A5 and A5 Archaeological Survey Enhancement Phase 2A, North Wales. Survey Report

This report presents the results of a brief programme of research and fieldwork in
North Wales, which was intended to enhance the database created during an earlier
archaeological survey of Thomas Telford's Holyhead road, between Holyhead and the
English border (largely coincident with the present A5) undertaken in autumn 1998
(LUAU 1999). As a part of this project, sites on the A5 were revisited, and an
archaeological survey was undertaken of the road built by Telford between Bangor (or
Llandegai) and Conwy as part of his Holyhead-Chester road. The route of this road
largely coincides with that of the present A55. It was felt that it deserved study not
only as an important historic route in North Wales, but also as an example of civil
engineering by one of its best-known practitioners in a time of great industrial and
social change.
A rapid desktop survey was undertaken during which historic maps, listings and other
sources were consulted. A programme of fieldwork followed during which the Chester
road route between Bangor and Conwy was subjected to an identification survey.