Final resting place for the coffin of a princess of Gwynedd.

Beaumaris, meaning ‘the beautiful marsh’, stands at the eastern end of the Menai Strait, the narrow waterway that separates Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. The town was created by Edward I as a way of asserting his new dominion over North Wales after he conquered it in 1283. Like the magnificent castle just down the road, the church was mostly built in the early 14th century.

The church’s main attraction is considerably older than the building itself. In the south porch is a plain, 13th-century stone coffin topped by a beautifully decorated lid – a masterpiece of the stone carver’s art. The upper part depicts the torso and head of a woman. Her hands are raised before her chest, the palms face outward in an attitude of prayer. And on her head are a wimple and crown – the chief clue to her identity. The body that once occupied this coffin was that of Joan, “the lady of Wales”, a daughter of King John of England and the wife of Llywelyn the Great.

Joan died in 1237 and was buried nearby on the Anglesey coast, at Llanfaes, where Llywelyn founded a Franciscan Friary in her memory. Joan’s coffin suffered great indignities in the years that followed, as the plaque above it records. It was used as a horse trough until the 19th century when it was rescued and bought to the church at Beaumaris. What became of her body, no one knows.

Today, however, the coffin is clearly honoured once more. The royal arms of the house of Gwynedd are displayed nearby and fresh flowers are often to be found on the lid – suggesting the affection still felt for this daughter of an English king and wife of a Welsh prince.

Pay your respects to a Welsh princess and explore the attractive town of Beaumaris.

• Accessible by Public Transport
• Parking
• Good Walks Nearby

Entry Fees

Free Entry

Directions

By Road

The church is easily located in the centre of the town of Beaumaris, a few hundred yards from the A545.

By Rail

8 miles from Llanfairpwllgwyngyll railway station.

By Bus

Several buses serve Beaumaris. Call Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or go online at http://www.traveline-cymru.info for the latest public transport information.

By Bike

The church is located in the centre of the town of Beaumaris.

Walking

The church is located in the centre of the town of Beaumaris.

Access Details

Easy. No dogs allowed.

Practical Details

Full Figure Grid Reference: NGR SH60407612 Coordinates for Garmin satnav users: -4.094646, 53.263659 OS explorer map sheet: 263

Contact

Address

Church Street, Beaumaris, LL58 8BN