The Skinner Memorial above Turkey Shore Road

Image: © Eric Jones Taken: 4 Jul 2008

Capt John Macgregor Skinner RN, was a one-eyed, one armed, mariner born in America in 1760. (It's interesting that many of Anglesey's great figures - soldiers, sailors, preachers - were one-eyed, one armed or one-legged). After serving with the British navy in the American War of Independence, Skinner became master of a succession of Post Office operated Holyhead to Dublin mail boats. In 1832 he was washed overboard near the North Stack and drowned. A popular man, the townsfolk commemorated him by erecting this obelisk. In the wake of the tragedy a Board of Inquiry recommended the transfer of the packet service from the Post Office to the Admiralty. This is why the pier from which the ferries used to sail became known as the Admiralty Pier. Image

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