450 THE MENAI BRIDGE. PART VII F. 



work ; the material being brought in barges from the 

 quarries opened at Penmon Point, on the north-eastern 

 extremity of the Isle of Anglesea, a little to the westward 

 of the northern opening of the Strait. When the surface 

 of the rock had been levelled and the causeway com- 

 pleted, the first stone of the main pier was laid by 

 Mr. W. A. Provis, the resident engineer, on the 10th of 

 August, 1819 ; but not the slightest ceremony was 

 observed on the occasion. 



Later in the autumn preparations were made for 

 proceeding with the foundations of the eastern main 

 pier on the Bangor side of the Strait. After exca- 

 vating the beach to a depth of seven feet, a solid mass 

 of rock was reached, which served the purpose of an 

 immoveable foundation for the pier. At the same time 

 workshops were erected ; builders, artisans, and labourers 

 were brought together from distant quarters ; vessels and 

 barges were purchased or built for the special purpose of 

 the work ; a quay was constructed at Penmon Point for 

 loading the stones for the piers ; and all the requisite 

 preliminary arrangements were made for proceeding with 

 the building operations in the ensuing season. 



A careful specification of the masonry work was drawn 

 up, and the contract first let to Messrs. Stapleton and 

 Hall ; but as they did not proceed satisfactorily, and 

 desired to be released from the contract, it was re-let 

 on the same terms to Mr. John Wilson, one of Mr. 

 Telford's principal contractors for mason work on the 

 Caledonian Canal. The building operations were begun 

 with great vigour early in 1820. The three arches on 

 the Caernarvonshire ' side and the four on the Anglesea 

 side were first proceeded with. They are of immense mag- 

 nitude, and occupied four years in construction, having 

 been finished late in the autumn of 1824. These piers 

 are 65 feet in height from high water line to the springing 

 of the arches, the span of each being 52 feet 6 inches. 

 The work of the main piers also made satisfactory 



