Holyhead Breakwater and Lighthouse

In the age of sail, northerly winds in the Irish Sea could often prevent ships from Ireland entering the old harbour at Holyhead. When adverse weather conditions halted sailings from Holyhead, passengers and cargo had to be moved to Porth Dafarch on the southerly side of Holy Island. The sheltered bay was used from the mid-17th into the 19th century as an alternative to the main port. The customs post, dating from 1819, can still be seen at Porth Dafarch. The Acts of Union 1800 that united the Parliament of Great Britain with the Parliament of Ireland necessitated immediate improvements to the old harbour to improve the links between Dublin and London. Construction included the Admiralty…

In January 1848 work began under the auspices of superintendent engineer J. M. Rendel. Divers in submarine bells created the level foundations on which the tiers of facing stones were placed. These men worked underwater using picks and hammers, and carried out blasting using gunpowder sealed in watertight tin pipes. After taking 28 years to complete, Holyhead's breakwater was officially opened on 19 August 1873 by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. A locomotive with a plate inscribed "J. & C. Rigby, Holyhead Harbour Works, 1861" worked on the 7 ft 0¼ in Ponta Delgada harbour railway until 1973. After a further transition to diesel traction (using the British Rail Class 01, the lightest…