Ancient Monuments in Anglesey

Ancient Monuments on Anglesey in North Wales

Anglesey, Llanddaniel, Bryn Celli Ddu, General view of the front
Anglesey, Llanddaniel, Bryn Celli Ddu. General view of the front.

These places of magic, mystical megaliths and burial chambers, these places of ancient sorrowful goodbyes and grateful thanksgiving, these places of sacrifice and ceremony, are in abundance here on Anglesey.

The island of Anglesey in North Wales is rich with ancient monuments – over 120 scheduled ancient monuments – that are thousands of years old, and these atmospheric jewels in Anglesey’s crown are well worth a visit. There are, for example, approximately 30 Neolithic / Bronze age burial chambers on the island, several ancient settlements, and Anglesey standing stones are abundant. We are not really aware of their purpose and we have yet to understand many of their secrets, but it is clear they were to do with some kind of pagan / pre-Christian worship. I have read that the strategic location of the Neolithic sites may represent Sagittarius – and that may be the case – but whatever the truth is, they were certainly very important to the people that inhabited our island before us.

Most, but not all, are located within view of Anglesey’s shores. In most cases, the locations are in an elevated position, often within clear view of the Snowdonia mountain range on the mainland. Please ensure that you appreciate how important these sites are, and that care must be taken in order for their successful preservation to continue.

Wherever you travel throughout Anglesey, you are sure to see ancient standing stones, and most would be between 4500 and 5000 years old. The earliest signs of life on Anglesey found during archaeological digs are 8,000 years old, and they are flint workings near Aberffraw.

Without a doubt, this website has the most complete record and photographs of Anglesey’s ancient monuments – and yet I still have so many to do.

Llanfechell Cromlech Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
The remains of a cromlech (burial chamber) that has collapsed. Reported as such in the 1868 National Gazetteer. Located on a rural farm on Anglesey which is named – and always has been named – Cromlech Farm. This may have even been a double burial chamber. Located

Henblas Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
Located on Henblas land, just a field or two from the themed attraction park which features farm animals, rides, and much more. I had gone there for the day and asked the owner about this ‘neolithic monument’. He promptly asked me to jump on a trailer being

Four Crosses Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
Travelling along the B5420 from Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll on Anglesey towards Four Crosses there is a field to your left with a collapsed burial chamber. I do wish that CADW or the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust were in a position to re-erect our fallen ancient monuments, in order that

Din Lligwy Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
Located close to Moelfre on Anglesey, Din Lligwy Cromlech (burial chamber) boasts an 18 by 15-foot capstone weighing in at 25 tons and standing on eight short stones. The Cromlech dates from about 5000BC. When it was excavated in 1908, the site gave up its dead. Bones

Bryn yr Hen Pobl Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
Bryn yr Hen Pobl roughly translates as the Hill of the Old People. It is a chambered tomb set in a field situated on the private estate of Lord Anglesey, the Marquis of Anglesey. An entrance led to a large tomb where bodies were laid on each

Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
Close to the village of Llanddaniel Fab. This burial chamber is deservedly one of Anglesey’s most important ancient monuments and dates from circa 3000 years BC. A spiral inscription on one of the stones to the back of the mound is probably of Celtic origin. One of

Bodowyr Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
Bodowyr Burial Chamber is easily found on the B4419 secondary road near the village of Llangaffo on Anglesey. A CADW signpost makes it very easy to locate, and access is through a gate near the sign. This site dates from the Neolithic age, probably in use somewhere

Barclodiad y Gawres Burial Chamber

adminanglesey October 25, 2019 Ancient Monuments
Translated as the Giantesses Apronful. The story goes that two giants were travelling to Anglesey to build a house, he carrying two large stones for the doorway, and she an apronful of smaller stones. On the way, they encountered a cobbler, and when they asked him how