Supplement to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica/Anglesey
ANGLESEY, the Mona of Tacitus, and Tir-mon of the Welsh, is of an irregular form, and indented on three of its sides with numerous small bays and creeks; its length from Carnets point to Bangor ferry is 20 miles, and its greatest breadth from Llanddwyn Abbey to Penmon Priory, 17 miles; its area, by the most recent and accurate survey, comprises 173,000 acres. At the time when Wales was divided into six Counties by Henry VIII. this Island, which formed one of them, was subdivided into three Hundreds; at present it contains six Hundreds. In it there are four market towns, Beaumaris (the County town), Newborough, Llanerchymedd, and Holyhead; and 74 parishes. It returns two members to Parliament, viz. one for the County, and one for Beaumaris; is in the Province of Canterbury, and Diocese of Bangor, and pays one part of the land-tax. Surface.The surface is gently undulated; that part which borders on the Menai is finely wooded, but the interior is a naked tract without trees or even hedges. Soil.The soil is nearly uniform, consisting of loam of different degrees of tenacity and fertility, with scarcely any clay. It is well watered by Rivers.12 rivulets, the principal of which are the Braink, Cefni, Ffraw, Llivon, and Allon. Near Aberffraw, where the Ffraw discharges itself into the sea, is the lake Llyngoron, about two miles in circumference, abounding in trout, gwyniaid, and other fish. There is undoubted evidence of the encroachment of the sea on the shore of this Island: the Lavan sands, in the bay of Beaumaris, formed a habitable Hundred in the sixth century, when they were suddenly overwhelmed by the sea. There are five ferries across the Menai Straits, of which Port-hamel, or the Gloomy ferry (so called from the dense woods which in former times overshaded its banks), is celebrated as the place, where Suetonius landed, when he exterminated the Druids. Of the eastern point is the steep, rocky islet of Priest-holme, or Puffin’s island; it is a noted resort, during the summer, of various birds of passage; the Puffin, whence it derives one of its appellations, breeds there in immense numbers. At the northern point of Anglesey, is the isle of Seals; its sides are frequented by vast shoals of fish, and Seals which prey upon them.
Minerals. Anglesey is rich in minerals, particularly in copper. Of the mines of this metal in the Parys mountain, a particular account is given in the body of the work, on the authority of Mr Pennant; since that account was written, the produce of these mines has declined considerably; the number of men employed having been reduced, from 1500 to 600. Besides common limestone, white marble, and blue-veined grey marble, sulphat of barytes, an earth yielding ⅔ of pure magnesia, steatite, serpentine, fullers earth, and native sulphur, are found in this Island. Hitherto, coal has not been wrought with any profit, though the depth of coal, in proportion to the whole depth sunk, appears favourable, being 3½ feet in 77 feet. An uncommon appearance in the natural history of this fossil is met with in Anglesey, viz. podicles of loose coal of several tons weight. This Island is celebrated for the variety of its shell-fish; Bingley, in his tour, gives.a list of thirty-eight of the principal of these productions; the oysters in particular are highly esteemed. The botany of Anglesey presents nothing very peculiar or remarkable.
Agriculture. Of the 173,000 acres contained in Anglesey, it is computed that there are 12,600 acres of waste land; and that no more than the eleventh part of the remainder is under tillage, in the following proportions; oats 7953 acres; barley 6107; wheat 520; rye 2. In the Encyclopædia, apparently on the authority of the anonymous author of the supplement to Rowland’s Mona Antiqua, it is stated, that in 1770, upwards of 90,000 bushels of corn were exported, exclusive of wheat. This must be incorrect, as the whole produce of the Island, in the year 1795, taken by an actual survey, did not exceed 59,770 quarters; viz. oats 35,485; barley 22,700; wheat 1578; and rye 7 quarters. The Cattle of Anglesey are of a good breed; and great attention is paid to them; the average annual export is about 8000 head, from one to four years old. The Anglesey breed of sheep is the largest in North Wales; averaging about 15 lbs. the quarter, and yielding from 1¾ to 2½ lbs. of wool: the annual exportation of sheep varies from 5000 to 7000; nearly the same number of hogs are exported.
Manufactures. The inhabitants of Anglesey manufacture deep-coloured blue cloth, flannels, blankets, &c. for home use, but none for exportation. In Newborough there is a manufacture of mats and ropes, made of the sea reed-grass, which binds together the sandy hills on the coast.
Antiquities. The antiquities of this Island are sufficiently illustrated in the body of the work. A rural pipe, used by the Shepherd, called the Pibgorn, is said to be almost peculiar to it; it derives its name from its extremities being tipped with horn; it has seven holes, besides the aperture in which the reed is concealed; and its tone is between the flute and the clarionet.
Population. From the population returns of 1801, it appears that there were then in Anglesey 6679 houses, inhabited by 7058 families; and 127 uninhabited houses; 9776 persons chiefly employed in agriculture: 2614 in manufactures and trade; and 19,228 not comprised in these two classes: the number of males was 15,775; and of females 18,051. By the returns in 1811, there were 7183 houses, inhabited by 7706 families; 72 houses building; 108 uninhabited; 5376 families chiefly employed in agriculture; 1453 in manufactures; and 877 not comprised in these two classes: the number of males was 17,444; and of females 19,601. It will be remarked, that, according to both returns, the number of females exceeds that of males; this disproportion is not, however, peculiar to Anglesey, but extends over all Wales.
The reader, who is desirous of farther information, in regard to this Island, may consult Davie’s General View of the Agriculture of North Wales.—Bingley’s Tour in North Wales.—A. Aiken’s Tour in Wales. (C.)