History of the Port

Mostyn merited a mention in the Norman Doomsday book of 1086.

The Quay of Mostyn (now the Port of Mostyn) has featured in the ebb and flow of history during successive centuries of change. 

Henry Bolingbroke (later Henry IV) disembarked at Mostyn Quay in 1399 before wresting the Crown from Richard II at Flint castle.

Henry Tudor Arrived at Mostyn

In 1485 Henry Tudor eluded capture at Mostyn Hall by Richard III, escaping by boat using Mostyn Quay.

History tells us he later went onto to defeat Richard III at Bosworth Field.  When he became King, Henry Tudor bestowed upon Lord Mostyn, in recognition of his valuable support, the foreshore and its mineral rights from Llinger gutter to Llanerch y Mor, a stretch of coastline either side of the port.

 A later event of historical significance in the story of Mostyn was the landing, in 1643 of the Royalist troops from Ireland during the English civil war. From Mostyn they marched on to the besieged Flint Caste.

Coal was mined within the port complex from 1295, in 1816, to keep pace with the demand and to better facilitate the shipment of coal from Mostyn in larger vessels, Lord Mostyn commissioned none other than Thomas Telford to devise mondernisation plans for the dock.

The project included an extension of the quay, with rails and gantries along its length. 

These works were carried out over a 6 year period and cost a total of £4,709-15s-2d to complete.

 

Mostyn Coal and Iron Company

Iron producing commenced at Mostyn in the mid 1800s.  The combination of a colliery, iron works and a dock made the whole enterprise extremely successful. 

In its hey-day this company employed 1900 people and exported the finished steel products worldwide through the Port of Mostyn.

The ironworks closed down in 1965, but the Port continued to operate as a commercial entity, handling various cargoes. 

Modern Developments

Over recent years the Port has erected warehouses, surfaced significant areas for storage and invested in handling equipment. 

Traditionally the port could only offer NAABSA(Not always afloat but sometimes aground ) berths.

These types of berthing facilities were very safe and indeed typical of many other ports around the British coast.

In 1998 the Port commenced the first stage of major development which was a 120m berth with 6.5m of water alongside at any state of the tide and the reclamation of 6 acres of intertidal land. 

This was designed to provide facilities for ships of up to 7000 tonnes.

This was followed by the present development of an additional 310m of quay with a minimum of 9m draught at all states of the tide and a new roll-on roll-off berth which involved the reclamation of a further 15 acres of intertidal land. 

The Port is adjacent to the Crewe – Holyhead main rail line and has its own siding together with a railhead which enables it now to offer intermodal options.