Anglesey

Anglesey, or ANGLESEA (Norse Önguls-ey, 'the island of the strait'), an island and county of Wales, on the north-west coast of that principality, being separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait (q.v.), which is spanned by the suspension bridge (1826) and by the tubular bridge (1850). Its form is that of an irregular triangle, the base facing the mainland. The extreme length of the island is 21 miles; its extreme breadth, 19; the coast-line measures about 80; and its area is 302 sq. m., or 193,453 acres. The climate is mild but foggy, especially in autumn; the soil, generally a stiff loam, varying with sandy and peaty earth; the general aspect of the island, flat and uninteresting, there being very little wood. The prevailing rock is mica schist; limestone ranges traverse the county; granite, marble, coal, serpentine, and soap-stone are also found. The island is rich in minerals; the Parys and Mona copper-mines, near Amlwch, were opened in 1768. Lead ore, containing much silver, has also been found. The manufactures of Anglesey are inconsiderable. Agriculture, though still rather backward, has yet in recent years made considerable advance in the way of adopting means of improvement. Increased attention has also been given to the breeding of cattle and sheep, which latter are a white-faced, hornless breed, the largest in North Wales. Anglesey was known to the Romans under the name of Mona. It was one of the chief seats of the Druidical power, which in 61 A.D. was all but destroyed by the Roman general, Suetonius Paulinus. The island was again subdued by Agricola, 76 A.D. Egbert conquered it in the 9th century; but the native princes afterwards recovered their dominion, establishing the seat of government at Aberffraw. It was finally subdued by Edward I. The ancient remains consist chiefly of dolmens, two of which, side by side, are in the park of Plas Newydd, the seat of the Marquis of Anglesey. At Holyhead are the remains of a Roman camp. The county is divided into three districts, called cantrefs, each subdivided into two cwmwds. The market-towns are Amlwch, Beaumaris, Holyhead, Llangefni, and Llanerch-y-medd. The first four united in sending one member to parliament till 1885, when they were merged in the county, which returns one member. Pop. (1861) 38,157; (1891) 50,098.