
The hamlet of Llanallgo is one of a number of settlements set back from the east coast of Anglesey close to Moelfre, North Wales. Ideally situated for all the attractions of the eastern coast of Anglesey Llanallgo is a short walk (1km) to either the sandy beach at Traeth Bychan or the pebble beach at Moelfre. The Anglesey Coastal Path passes close by at Moelfre and heads south to Benllech and the magnificent Red Wharf Bay. Head north to Porth Eilian and Amlwch on the northern coast, or stay closer to home and visit what could be one of Wales' most famous clusters of ancient monuments: the remains of the 12th Century Lligwy Church, Hen Capel Lligwy; the ruins of the Din Lligwy Hut Circle, an example of a fortified hut group dating from the latter days of the Roman occupation; and the monumental Lligwy Burial Chamber that dates back to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. All within 2kms of Llanallgo. But Llanallgo is most well known for the Church of St Gallgo and its old graveyard. The writer Charles Dickens visited the old church and wrote about it in his book The Uncommercial Traveller. On a stormy night in October 1859 the Royal Charter, a ship on its way home to Liverpool from Australia, was wrecked offshore at Moelfre and 465 people lost their lives. 140 of the drownded were buried in Llanallgo churchyard and Dickens visited Llanallgo during the Christmas of 1859. He noted that the rector of Llanallgo, the Rev Stephen Hughes had written over a thousand letters of sympathy to friends and relatives of the victims. The tragedy is recorded to this day by an obelisk in the churchyard. And as I write in 2009 the memorial is at risk of toppling and is the subject of a fund to stabilise it for the next 100 years. Contributions to the collection would be appreciated.