Trefignath Burial Chamber, Anglesey [Map] is a Neolithic burial chamber near Trearddur, south of Holyhead on Holy Island, off Anglesey in Wales. In its most complete form it included a large cairn covering three stone tombs, set on a small knoll. It was excavated between 1977 and 1979, revealing several phases of occupation with three separate burial chambers built in succession.

The Visitor’S Hand-Book For Holyhead, Comprising A History Of The Town, The Antiquities And Sublime Scenery Of The Mountain, With A Full Description Of The Wonders Of South Stack And The Gigantic New Harbour: Also, Information Respecting The Steam Packets, Railways, &C., And Other Objects Of Interest In The Town And Neighbourhood. By Thomas Jackson, R.M.:

TREFIGNETH CROMLECHI

About a mile and a half from Holyhead, at Trefigneth (a house on the quagmire) farm, may be seen some relics of Druidical superstition, and remarkable monuments of the rude art of the Ancient Britons. They are what antiquarians call cromlechi. Two derivations have been given for the word cromlech: the one, “an inclining stone,” from the British word crwm, bowed, and llech, a broad, flat stone; and the other, “a devoted stone or altar,” from the Hebrew cœrœm-luach,—the first part expressing the appearance of the upper or principal stone of the cromlech; the second, the horrible use to which, there is good reason to believe, it was put. The stones referred to are called by the Welsh, at this time, Llechen Trevigneth, i.e., Trevigneth flat stones; and the field they are in, Cae’r Llechen, flat stone field.

The writer visited these cromlechs on the 18th of February, 1853, and, assisted by a friend, measured some of the huge, unshapely stones. The western cromlech consists of 5 stones, four of which were undoubtedly uprights, but have fallen from their proper situation, and the table stone, with its flat face, reposes upon them. This superincumbent stone measures 12 feet long, including the piece broken off at the eastern end—it is 6 feet wide, and in some parts about 2 feet in diameter. One of the four stones is 10 feet long, by 4 wide, and about 10 feet in circumference. At the western end of this cromlech are three stones, but for what purpose they were originally used, I wot not.

The eastern cromlech consists of 8 stones, two of which are standing; one perpendicularly, the other in an oblique position—following the example of its companions, which have long since bowed beneath the weight or pressure of centuries;—these are 6 feet long, one of which is about 10 feet in circumference, the other 8. There is one reposing longitudinally, measuring 10 feet long, and 6 feet in circumference. The other three are of smaller dimensions. There are two table or superincumbent stones, one of which measures 10 feet long, by 6 wide; the other, p. 656 feet long, by 5 wide. When first constructed, this cromlech would have admitted a tall man to stand upright in it.

When I first approached these ruins, I felt that I was treading the sacred ground of ancient Britons; a longing to comprehend their origin came over me—a yearning to make out the dark enigma that for ages had puzzled the learned and the wise. While walking round these ancient relics, I felt somewhat astonished and bewildered. Awe, amazement, and solemnity, were as a load on my spirit, pressing heavily. I wished to know, but I was ignorant; I wished to admire, but I was awestruck.

Ages seem present; shadowy, giant forms,

And fantasies that throng the heated brain,

Are fluttering to and fro; unhallowed rites,

Obscene and cruel, and unearthly shapes,

Start into being.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1860 V7 Pages 321-333. At a later period, Aubrey must have visited the spot himself, and made the ground plan, which, reduced from a sketch inserted in the Monumenta Britannica, is here figured for the first time, from a facsimile, for the use of which we are obliged to the Rev. Canon Jackson. On this plan, Aubrey tells us that the Sepulchre is 74 paces long, 24 broade," and that the chamber or cave at the south end is "like that by Holy-head," meaning no doubt that of Y Lleche, which he had already described.³ He adds a note as to the size of the stones, which he says were 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 foote.⁴ The plan itself was clearly not laid down from measurements, and can have no pretensions to minute accuracy. We cannot, however, but conclude from it, that the continuous embankment opposite the north end of the cave, to which Professor Donaldson refers, and where he would place an "alley of stones leading to an opening in the outer ring," consists of the remains of the northern end of this oblong tumulus.

Note 3. The notice of this sepulchre in the Monumenta Britannica is as follows:

"In Anglesey, about a mile from Holy-head, on a hill near the way that leads to Beaumaris are placed certain great rude stones much after the fashion of this draught here (in margin): * * * *. The cavity is about five foot; I remember a mountain beast (or two) were at shade within it." Sir Timothy Littleton, one of the judges that went this circuit obtained a further account for Aubrey, from "a resident justice of the peace at Holyhead from which it appears that these great rough stones were about 20 in number and between 4 and 5 foot high: at the northern end stand two stones on end about two yards high above ground. Some are sunk deep and some fallen flat, which are almost overgrown with earth and grasse. They are called Y Lleche [Map] (i.e. The Stones.) They stand upon a hillock, in the parish of Caer-Gybi."There is no notice of this monument either in Pennant or Rowland ; though part of the preceding account was copied in Gibson's Camden, (1695, p. 679.) They are clearly the stones above Holy-head referred to by Aubrey in his description of Avebury Wiltshire Archæol. Mag., vol iv., p. 317.

Note 4. Aubrey's inserted notice of Wayland Smyth contains in almost every line some ill founded assertion or crude hvpothesis ; it is as follows:—

Mdm. On the top of White-Horse-hill is a Barrow called by the name of dragon-Hill. This rich and pleasant Vale of White Horse, Hengist or Horsa (a Saxon king—vide in Drayton's Polyolbion) tooke into his possession. Hengist signifies a horse, as also Horsa. The White-Horse was their Standard at the Conquest of Britaine, which is the origine of the White Horse cutt out in this chalkie hill, which is seen many miles from thence ; by the several barrows hereabout one may perceive here how many (?) battels fought. That Uter Pendragon fought against the Saxons is certayne: perhaps was here slayne, from whence Dragon-hill may take its denomination. And this great sepulchre called Wayland Smyth is not unlikely to be a great and rude monument of Hengist or Horsa, for in their countrey remaine many monuments like it. Vide Olai Wormii Monumenta Danica, v. p. 16."

Then follows the sketch of the monument, as in our anastatic plate, headed Wayland Smyth, about half-a-mile west from the White Horse in Berks."