Stanley Embankment
The Stanley Embankment (known locally as the Cob) is a railway, road and cycleway embankment that connects the Island of Anglesey and Holy Island, Wales. It carries both the North Wales Coast Line for trains, which runs from Crewe to Holyhead and the A5 road between London and Holyhead. The embankment was designed by, and its construction overseen by, Thomas Telford and was named after the Stanley family who were significant benefactors to the area.
Prior to its construction the fastest route to Holyhead from the island's mainland was via the old stone bridge at Four Mile Bridge (Welsh: Pontrhydybont/Pont-rhydbont/Pontrhypont). However when the A5 road was being constructed between London and the Port of Holyhead a more direct route was needed. Construction was started in 1822 and completed only a year later and was a total of 1,170 metres long. As with most other embankments it was significantly wider at the base (35 metres) than at the top (10 metres). During its construction rubble and other raw building materials were dug out of the earth from the land on the Anglesey side of the divide. A workers hamlet was built around this artificial valley, a settlement which has since grown into a medium sized village, still named Valley even though the dip has long since gone.
