old church and cemetery.
Not surprisingly named Church Island, a small hermitage was established here around 625 by Tysilio, son of the king of Powys. The current St. Tysilio's Church was built in the early 15th century although the big stained glass window is a 19th century reproduction of the original.
For those with an interest in the bridges, there is a small museum and information center housed in an old school just a few hundred meters from the Menai Bridge on the Anglesey side.
The Thomas Telford Centre has lots of historical materials, and artifacts on the history and construction of the bridges including videos of the reconstructions as well as information about the nature of the strait.
Mona Road, Menai Bridge, LL59 5EA
Tel: 0248 715046
Open Wednesdays and Thursday from Easter until October 31st. From 10 am to 5 pm. Entry 3 GBP. Under 16's free.
The closest railway stations are Bangor on the mainland, and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwiiiiantysiligogogoch on Anglesey. From Bangor there are numerous buses that stop at Menai Bridge.
Access - Getting to Angelsey
There are trains to Holyhead from Chester Station. From Manchester Piccadilly take a train to Chester and change. Another route from Manchester is via Llandudno Junction in Llandudno. Some routes would require a change at both Chester and Llandudno.
Journeys are leisurely, to say the least, and would take just over three hours.
By car from Manchester driving time for the 192 km trip to Holyhead is just over two hours.
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