DECEMBER, 1802 BY REV. JOHN SKINNER RECTOR OF CAMERTON, SOMERSETSHIRE Decorative shield graphic SUPPLEMENT , JULY , 1908. LONDON: Published for the Cambrian Archaeological Association by CHARLES J. CLARK, 65, CHANCERY LANE, W.C....

The Rev. John Skinner’s Ten Days’ Tour Through Anglesey , which is given in the following pages, has been carefully transcribed from the manuscript in the British Museum, the punctuation, spelling, and use of capitals followed strictly throughout.  Some notes have been kindly furnished by Mr. E. Neil Baynes, F.S.A., and he has also copied (in black and white) most of the water-colour illustrations which are included in the manuscript.  The illustrations are reduced from the original size, but wi

BY REV D. JOHN SKINNER 1802 62 1740 I give this Vol. of my Anglesea Tour with my other Journals, to the British Museum to be retained by them according to the directions I have left in my will respecting the disposal of my MSS. (fol. 22)...

We left Capel Cerig early this morning on horseback with the design of examining the Celtic remains in the Isle of Anglesea the Harper of the inn accompanying us in the capacity of interpreter.  After a ride of fifteen miles along the vale of Nantffrancon by Lord Penrhyn’s quarries we came to Moel-don ferry about eleven o’clock when returning our horses by a boy (fol. 22 a ) (previously sent forward for the purpose from Capel Cerig) we proceeded as pedestrians.  Our passage across the Menai savo

We were up early this morning but it rained so fast we could not leave the house till ten.  I employed the interval in copying a map of the Island on a large scale which is to be filled up as we proceed.  Accompanied by our new acquaintance we first visited Llanedwyn [17] church where he officiates for the first time next Sunday.  The church yard and a great part of the parish has lately been enclosed by Lord Uxbridge’s park walls and we were not a little surprized to find a (fol. 33 a ) porter’

We were up as soon as it was light this morning and having taken leave of our new acquaintance who seems destined to vegetate on sixty pounds per annum with the charge of three churches and a wife into the bargain, we proceeded along the shore of the Menai to Llanidan.  In our way observed more particularly Pant y scraffie the meadow where the Romans are supposed to have effected their landing.  Mr. Rowland with some probability derives y scraffie from the Latin word scaphae a kind of flat boats

No. 22. Cromlech at Henblas No. 23. Cerigainwyn Church This morning after breakfast the weather being tolerably fair we walked to Henblâs in the parish of Llangristiolus in expectation of seeing a cromlech mentioned in our list.  In our way thither we skirted a lake [36a] about two miles in circumference and noticed large flocks of wild ducks and other acquatic birds near the shore but on our approach they swam immediately to the middle of the water.  About a mile and a half beyond we passed a l

No. 29. [Arch in Aberffraw Church.] We found there was so much to be seen in the neighbourhood of Aberffraw that we determined on prolonging our stay for another day at our present station.  About nine attended by the same person who went with us yesterday we walked to the parish church which outwardly resembles other Welsh buildings of the kind but on entering we observed a neat turned Saxon arch to the west end underneath the clochti an evident token that this part of the building was of a mor

Having paid a very reasonable bill at Aberffraw we quitted it this morning about ten and pursued the same track we had done yesterday for about three miles when crossing the Crighyll and traversing a bleak heath rendered still more unpleasant by heavy storms of wind and rain we arrived at Llanfihangle yn nhewlyn [49] expecting to find some ancient remains in this parish.  We only saw some large loose stones upon the summit of the rocks which seem to have little claim to the interference of the D

We were not sorry to leave this place as soon as it was light paying much higher for our miserable entertainment than we had done at any place in the island.  First directed our steps along the turnpike to Llandrûgan, [53] situated near Gwindy the halfway house between Beaumaris and Holyhead our host having given us to understand there was a very ancient stone near the church which many travellers went to look at but few could read the inscription.  He himself among the rest although he said he

Amlwch is a long straggling place and may contain from four to five thousand inhabitants though before the working of the Parys mines there were not an hundred tenements in the parish.  Besides two or three good houses a church has been lately erected by the copper company on a neat substantial plan and a quay formed near the smelting houses where ships of two or three hundred tons burthen may take in their lading.  These we passed in our way to Llanelian church this morning which we had been di

We could not leave the inn so soon as we intended on account (fol. 108 a ) of our boots not being ready so bad is the workmanship of the shoemakers in Wales that the repairs of one day were destroyed by the exertions of the next, and it was a business almost as regular as eating our dinner when we arrived at the inn to send our boots to get mended.  Here I hope we have had them secured effectually as we ordered them to be studded with nails according to the fashion of the country.  Although on o

No. 50. [Thief Stone.] A little before seven called at Mr. Richards’s house whom we found waiting at the door ready to accompany us.  He mounted his horse and we pursued the Beaumaris turnpike for half [72a] a mile when we turned to the left to look at a stone called Lleidr [72b] y Frydog or the thief stone.  This is a rough stone about six feet high having a kind of hump or projection near the top.  The country people report that a thief who had stolen some books from a neighbouring church was

We were not sorry to leave this wretched alehouse as soon as there was sufficient light to see our direction three miles across the sands of Traeth Gôch to the village of Llanddona whose church stands on an eminence above the (fol. 130) bay and was first founded by Ddona grandson of Brychfael ys Cythrog (who fought the Saxons when the monks of Bangor Iscoed were slaughtered) anno six hundred and ten.  About half a mile to the left are the traces of a large entrenchment supposed to have been thro

It rained violently all night but clearing up after breakfast we pursued our road to Capel Cerig.  In our way purchased a hone at the quarry near Ogwen lake of a man living in a cottage close at hand who is employed on the spot to procure this article and two or three shiploads have already been sent to different parts.  Arrived at the inn about one gratified by our ten days tour in the island notwithstanding the bad weather we experienced having in that period walked above an hundred and sixty