The Bulkeley Arms and Uxbridge Square, Menai Bridge

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The Bulkeley Arms & Uxbridge Square, Menai Bridge

The Bulkeley Arms stands on one side of Uxbridge Square in the centre of Menai Bridge and takes its name from the Bulkeley family of gentry, who resided in Baron Hill, near Beaumaris. The family moved to Beaumaris from Bulkeley near Cheadle (between Chester and Whitchurch), in Cheshire. 

Photo of Uxbridge Square in 1896King Edward I granted Beaumaris its charter in 1296 as part of his campaign to assert English authority over Wales. From that time there was a deliberate effort to strengthen the English hold on Beaumaris by attracting settlers as burgesses of the town from such counties as Shropshire and Lancashire, but particularly Cheshire. The Bulkeley family came to Beaumaris in the first half of the 15th century and became the most influential of the English families in the area, living first at Henblas and then in Baron Hill in the 17th century. There is a Bulkeley Hotel in Beaumaris itself. 

Uxbridge Square commemorates another family of gentry. The old photo, taken by John Thomas in 1896, shows the square decorated with flags to celebrate the coming of age of the Earl of Uxbridge, son of the Marquis of Anglesey. The photo is shown here courtesy of the Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – the National Library of Wales.

In the 18th century this junction was called Fingerpost, then Bulkeley Square (after the inn). In 1896 it was renamed Uxbridge Square to commemorate the Earl’s coming of age. This was part of a process of naming or renaming streets by the town council, which had decided that no street should be named after a public house!

The title of Marquis of Anglesey was created for Lord Paget (1768-1854) in recognition of his leadership at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, where he lost a leg when leading one of the charges. He was given the land on which he erected Plas Newydd. Now a National Trust stately home, Plas Newydd is on the bank of the Menai Strait 2km south of Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll (or Llanfairpwll), where a column was erected in his honour in 1816. The column stands 27 metres tall. He is also commemorated by the name of The Anglesey Arms hotel, beside the Menai Suspension Bridge.

With thanks to Professor Hywel Wyn Owen, of the Welsh Place-Name Society

Postcode: LL59 5DF    View Location Map

Website of the Bulkeley Arms

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