Ffordd y Ffair or Wood Street

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Link to Welsh translationLink to French translationFfordd y Ffair or Wood Street

The Welsh name for this road refers to the annual fair called Ffair Borth which is documented from as early as 1691. It is still held on 24 October, and is now located in various parts of the town's streets and car parks.

In 1903 a shadow was cast over the merriment when fisherman John Roberts, 21, fell out of a “swingboat” at the fair. He landed on his head and died two days later. His father was one of the Menai Strait pilots.

A carousel at the fair injured three women in 1914 after metal rods supporting one of the horses broke and fell outwards. The rods struck domestic servant Elizabeth Roberts and two others. Elizabeth was knocked unconscious and lost seven teeth. A court later ordered show proprietor Arthur Wildman to pay her £30 damages and smaller amounts to the other two.

The 1909 fair attracted farmers from across Anglesey and Caernarfonshire. There was much demand for the large supply of mountain ponies. Heavy horses sold for £40 to £50 each, and heifers £12 to £18. Horse sales had largely stopped by 1919, when the main goods traded were sweetmeats, fruit, “Indian rock” and cheap jewellery.

Wood Street refers to the woodland behind the car park, and adjacent to a path up to the main road by Waitrose. In the early 20th century part of the woodland was owned by local undertaker Rowland Williams, who built himself a joinery workshop c.1903 just behind the bus stop here, on the north side of Wood Street. He harvested timber from the woodland and seasoned it to make coffins.

Rowland Williams was also a wheelwright and coach builder. He maintained the Marquis of Anglesey’s landau and made carts and wagons for household removals and other commercial uses. He also built the bodywork of Anglesey’s first bus, which served villages east of Menai Bridge before the First World War. The workshop employed about 10 joiners c.1905 and included a smithy, where iron tyres were made for the wooden carriage wheels.

With thanks to Prof Hywel Wyn Owen, of the Welsh Place-Name Society, Selwyn T Williams and Menai Bridge Town Council

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Postcode: LL59 5AS

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