Invitation Card: Lieut. Col. Thomas to the occassion of the opening of the new Holyhead harbour by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales

INVITATION CARD: The Chairman and Directors of the London and North Western Railway to Lieut. Col. Thomas to the occassion of the opening of the new Holyhead harbour by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

On 17 June 1880, the town and port of Holyhead was almost overwhelmed by thousands of visitors and dignitaries. They had come to watch and applaud as the Prince of Wales formally opened the port's new harbour and hotel. The occasion was a dramatic and important one. This new harbour spelled prosperity for the town. Holyhead had a long history as a port, the invading Romans built a fort to protect the anchorage. In 1332, as a major mustering point for a military expedition to Ireland, yet for a long while Beaumaris was still regarded as the premier port on the island - and it was not until the growth of the mail service between London and Ireland in the early 19th century that Holyhead really began to assume a dominant position. Thomas Telford, who was building the connecting road to London, and John Rennie were heavily involved in creating the harbour at Holyhead. Rennie built what was known as Admiralty Pier at the north end of the harbour, the work being taken over by Telford after Rennie's death in 1821. To begin with the larger mail packets moored in the deep water channel and passengers were transported ashore in small rowing boats or wherries until in 1845 an Act of Parliament gave permission to build a new pier at Holyhead. In the 1870s the LNWR decided to improve the inner harbour at Holyhead. New quays and sheds were built as well as a new harbour wall, the land behind it being filled in with rubble. Passengers could now climb out of their train and straight on to the ferry boat. Part of the new complex was an elegant and comfortable station hotel - complete with memorial clock - so that travellers who had the time could either stay overnight or take tea while waiting for their boat. When Edward, Prince of Wales, agreed to open the new complex it seemed as if the port of Holyhead was being given royal approval. The future was assured.

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Compiled by Amanda Sweet Archifau Ynys Môn / Anglesey Archives

https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/06/opening_of_holyhead_harbour_1880.html

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