Ynys Llanddwyn
Encyclopedia
Ynys Llanddwyn or Llanddwyn Island is a small tidal island
off the west coast of Anglesey
, North Wales
. The nearest town is Newborough
.
, jasper
formations and aeolian sand deposits.
The island forms part of the National Nature Reserve
of Newborough Warren
which includes the extensive and floristically rich sand dune system.
Llanddwyn Island is a tidal island
; it remains attached to the mainland at all but the highest tides. It provides views of Snowdonia
and the Llŷn Peninsula
.
. The name Llanddwyn means "The church of St. Dwynwen". Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, making her the Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine. Her Saint's day is January 25 and is often celebrated by the Welsh with cards and flowers. The remains of St Dwynwen's Church
can be found.
, including the Anglesey Coastal Path
, and it is a very popular place to visit. The island provides a worth-while goal after the mile-long walk along the beach from the nearest car park. Llanddwyn Island, with the neighbouring beach, has been awarded Blue Flag beach
status in recognition of the cleanliness of the sea and the beaches.
marks the western entrance to the Menai Strait
.
The tower
is tapered in a way characteristic of Anglesey
windmill
s, it is 10.7 m (35 ft) high) and 5.5 m (18 ft) in diameter. It may have been constructed by an Anglesey stone mason
, and it is possible that the tower itself was originally used as a windmill.
The lantern
and fittings cost £250 7s 6d, including the adaptation of an ‘earlier tower’. The north-east door is flanked by small windows, and the two floors above also have small windows, but the top does not. The conical roof is slated and has a flag pole.
The present lantern window is about 2m (6 ft 6ins) by 0.61 m (2 ft). The optic, silver plated reflector and Fresnel lens
were used into the 1970s and are dated 1861. The lantern was originally lit by six Argand lamp
s with reflectors.
A smaller, conical
tower, with a domed top, can be found to the north-east, and may be an earlier structure. The walls are 2.03m (6 ft 8ins) in radius and 0.91 m (3 ft) thick with a door to the north-west and shows signs of cracking to the rubble
-filled walls on the west.
Both towers do not show on the chart of Lewis Morris, of 1800, but do appear on the Ordnance Survey
1818-1823 2 inches/mile map and both probably originated as unlit markers.
The cottages nearby have been used as craft workshops, and the local community here once serviced pilot-boats and life boats.
Tidal island
A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands many of them have been sites of religious worship, such as Mont Saint Michel with its...
off the west coast of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The nearest town is Newborough
Newborough, Anglesey
Newborough is a village in the south-western corner of the Isle of Anglesey in Wales; it is in the community of Rhosyr, which has a population of 2,169.-History:Newborough was a commotal centre of medieval Anglesey...
.
Geology and geography
The island is of geological interest with pillow lavaPillow lava
Pillow lavas are lavas that contain characteristic pillow-shaped structures that are attributed to the extrusion of the lava under water, or subaqueous extrusion. Pillow lavas in volcanic rock are characterized by thick sequences of discontinuous pillow-shaped masses, commonly up to one metre in...
, jasper
Jasper
Jasper, a form of chalcedony, is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color; and rarely blue. This mineral breaks with a smooth surface, and is used for ornamentation or as a gemstone. It can be highly polished and is used for vases, seals, and at one time for...
formations and aeolian sand deposits.
The island forms part of the National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
of Newborough Warren
Newborough Warren
Newborough Warren near the village of Newborough is part of a National Nature Reserve, in Anglesey, Wales. It includes Llanddwyn Bay and Malltraeth Bay, divided by Llanddwyn Island, and part of the Anglesey Coastal Path ....
which includes the extensive and floristically rich sand dune system.
Llanddwyn Island is a tidal island
Tidal island
A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands many of them have been sites of religious worship, such as Mont Saint Michel with its...
; it remains attached to the mainland at all but the highest tides. It provides views of Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
and the Llŷn Peninsula
Llŷn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
.
Saint Dwynwen
The island is very rich in legends and in particular the association with DwynwenDwynwen
Saint Dwynwen, also known as Dwyn, Donwen, and Donwenna, is the Welsh patron saint of lovers. She is also the patron saint of sick animals.Dwynwen is believed to have been a daughter of King Brychan Brycheiniog, who lived in the 5th century...
. The name Llanddwyn means "The church of St. Dwynwen". Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, making her the Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine. Her Saint's day is January 25 and is often celebrated by the Welsh with cards and flowers. The remains of St Dwynwen's Church
St Dwynwen's Church
St Dwynwen's Church is a ruined church on the island of Ynys Llanddwyn off the coast of the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales. Unusually for churches in that region it has a cruciform floorplan.-External links:...
can be found.
