Victorian Books, Cromlechs of Anglesey

Cromlechs of Anglesey by J. E. Griffiths. 1900.

What remains of this Cromlech [Trefigneth Burial Chamber, Anglesey [Map]] stands near the farmhouse of Trefigneth, about one mile and a half out on the road leading from Holyhead to Trearthur. The late Hon. W. O. Stanley expressed the opinion that it had been a covered chamber of about twenty feet in length, and three feet three inches to four feet in height, and four feet wide inside, and composed of a row of upright stones vn cach side covered with large flat stones. (See Arch. Camb., Vol. XIII, p. 234, 1867.)

The two supports that lie at the north-eastern extremity are of the following dimensions, viz.: one is six feet seven inches high and four feet three inches wide at its base; the other is six feet six inches high. The capstone that lies near these is nine feet nine inches in fength. Lying edgewise on the grond, and forming part of the chamber, is a slab ten feet nine inches long. At the south-western end the capstone has fallen towards the north- east and rests obliquely with its lower end Sim the ground and the upper one leaning on an apeight thes feet three inches high. capstone is nine feet long by five feet ten wide.

Llanfechel Burial Chamber [Map]. In the Arch. Camb., vol. i. p. 366 [367], 1870, it is stated: "At a short distance from the church, on a rising ground, are three pillar-stones set in a triangle about ten feet high above the ground, which appear to have been the remaining supports of a covering stone long since removed. This chamber, in its original, must have been one of unusually lofty and imposing dimensions. The arm on which it stands is named Cromlech, which is supposed to confirm the supposition that a Cromlech once stood here. Lower down, however, on the slope of the hill, stood also a Cromlech at the time that the Ordnance Map was made, but it has since vanished, From which ever of the two monuments the arms is so called it would be desirable to ascertain by deeds how the arms has been so called, as the first use and meaning of the word "Cromlech" is not yet satisfactorilky explained."

I must correct the writer of the foregoing account by saying that the original Cromlech, as marked on the Ordnance Map, is still in situ, and very conspicuous, though its capstone has fallen down and a few of its remaining supports are lying beneath it. It is situated in a field north-west of, and close to, the farm house of "Cromlech". It seems to have been a very large Cromiech originally, to judge from the appearance of the capstone and supports that are lying close together, The capstone rests with one end on the fallen supports, and the other lying on the ground. It is ten feet ten inches long by five feet eleven inches wide, and one foot four inches in thickness. I was told by an old man who lived near, that he remembered it much larger than it is at present, and that a piece was broken off and used for building about seventy years ago. The support that lies north-east of it is seven feet eight inches long by four feet wide; the others I have mot measured.

This Cromlech [Clynnog Fawr aka Bachwen Burial Chamber [Map]] lies in a field belonging to Bachwen Farm about half a mile west of Clynnog Village. The capstone is eight feet long by four feet six inches wide, and is supported by four uprights varying from four feet to five feet in height. This Cromlech is remarkable owing to its having small artificial hollows all over the upper surface of the capstone, It is the only example of the kind we have in Wales, with the exception of a small stone in a field in Llanbedr parish, near Harlech. It is, also, I believe, the only Cromlech we have that has been properly closed in with strong iron railing. (See Arch. Camb., Vol. XIII., 1867.)