HENLLYS HALL BEAUMARIS ANGLESEY Assessment Report

In February and March 2001, an archaeological desktop assessment and field survey of a 3ha site at Henllys Hall Hotel, north of Beaumaris, Anglesey (NGR SH 6005 7760), was
conducted by Lancaster University Archaeological Unit (LUAU), at the request of John Moore and Partners. The assessment was designed to meet the terms of a brief set by the Gwynedd Archaeological Planning Service, and comprised a survey of available documentary and cartographic sources, a review of the results of recent archaeological investigations in the vicinity, and a walkover survey. It examined the evidence for the archaeology and history of a study area within c1km of the subject site, before examining
the specific archaeological potential of the subject site itself. The site lies c100m south-west of remains pertaining to the medieval settlement of Llanfaes. The settlement features were located on the ground by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (GAT), using geophysical survey and trial excavation techniques, following the discovery of large numbers of twelfth and thirteenth century silver coins by a metal detectorist. Documentary evidence indicates that Llan-faes was the site of a medieval maerdref, which developed into the most significant thirteenth century trading centre in Gwynedd. Documentary sources also suggest that the maerdref must have been accompanied by a llys or royal court. Although no archaeological remains of the llys have yet been found, place name and topographical evidence suggests that it was located on the site of Henllys Hall itself; ‘Henllys’ means former court. Later, Henllys was occupied by the seat of the Hampton family, and a house and associated buildings, first mapped in 1830, may have had medieval origins. Henllys Hall was rebuilt in 1852 and at the same time the site was relandscaped to provide for a new garden layout. A doorway survives from the earlier hall, incorporated into the basement of the present building and the field survey identified features that probably predate the nineteenth century landscaping. The proposed development involves the construction of several blocks of holiday
apartments and a leisure centre on the Henllys site. This evidence suggests that the development may impact firstly upon remains of the llys and early gentry house on the
elevated western part of the site, and secondly upon medieval features relating to the settlement of Llan-faes lower down to the east. In consequence, a programme of further fieldwork is recommended, in order to identify the location, condition, and significance of any remains that may be threatened. This would initially entail a programme of geophysical survey and evaluation trenching.