Rhoscolyn

Traeth Crigyll beach in Rhosneigr

Rhoscolyn is a village located on Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales. It is just over five miles south of Holyhead and is the most southerly settlement on the island. The name Rhoscolyn is said to mean "The Moor" (Rhos) of The Column (colyn), referring to a pillar which the Romans put up to mark the edge of their territories.^[1] The community population taken from the 2011 census was 542.^[2]

A little to the west of the village is a mediaeval well dedicated to St Gwenfaen beside which are the remains of a drystone well house measuring 4.5 m east-west by 5.5 m.^[3] The local church in the village itself is dedicated to the same saint and was first built in the 6th century.^[4][5]

Rhoscolyn is bordered to the south by a small enclosed bay called Borthwen which is bordered by a public beach. There was once a lifeboat station on Borthwen which was open between 1830 and 1929^[6] which has been replaced by a navigational beacon on Ynysoedd Gwylanod ('Gulls' Islands'). Around these waters at the end of the 18th century was a thriving oyster catching industry, but this declined once the beds had been depleted.^[7] Existing buildings include the local pub, The White Eagle, reportedly a favourite of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge,^[8] and the Ysgol Gynradd Santes Gwenfaen primary school which is found just over a mile north of the village.

Probably the most significant lifeboat incident here was the launch to the Timbo. On December 1, 1920 the small coaster, was en route to Ireland from Holyhead when she was overcome by a storm off South Stack and began to drift down the coast. The lifeboat was launched, with great difficulty in the heavy seas, and made a number of attempts to get a line aboard her, without success, until the cox decided no more could be done and the lifeboat started its return journey, from a point close to Ynys Llanddwyn. The lifeboat capsized and 5 of the 13 man crew were lost, and, a little later, 4 men from the Timbo as well. The ship eventually became stranded at Dinas Dinlle, was eventually refloated with the use of tugs until she struck Carreg y Trai reef off Abersoch and was lost.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Rhoscolyn.

• Rhoscolyn Community Website
• Ysgol Gynradd Santes Gwenfaen, Rhoscolyn School
• Photos of Rhoscolyn and surrounding area on geograph

References

Anglesey
Towns	Amlwch Beaumaris Benllech Holyhead Llangefni Menai Bridge
Villages	Aberffraw Bachau Bodedern Bodewryd Bodffordd Bodorgan Bryngwran Brynrefail Brynsiencyn Bull Bay Burwen Cemaes Cemaes Bay Cemlyn Church Bay Dwyran Four Mile Bridge Gaerwen Gwalchmai Llaingoch Llanbadrig Llanddaniel Fab Llanddeusant Llanddona Llandegfan Llanfaes Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Llanfair-yng-Nghornwy Llanfwrog Llangoed Llangristiolus Llangwyllog Llanidan Llannerch-y-medd Llansadwrn Llantrisant Malltraeth Moelfre Newborough Penmon Penmynydd Pentraeth Pentre Berw Porth Dafarch Rhoscolyn Rhosgoch Rhosybol Rhosmeirch Rhosneigr Rhydwyn Star Trearddur Tregele Tŷ Croes Valley
Rivers	Afon Braint Afon Cadnant Afon Cefni
Ancient sites	Barclodiad y Gawres Beaumaris Castle Bodowyr Bryn Celli Ddu Bryn Gwyn stones Caer Gybi Caer Lêb Castell Bryn Gwyn Din Lligwy Lligwy Burial Chamber Llyn Cerrig Bach Llys Rhosyr St Gwenfaen's Well Tŷ Newydd
Islands	Holy Island Church Island Cribinau East Mouse Middle Mouse Puffin Island Salt Island South Stack The Skerries North Stack West Mouse Ynys Benlas Ynys Castell Ynys Dulas Ynys Feurig Ynys Gaint Ynys Gored Goch Ynys Llanddwyn Ynys Moelfre Ynys y Bîg
Topics	Parliamentary constituencies Places Schools Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Museums Scheduled Monuments SSSIs Country houses Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs

Coordinates: 53°15′N 4°36′W / 53.250°N 4.600°W / 53.250; -4.600