Transcribed from the July 1908 Charles J. Clark edition by David Price.
Archaeologia Cambrensis
TEN DAYS’ TOUR
THROUGH
THE ISLE OF ANGLESEA
DECEMBER, 1802
BY
REV. JOHN SKINNER
RECTOR OF CAMERTON, SOMERSETSHIRE
SUPPLEMENT, JULY, 1908.
LONDON:
Published for the Cambrian Archaeological Association by
CHARLES J. CLARK, 65, CHANCERY LANE, W.C.
INTRODUCTION
The Rev. John Skinner’s Ten Days’ Tour Through Anglesey, which is given in the following pages, has been carefully transcribed from the manuscript in the British Museum, the punctuation, spelling, and use of capitals followed strictly throughout. Some notes have been kindly furnished by Mr. E. Neil Baynes, F.S.A., and he has also copied (in black and white) most of the water-colour illustrations which are included in the manuscript. The illustrations are reduced from the original size, but with this exception and the absence of colour they have been copied as closely as possible, with all errors of perspective, etc. Some of the drawings would appear to have been done by Mr. Skinner in the evening from memory, and not on the spot. The complete list is printed herewith, and the pages where the plates appear in the original. A copy of an extract from Mr. Skinner’s will is subjoined, in which he expresses his particular wish that the chests containing his numerous notebooks should not be opened until the expiration of fifty years from the day of his death.
Extracted from the Principal Registry of the Probate Divorce
and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice
In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
In the will of the Reverend John Skinner late Rector of Camerton in the county of Somerset deceased dated 1st February 1839 is as follows:—
No. 2. I give and bequeath to the trustees of the British Museum all my Journals and other Manuscripts transcribed by my late brother Russell from No. 1 to No. 110 both inclusive and interleaved with original drawings together with the Journals I have made in my own hand-writing since my brother’s death from the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three to the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight in volume 1 to volume 36 of an Octavo size with blue Morocco backs containing altogether in number one hundred and forty six which I desire may be safely conveyed to the trustees of the British Museum with the five Iron Chests in which they are now contained and I request my said executor the Reverend John Hammond to see to the performance of this bequest in the manner aforesaid and it is my particular wish and request that neither of the Iron Chests with the contents aforesaid shall be opened till after the expiration of fifty years from the day of my death but provided the trustees of the British Museum should raise any objection thereto it is my will that my before mentioned request should not be insisted upon.
Proved (with two Codicils)
14th November 1839
Fos 4
J J C
716 Vaughan
N.B.—It is not to be inferred that the foregoing extract contains the only portion of the said Will referring to the matters therein mentioned.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
| PAGE | ||
| 1. | Plâs Goch | [23] |
| 2. | Blochty Enclosures | [25] |
| 3. | Bryn Gwyn. Stone by Cottage | [27] |
| 4. | Ground Plans, Caer Leb, etc. | [28] |
| 6, 7. | Bodowyr Cromlech (2) | [30], [31] |
| 8, 9, 10, 11. | Carnedd at Plas Newydd (4) | [34], [37] |
| 12. | Cromlech at Plas Newydd | [39] |
| Cromlech and Stables (omitted) | ||
| 5. | Ground Plan, Bryn Gwydryn, etc. | [42] |
| Coins of Edward VI and Elizabeth (omitted) | ||
| Bryn Celli, Plan and Finds | [44] | |
| Llanidan Church | [49] | |
| 16. | Stone (Fitzgerald) in Llanidan Church | [50] |
| 17. | Maen Llwyd Cromlech | [52] |
| 18. | Frondeg Stone | [53] |
| 19. | Llangadwaladr Church | [55] |
| 20. | Llangadwaladr Doorway, showing Stone | [56] |
| Inscription to Rich. Williams (omitted as it is in the text). | ||
| 21. | Llangadwaladr Church Inscribed Stone | [57] |
| 22. | Henblas Cromlech | [60] |
| 23. | Cerrigceinwen Church | [63] |
| 24, 25. | Cerrigceinwen Church Clochti (2) | [64], [55] |
| 26, 27, 28. | Cerrigceinwen Church Font (2) | [66], [68] |
| 29. | Aberffraw Church Arch | [70] |
| Llangwyfan Church (omitted) | ||
| 31. | Llangwyfan Church, Interior | [72] |
| 32. | Llangwyfan House | [74] |
| 33. | Cromlech at Mynydd y Cnwc | [75] |
| A half-finished sketch of Trecastel Bay (omitted) | ||
| 34. | Llanfaelog Cromlech (2) | [78], [79] |
| 36. | Crighyll Cromlech | [81] |
| 37, 39. | Presaddfedd Cromlech (3) | [84], [86] |
| Proposed Menai Bridge (omitted) | ||
| 41. | Llantrisant Stone | |
| Pabo Stone (omitted, vide Arch. Camb., January, 1908) | ||
| Doorway at Llanbabo (omitted, vide Arch. Camb., January, 1908) | ||
| 45. | Llanfechell Stones | |
| Llanfechell Church and Font | ||
| 46. | Llaneilian Church | |
| Parys Mine (omitted) | ||
| 48. | Three Stones (near Amlwch) | |
| 49. | Llanol Stone | |
| 50. | Cromlech on Bodafon Mountain and Carreg Lleidr | |
| Coin of Diocletian (omitted) | ||
| 51. | View of Bodafon Mountain from N.W. | |
| 52. | View of Bodafon Mountain from S.E. | |
| 53. | Stones in Penrhos lligwy Churchyard | |
| 54. | Lligwy Cromlech | |
| 55. | Lligwy Cromlech, Caer Lligwy | |
| 56. | Llanallgo Cromlech and Font (vide note) | |
| Stones at Marianglas (omitted) | ||
| 58. | Llaniestyn Stone | |
| 59. | Llaniestyn Font | |
| 60, 61. | Cromlech at Trefor (2) | |
| Altar Tomb in Penmynydd Church, sketched from memory (omitted) |
No. 99. The stepped gable over the gateway should, I think, be over the porch, and the pointed gable shown over the porch should be over the gateway, but I am not certain.
No. 115. The font described as in Penrhoslligwy Church is really the old font of Llanallgo. It was covered with plaster and set on a rough mass of masonry. When the Church was restored, about fifteen years ago, the plaster was cut away and the font was redressed.
N.B.—The beginning of a page in the original is marked by the introduction in the text of folio and number between brackets, thus (fol. 22).
This book was transcribed from my Journal by my
brother Russell Skinner (who was the companion
of my Tour) Anno Dom: 1804
SKETCHES IN ANGLESEA
TAKEN IN DECEMBER 1802
BY
REVD. JOHN SKINNER
1802
62
1740
I give this Vol. of my Anglesea Tour with my other Journals, to the British Museum to be retained by them according to the directions I have left in my will respecting the disposal of my MSS.