Pictures Of Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris is situated on the Menai Straits in Anglesey North Wales. The name comes from the old french for beautiful marsh "beau mareys".



It's location close to the two bridges that join the mainland to Anglesey make it suitable for touring both the Isle of Anglesey and the Snowdonia National Park. Anglesey prides itself on it's many fantastic beaches and is also popular for horse riding, walking, bird watching, angling, canoeing, and cycling.



There are a number of hotels and holiday cottages either within the town or close by. The town of Beaumaris is renowned for its Castle.



Beaumaris Castle stands impressively on the edge of the Menai Straits and was part of the iron ring of castles built to subdue the Welsh by the English king.



Edward the 1st began building the Castle here in 1295, but due to a shortage of money and supplies the castle was never completed. It did however see military action during the Welsh Revolt when it fell to the supporters of Owain Glyndwr in 1403 . The town later served as an administrative centre and port, until in late Georgian times the town became popular with holidaymakers and established itself as a tourist resort by marketing its many attractions such as the pier, the green on the seafront, the children's playground adjacent to the castle walls, the Museum of Childhood, and the ancient Court House and Gaol. These latter attractions are today part of an interesting audio tour that recreate past crimes and punishments including the trial and incarceration, in the condemned cell of Beaumaris Gaol, of Richard Rowlands the last man to be hung there in 1862.


From the outside Beaumaris appears almost handsome, it does not rear up menacingly like other fortresses but sits amid a scenic setting overlooking mountains and the sea partially surrounded by a water-filled moat. The gate next-the-sea entrance protected the tidal dock which allowed supply ships to sail right up to the castle.

Today Beaumaris is a bustling little place, a cross between a seaside resort and a market town, and with the building of a new marina is set to become even more popular with the yachting set. Lets hope the new development enhances it's superb location, and respects the marine environment of the Menai Strait.