[Sidenote: The king's singular dream.] [Sidenote: The manor extends 28 miles.] [Sidenote: Burial place of Queen Eleanor.] Map|Names of Places. |County. | Number of Miles from | +--+------------------+----------+-----------+----------+ 47|Beaumaris[A] m.t.|Anglesea |Bangor 7|Aber 6| 9|Beaumont pa.|Cumberland|Carlisle 5|Gretna 7| +--+------------------+----------+-----------+----------+ |Dist.| Map|Names of Places. |Number of Miles from |Lond.|Population. +--+------------------+----------------------+-----+-----+ 47|Beaumaris[A] m.t.|Holyhead 22| 251| 2497| 9|Beaumont pa.|Longtown 8| 306| 276| +--+------------------+----------------------+-----+-----+ [A] BEAUMARIS, though but a small place, is the capital of the island; it is finely situated on a low shore, called Beaumaris Bay. The present town appears to have originated from the circumstance of a castle having been erected here about the close of the 13th century, by Edward I. It lies close to the town, covering a large space of ground, in a low situation. Its erection was subsequent to its proud rivals Conway and Caernarvon. The necessity of the present castle arose from Rhyddlan, upon the opposite shore, being often possessed by the Welsh princes. It appears to have been the last of the three great fortresses erected by Edward. On the conquest of Wales in 1295, he fixed upon this spot with a view of surrounding it with a fosse, for the double purpose of defence, and bringing small craft to unload their cargoes under its walls, by a canal, part of which was, till lately, remaining. From the period of its erection to the time of Charles I., it does not appear to have been at all conspicuous on the page of history. A communication was made between various parts of the inner court, by means of a surrounding gallery, about six feet wide, a considerable portion of which is yet entire. Within recesses, in the sides of the gallery, are several square apertures, apparently once furnished with trap doors, which opened into rooms beneath; but their use has not been ascertained. Mr. Grose thinks they might have been used for the purposes of imprisonment. A tennis, fives court, and bowling-green, have been formed within the interior. The town of Beaumaris was surrounded with walls, for its defence, and placed under the government of a corporation, endowed with various privileges and lands. Mr. Lloyd supposes, from local tokens being circulated by opulent tradesmen, about the year 1650, of which he had several in his possession, that it was a place of considerable traffic. The present town consists of several streets, of which one terminated by the castle is handsome, and the houses are generally well built. Beaumaris is much frequented during the summer months, by numerous genteel families, attracted by the pleasantness of this part of the