The Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones are a pair of standing stones on Holy Island west of

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 ...

in north-west

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. They are thought to date from the

Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...

but their origins and purpose are unclear. They are about high and are a similar distance apart.

Stones

The stones are located behind the farmhouse of Plas Meilw, some southwest of Holyhead and a similar distance south of

Holyhead Mountain Holyhead Mountain (''Mynydd Twr'' in Welsh: from ''(pen)twr'', meaning "tower") is the highest mountain on Holy Island, Anglesey, and the highest in the county of Anglesey, north Wales. It lies about two miles west of the town of Holyhead, and s ...

. Little is known about the history of the stones. They are believed to be between 3,500 and 4,000 years old and are a

Scheduled ancient monument In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...

. The exposed part of each stone is about high and broad at the base, but only about thick. They are situated about apart on an open grassy place above Porth Dafarch between two low hills. They are aligned along their long axes in a northeasterly/southwesterly direction, with a fine view of the coast and towards Holyhead Mountain. There are theories that they may have formed part of a stone circle, however there is no evidence to support this. It is also said that there was previously a stone

cist A cist ( or ; also kist ; from grc-gre, κίστη, Middle Welsh ''Kist'' or Germanic ''Kiste'') is a small stone-built coffin-like box or ossuary used to hold the bodies of the dead. Examples can be found across Europe and in the Middle Ea ...

between them, but again this story lacks supporting evidence. There may be some significance to the fact that they are located just from the Plas Meilw hut circle but their presence here is "quite enigmatic".

Access

The stones are in the care of Cadw; the site is open to the public throughout the year, except around Christmas and the New Year, free of charge. Access is through a

kissing gate A kissing gate is a gate that allows people, but not livestock, to pass through. The normal construction is a half-round, rectangular, trapezoidal or V-shaped part-enclosure with the free end of a hinged gate trapped between its arms. When the ...

and across a grassy field, and there is a pull-in by the roadside, large enough for a single car.

References

{{coord, 53.2957, -4.6618, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Scheduled monuments in Anglesey History of Anglesey Megalithic monuments in Wales