The island of Anglesey, lying off the coast of north-west Wales, has experienced waves of invasions over the centuries. Its inhabitants have worked on the land, surrounding waters and local industries through the many changes that have taken place on Anglesey up to the present day. Agriculture has played an important role on the island, but its natural resources have also been exploited and harnessed, from copper and coal mining, iron extraction, stone quarrying, to wind and tidal mills and the now decommissioned nuclear power station at Wylfa. Maritime activities have included shipbuilding, fishing, whaling, lighthouses and lifeboat stations and the island has also been an important militarily home of the Catalina factory and RAF Valley. The port of Holyhead has long been important for people travelling between Britain and Ireland, and roads, railways and bridges built on the island by Telford and Stephenson during the Industrial Revolution onwards still facilitate the tourism trade today, which is a significant element of Anglesey’s economy.

Anglesey at Work explores the working life of this island in North Wales. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Anglesey.