Britannia Lions

In May 1970 the Britannia Bridge across the Menai Strait caught fire and, exacerbated by the pitch on the roof, the heat compromised the structural integrity of the metal box sections.

When planning the rebuild the opportunity presented itself to add another deck above the railway, for use by road traffic, opening in 1980 as the A55, the rail having already reopened in 1972.

From its 1850 origins rail passengers were able to admire the pair of stone lions at either end of the bridge but, the road being elevated, those travelling by road will not see them, and may be unaware of their presence. In 2016 there was an appeal to have the lions raised, but the appeal failed to gain approval.

Standing at twelve feet high, weighing thirty tonnes, the lions were created by sculptor John Thomas from local limestone. They were made in sections and fitted together onsite. When the bridge first opened a local poet John Evans from Menai Bridge (known as Y Barda Cocos or The Cockle Bard) penned these lines:
Pedwar llew tew (Four fat lions)
Heb ddim blew (Without any hair)
Dau 'ochr yma (Two on this side)
A dau 'ochr drew (And two over there)

We visited the lions on foot, on both sides of the Strait, with more or less success as views are limited by access and by encroaching vegetation. I give you, as main photo, that on the southwest (mainland) and as the extra that on the northeast (Anglesey) side.

(We also went to look at the cottage we should be occupying, finding it apparently in use - so who is it and why aren't we there???)