Cofnod Safle

The Porthaethwy Ferry is first referred to in 1193, in a poem by Prydydd y Moch in praise of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. The context is the crossing of an armed force (swimming its horses) at `Porth Aethwy?. In 1294, a Crown survey valued the revenue of the Porthaethwy Ferry at £2 13s 4d. The next survey in 1352, showed a increase in tithe assessment to 90s - 45s to the King and the remaining 45s to the free tenants. Through the auspices of the Sheriff, the Crown paid half of the cost of running the ferryboats. Fourteenth century accounts include entries for; `half a boat? bought: 6s. out of 12s; total for pitch and tallow, 1s.4d; four days carpenter's work and other costs for ropes, oars, hurdles under the feet of animals, to protect the boats, and quantities of iron nails. As part of the rent for their burbage plots, it is likely that the tenants near the ferry landings also worked the ferry. At the time of the Llantysilio parish Enclosure Award in 1827, land reserved for the Crown with regard to the ferry included the straits off Porthaethwy, from Carreg yr Halen to Porth Daniel. Llanding places were also claimed - at Porthaethwy below the Cambria Hotel on the Anglesey side, and at Treborth and Borth (below Bodlondeb) on the mainland. The main Porthaethwy ferry crossing was worked from a pier 175m northeast of Ynys y Moch (the island which us used for main pier of the suspension bridge) to a rocky shelf below the 19th century house called Bodlondeb on the mainland (a distance of 300m) (see NPRN 240476). In the late 18th century, another route was established to cater specifically for carriages, between the landing stage at Porth y Wrach on Anglesey to the George Hotel on the mainland (see NPRN 240477).
At Carreg yr Halen, two stone piers survive on the beach, behind which a limekiln was built in the mid 1850s (possibly at the time of the building of the suspension bridge). To the northwest early 19th century maps show an enclosure with a building/s and small garden. It is likely that these buildings represent the tenements of the ferrymen. The journey across the Straits to Treborth Mill is 300m. The mill was situated close to the waterfall or cascade, which is now occupied by a private house and landing stage.

Sources include:
Davies, H R, 1942, A review of the records of the Conway and Menai Ferries, pg41
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, 2006, Crossing the Straits, pg14-15