Footpaths
There are more than 10 miles of footpaths crossing Llanddwyn Island and Newborough WarrenNewborough Warren
Newborough Warren near the village of Newborough is part of a National Nature Reserve, in Anglesey, Wales. It includes Llanddwyn Bay and Malltraeth Bay, divided by Llanddwyn Island, and part of the Anglesey Coastal Path ....
, including the Anglesey Coastal Path
Anglesey Coastal Path
The Anglesey Coastal Path is a long-distance footpath around the island of Anglesey in North Wales....
, and it is a very popular place to visit. The island provides a worth-while goal after the mile-long walk along the beach from the nearest car park. Llanddwyn Island, with the neighbouring beach, has been awarded Blue Flag beach
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
status in recognition of the cleanliness of the sea and the beaches.
Lighthouse
The lighthouseLighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
marks the western entrance to the Menai Strait
Menai Strait
The Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.The strait is bridged in two places - the main A5 road is carried over the strait by Thomas Telford's elegant iron suspension bridge, the first of its kind,...
.
The tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
is tapered in a way characteristic of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
s, it is 10.7 m (35 ft) high) and 5.5 m (18 ft) in diameter. It may have been constructed by an Anglesey stone mason
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
, and it is possible that the tower itself was originally used as a windmill.
The lantern
Lantern
A lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
and fittings cost £250 7s 6d, including the adaptation of an ‘earlier tower’. The north-east door is flanked by small windows, and the two floors above also have small windows, but the top does not. The conical roof is slated and has a flag pole.
The present lantern window is about 2m (6 ft 6ins) by 0.61 m (2 ft). The optic, silver plated reflector and Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
were used into the 1970s and are dated 1861. The lantern was originally lit by six Argand lamp
Argand lamp
The Argand lamp is home lighting oil lamp producing a light output of 6 to 10 candlepower which was invented and patented in 1780 by Aimé Argand...
s with reflectors.
A smaller, conical
Cone (geometry)
A cone is an n-dimensional geometric shape that tapers smoothly from a base to a point called the apex or vertex. Formally, it is the solid figure formed by the locus of all straight line segments that join the apex to the base...
tower, with a domed top, can be found to the north-east, and may be an earlier structure. The walls are 2.03m (6 ft 8ins) in radius and 0.91 m (3 ft) thick with a door to the north-west and shows signs of cracking to the rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
-filled walls on the west.
Both towers do not show on the chart of Lewis Morris, of 1800, but do appear on the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
1818-1823 2 inches/mile map and both probably originated as unlit markers.
The cottages nearby have been used as craft workshops, and the local community here once serviced pilot-boats and life boats.
Time line
- 1873 Construction of lighthouse on Ynys Llanddwyn.
- 1903 Closure of the lifeboatLifeboat (rescue)A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
station on Ynys Llanddwyn. - 1911 RSPB Cymru opens in LLanddwyn.Bird charity born 100 years ago at Llanddwyn Island
- 3 December 1920 - Five crew members from the RhoscolynRhoscolynRhoscolyn is a village located on Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales. It is just over five miles south of Holyhead and is the most southerly settlement on the island...
lifeboat are lost off Llanddwyn, Anglesey.
Llanddwyn Island in film
- In 2004, Llanddwyn Island was used as a filming location in Demi MooreDemi MooreDemi Guynes Kutcher , known professionally as Demi Moore, is an American actress. After minor roles in film and a role in the soap opera General Hospital, Moore established her career in films such as St...
's romantic thriller Half LightHalf LightHalf Light is a 2006 Mystery/Horror Film starring Demi Moore and Henry Ian Cusick in the lead role. It was directed by Craig Rosenberg, who also penned the screenplay.The score was composed by Craig's brother, Brett Rosenberg.-Plot:...
. Tŵr Mawr was used as a lighthouse which plays a key role in the film. CGIComputer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
was used to create the effect of a real light on top of the lighthouse. - Bryn TerfelBryn TerfelBryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro and Leporello, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles, especially those by Wagner....
filmed his video for Cavatina (arranged by Chris Hazell) on Llanddwyn Island "a very beautiful romantic place" (Bryn on BBC Breakfast) - In 2009, a scene for the Hollywood blockbuster Clash of the TitansClash of the Titans (2010 film)Clash of the Titans is a 2010 fantasy and action remake of the 1981 film of the same name . The story is very loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus. Directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Sam Worthington, the film was originally set for standard release on March 26, 2010...
was filmed at Llanddwyn.