Trefignath (Burial Chamber, The Isle of Anglesey, Wales)

Site Type
Burial Chamber
Region
The Isle of Anglesey
Wales
Navigation
Location Map
Directions

Directions

Head towards Holyhead on the A55. Take the exit leading to the A5153. Turn left at the roundabout as you come off the dual carriageway. Turn left again at the next roundabout. Follow this minor road, crossing one small roundabout.

After this, you will see a small area on the left where you can park. This is not an official parking place, and it looks as though it is intended as an access point for a future development. At the time of writing, there is nothing to stop you parking here, and no other parking is available nearby to my knowledge.

With your back to the road, turn right onto the footpath, and follow it a short distance until you see a gap in the wall providing access to Trefignath.
×

Sadly ruinous site heavily encroached upon by modern development.

Photographed: Friday 19th October 2012
Site rating:

Trefignath is a chambered tomb dating back to around 3100BC. It consists of three separate chambers, with the central and eastern chambers added during the centuries following the western chamber's construction.

The central chamber is totally collapsed, with its large capstone broken in two. The western chamber has no capstone, but its side slabs are upright. The eastern chamber is the most impressive. Partially reconstructed in 1980, it features two dominant portal stones, a large chamber, and is topped by a substantial capstone - although this is partially supported by a modern brick pillar.

Trefignath is a conflicted site. To the north east, views are blighted by an aluminium smelting works on the opposite side of the A55 dual carriageway. To the south and west, the site is bordered by a new road, which is intended to provide access to planned developments such as a truck stop and manufacturing warehouse on the edge of Holyhead. However, at the time of writing, the filed in which the burial chamber sits is yet to be significantly impacted upon by future developments, and represents an oasis of pleasant tranquillity in a slowly encroaching industrial landscape. Despite the unfortunate setting, this is still a place of beauty and worth the effort of a visit.

It is worth noting - as will be evident from the directions that can be accessed from the sidebar - there is no parking provided anywhere convenient for this site. It is possible to park unobtrusively and safely, but not legally. This area is still under development at the time of writing, so the situation may yet change for the worse or for the better.