Knowledge (XXG)

Holyhead Breakwater

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were used to create an outer facing wall, thereby encasing a rubble mound raised from the sea both by dumping from ships and tipping from the shore. Divers in submarine bells created the level foundations on which the tiers of facing stones were placed. These men worked underwater using picks and
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had created a transport revolution in Great Britain. Poor weather delaying sailings from Holyhead was no longer acceptable because of the number of passengers and cargo crossing between Ireland and Great Britain. Holyhead needed a large area of calm water with safe anchorages for the number of
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when a new engine was required, as the mid-1800s original had worn out. A locomotive with a plate inscribed "J. & C. Rigby, Holyhead Harbour Works, 1861" worked on the 7 ft 0¼ in
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could often prevent ships from Ireland entering the old harbour at Holyhead. When adverse weather conditions halted sailings from Holyhead, passengers and cargo had to be moved to
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in Holyhead. Despite transport improvements on the mainland, the old harbour remained congested with marine traffic. The heavily-used Admiralty Pier (for the mail and
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hammers, and carried out blasting using gunpowder sealed in watertight tin pipes. Up to 1,300 men were employed during the work; 40 died during construction.
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Since November 2014, concrete blocks have been placed at the entrance to block traffic. However, the breakwater is still accessible to walkers.
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which would allow more than 400 acres (160 ha) of deep water to be enclosed by a stone breakwater in order to create a sheltered
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to the working areas. The line eventually reached 1.48 mi (2.38 km) in length. In 1913 it was finally converted to
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in addition to Holyhead's pre-existing 276 acres (112 ha) old harbour. With the opening of the
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The breakwater, which took 28 years to complete, was officially opened on 19 August 1873 by
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Dictionary of Mechanical Science, Arts, Manufactures, and Miscellaneous Knowledge, Volume 1
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Smith, Mick R. (1999). "Stone: Building Stone, Rock Fill and Armourstone in Construction".
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railway was used to carry more than seven million tonnes of stone from the quarries on
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in August 1848 on Anglesey, there was an immediate imperative to begin construction.
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necessitated immediate improvements to the old harbour to improve the links between
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vessels now using the port. In 1847, the New Harbour was authorised by a
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until 1973. After a further transition to diesel traction (using the
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Stöckl, Fritz (1961). "The Last 7 ft. Gauge Railway in the World".
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Civil Engineering Heritage Series: Wales & West Central England
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Geological Society Engineering Geology Special Publication
48:, which is 1.7 miles (2.7 km) long, is the longest 575:"Ponta Delgada and the Broad Gauge Harbour Railways" 362: 360: 358: 356: 354: 1401: 1290: 1204: 1138: 797: 747: 179:In January 1848 work began under the auspices of 409:History of the Mail Routes to Ireland Until 1850 252:The Breakwater in the distance over the Harbour. 434:"Old Customs Post, Trearddur, Isle of Anglesey" 725: 8: 513:. H. Fisher, Son & Company. p. 103. 391:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 264:The Breakwater encompassing Holyhead Marina. 312:Lower level carried the breakwater railway. 72:In the age of sail, northerly winds in the 732: 718: 710: 504: 502: 288:The Breakwater seaward from the land end. 32:is situated at the north-western end of 16:Longest breakwater in the United Kingdom 447: 445: 443: 350: 242: 111:and the South Pier (built 1823-31) and 1542:Grade II* listed buildings in Anglesey 384: 336:The light was fully automated in 1961. 300:End of the Breakwater and Lighthouse. 7: 367:Denton, A., & Leach, N. (2008). 25:Holyhead Breakwater and Lighthouse. 175:Remains of the breakwater railway. 14: 1504: 1492: 788: 456:. Thomas Telford. pp. 7–8. 329: 317: 305: 293: 281: 269: 257: 245: 226:Albert Edward, Prince of Wales 62:Holyhead Breakwater Lighthouse 60:on top which leads out to the 1: 215:Ponta Delgada harbour railway 1454:Registered parks and gardens 1414:Parliamentary constituencies 579:www.internationalsteam.co.uk 549:Jones, Geraint I.L. (2005). 509:Jamieson, Alexander (1879). 193:. Shaped 10-tonne blocks of 161:Chester and Holyhead Railway 371:. Landmark Publishing Ltd. 276:Entrance to the breakwater. 93:Parliament of Great Britain 1558: 668:Under construction, c.1859 1487: 786: 524:Hughes, Margaret (2001). 153:Private Act of Parliament 80:on the southerly side of 895:Glan-yr-afon (Bodffordd) 412:. Lulu.com. p. 84. 146:By the mid 19th century 125:Menai Suspension Bridge 406:Ayres, George (2011). 176: 26: 1257:Lligwy Burial Chamber 1139:Hydrological features 960:Llanfair-yng-Nghornwy 641:"Holyhead Breakwater" 526:Anglesey from the Sea 452:Cragg, Roger (1997). 219:British Rail Class 01 174: 123:, which included the 97:Parliament of Ireland 24: 955:Llanfairpwllgwyngyll 600:"Railways in Açores" 369:Lighthouses of Wales 121:London-Holyhead Road 1537:7 ft gauge railways 1449:Scheduled Monuments 1212:Barclodiad y Gawres 692: /  628:. pp. 468–469. 46:Victorian structure 30:Holyhead Breakwater 1277:St Gwenfaen's Well 673:Breakwater railway 177: 129:Stanley Embankment 89:Acts of Union 1800 27: 1519: 1518: 1428:Listed Buildings 1267:Parciau hill fort 1247:Castell Bryn Gwyn 553:. Carreg Gwalch. 551:Anglesey Railways 528:. 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Index


Holyhead
Anglesey
Wales
Victorian structure
breakwater
United Kingdom
promenade
Holyhead Breakwater Lighthouse
Irish Sea
Porth Dafarch
Holy Island
Acts of Union 1800
Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Ireland
Dublin
London
John Rennie
graving dock
Thomas Telford
London-Holyhead Road
Menai Suspension Bridge
Stanley Embankment
Admiralty Arch
Salt Island
Packet trade
railway mania
Private Act of Parliament
roadstead
Chester and Holyhead Railway

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