Admiralty Arch, in Holyhead,

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

, was built in 1824 to mark the end of

Thomas Telford Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE, (9 August 1757 – 2 September 1834) was a Scottish civil engineer. After establishing himself as an engineer of road and canal projects in Shropshire, he designed numerous infrastructure projects in his native Scot ...

's Holyhead road. The arch was designed by Thomas Harrison and its main purpose was to commemorate the visit of King George IV of the United Kingdom in August 1821. The King arrived in Holyhead on the royal yacht ''Royal George'' on the 7 August, continuing to Plas Newydd where he stopped overnight. He returned the next day to his yacht, but due to poor weather his departure was delayed and the decision was made to transfer to the steam packet ''Lightning'' which conveyed him on the 12 August to

Howth Howth ( ; ; non, Hǫfuð) is an affluent peninsular village and outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district as a whole occupies the greater part of the peninsula of Howth Head, which forms the northern boundary of Dublin Bay, and includes ...

, near Dublin for his state visit to Ireland. The change to the packet boat was met with widespread approval. Funded through public subscription the structure took two years to complete and was made of stone quarried at

Red Wharf Bay Red Wharf Bay, also known as Traeth Coch (Welsh for "red beach"), is a village and a wide sandy bay in the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the east coast of the island of Anglesey in Wales. The bay lies between the villages of Pe ...

on the eastern side of Anglesey. Due to its history it is known alternatively as the George IV Arch by the

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW; cy, Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru; ), established in 1908, is a Welsh Government sponsored body concerned with some aspects of the archaeological, architectur ...

or the Triumphal Arch. The Grade II* listed arch is situated within the

Port of Holyhead 300px, Just inside the 'New' harbour at Holyhead port., alt=Port of Holyhead From geograph.org.uk 8 October 2007 The Port of Holyhead ( cy, Porthladd Caergybi) is a commercial and ferry port in Anglesey, Wales, handling more than 2 million pass ...

on Ynys Halen and cannot be accessed by the public due to safety reasons. In 2017, plans to move it to a more open location were mooted. At present the best place from which to view it is from

St Cybi's Church St Cybi's Church is a medieval church near the Roman Caer Gybi in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. The church was Grade I listed in January 1968. The original church was constructed at Holyhead around 540 AD by St Cybi, a cousin of St David. The ch ...

yard. At the seaward end of the Admiralty Pier, beyond the arch, is the Grade II listed Holyhead Mail Pier Lighthouse, completed in 1821 it was designed by John Rennie as part of extensive improvements to Holyhead Harbour. File:The landing of his Majesty, George the Fourth, at Holyhead, August 7th 1821.jpeg, George IV arriving at Holyhead, 7 August 1821 File:William John Huggins (1781-1845) - George IV On Board the 'Lightning', the First Post Office Steam Packet to Dublin, 12 August 1821 - BHC0619 - Royal Museums Greenwich.jpg, George IV on board the 'Lightning' en route to Dublin, 12 August 1821 File:A plan of a triumphal memorial intended to be erected by subscription on the pier at Holyhead - in honour of the visit of His Majesty George IV, to the principality of Wales on the 7th. of August 1821, by Thomas Harrison Esq. Architect.jpeg, A plan of the triumphal arch, pier and lighthouse

References

{{Authority control Buildings and structures completed in 1824 Terminating vistas in the United Kingdom Triumphal arches in the United Kingdom Landmarks in Wales Grade II* listed monuments and memorials Grade II* listed buildings in Anglesey