Catalogue description Holyhead and Shrewsbury Roads

In the early years of the 19th century, Parliament was concerned with the poor state of road communication between England and Ireland. In order that traffic and mail might be speeded up Thomas Telford was asked to survey the possible lines of route in North Wales with a view to effecting improvement. His report was given to the Lords of Treasury in April 1811.

Under the Holyhead Roads Act of 1815 (and later Acts), loans were provided for the improvement of the London to Holyhead road and commissioners were appointed under the same Act to execute the work, a start being made in 1815. The Holyhead Roads Commissioners were also responsible for the maintenance of Holyhead Harbour and the building and upkeep of the Menai and Conway bridges.

Many additional tolls were instituted along the route from London to Holyhead, supplementing those existing, the revenue from tolls being used to repay the loans authorised by Parliament. Later, turnpike trusts were formed to control the revenue from the many tollgates.

In February 1818 Thomas Telford was asked to survey the whole route from London, to report on the effectiveness of the work being carried out, and to suggest possible variations of the existing route and to generally supervise the continuing construction. Thomas Telford's design for a suspension bridge over the Menai Straits in place of the existing ferry was accepted in preference to previously submitted plans of more orthodox design, and work on the bridge was commenced in 1820, the bridge was completed in 1826.

From September 1840, the care and maintenance of the road was vested in the Office of Woods and Forests. From November 1844, the road was transferred to the charge of county authorities and in 1919, to the Ministry of Transport.