Iolo Griffiths

Crossing the Menai Strait Iolo Griffiths

The village of Newborough has a rich history, which includes the ruins of a medieval princely residence and the shrine of the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine. In the 16th century it enjoyed a brief spell as the county town, a status which later attracted whispers of political influence by a foreign power, and by the 18th century it was involved in a political wrangling with its rival, Beaumaris. The growing of marram grass to prevent the engulfing of the village's lands by drifting sand led to an unusual cottage industry. The village also had a rich maritime heritage due to its proximity to the sea, and the convenient coves on Llanddwyn island.