Penmon Priory Extortionate Car Parking

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Penmon Priory Extortionate Car Parking

by Jenny Wilkinson
(Leicestershire)

We visited beautiful Penmon Priory on Anglesey last summer. Be very careful where you park your car though.

The guide we had said parking for Penmon priory was the free but the obvious car park is apparently on a private estate and requires payment to a chap in a shed who told us that we would be prosecuted if we didn't pay up.

Even if we left straight away (we had been stopped for about a minute)we would still have to pay. He was very rude and upset the children.

It looked a great place but the reception was hostile and I must admid to feeling physically threatened. We paid and left.

Such a shame as we could see the old building called a Dovecote and the old St Seiriol's well allegedly dating back to the time of the early Christian saints in Wales.

This is lovely part of the world with a pleassant view to the mainland but I must say, Anglesey is let down by some strange way of doing things like these extortionate car park fees at Penmon.

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Penmon Priory Extortionate Car Parking

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Sep 26, 2011
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rude
by: Anonymous

I live on the island - I am sick and tired of the hostility one faces when visiting a site of ancestral importance and significance.

There is seemingly nothing to authorise this charge - therefore we are making it our mission to make this terribly rude man's working life as difficult as we can.

This is a con. There is no authority to charge here.

Aug 22, 2011
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Penmon still the same?
by: Anonymous

Interesting comments page!

I was hoping that the situation would have changed since we visited Penmon some years ago but these comments suggest, sadley, it is the same. When we went with my disabled child I was met by a rather abusive attendent (the bouncer?) who barely let me get out of the car before demanding money and pointing at the back of sign (that didn't say anything about paying). This immediately upset me and basically ruined our visit to this holy site.

How different it would have been if he had greeted us in a friendly manner, prehaps asked if he could help unload the wheelchair and maybe point out the features of the locality - then I would have paid, no questions asked!

A proper sign would have helped as the only sign indicating payment looked like it was to drive further on down the road. I got a very intimidating and abusive reply when I asked for clarification (evidently he is authorised to behave like this by Lord, Sir... ) I spent the visit to the church continually wondering about what he might be doing to my car on his private land; maybe clamping it and suggesting that I refused to pay? (I didn't get issued with a ticket, he just took the cash, so I had no means of proving I had paid). In the end my car was alright and we left early without further problem.

I have no issue with paying to park but I wasn't ready for instantly abusive attitude of this guy.

We have not been back.

Jun 25, 2011
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penmon Priory Extortionate Parking
by: SARGEANT PIGEON

...well done mate! I suspect the bouncer would have developed a thick skin by now, with all the rebuffs.

Lets just hope the doves/or pigeons decide to repopulate the building to the right of the Bouncer Hut.

That way, what goes around, should with any luck 'fall on top'.

Apr 21, 2011
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Bouncer
by: Anonymous

There seems to be thread here. Arrived at penmon this morning at 08.30, followed closely by a white car. The driver turned out to be the car park bouncer. Demanded money on the spot without any greeting, explanation or identification. We had 'words'. I left without paying. What a plonker.

Feb 28, 2011
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progress
by: Prayer Warrior

Called Anglesey County Council (ACC) today

..hmmm, well it looks like the County Council agree that the land is private and owned by Sir Richard'...and the Priory for that matter.

Sir Richard' thank you for saving this place from development, the Holy Spirit is definitely in there and thanks, I suspect, to your parishoners for being prayerful people.

The ACC says that the highway finishes 'just before the little stone hut', for those that dont't know thats the stone hut on the left with the faded no parking daubed in paint: just after the Baron Hill Estate (15mph) sign which the bounders (sorry bouncers) said meant that I had to pay up...because its a car park as well.

Why, because he said so, thats why?

I mentioned the 42,800 hits on Google for the 'Penmom Priory Exortionate Car Parking' page: no comment...what a professional and sensible person.

Oh, looks like I'm going to have to contact Sir Richard' to see whether he will let me park outside the Priory for free, whilst I go into the Priory to pray?

PS I dont mind putting more than �2.50 in the collection box - it feels better than giving it to three bouncers at the Toll Gate.

Feb 26, 2011
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Feb 2011
by: Anonymous

Sir Richard Buckley

Is parking outside the Penmon Priory chargeable?

No one seems to know?

The bouncers at Trwyn Du Black Point Toll Gate enforce to think so.

Who knowws?

All I wanted to do was pray in the Priory something which has been done for centuries.

I was willing to tithe as well - but sorry your man on the gate, said its private land 'didint you see the sign' - it's pay up!

Please advise: Im sure your ancestors would be a bit upset that the coffers for the church was going to the bouncers at the Toll Gate.

Sep 14, 2010
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Car Parking
by: Anonymous

If motorists are charged to use the park and ride transport into Valletta, another cheap parking option needs to be introduced to ensure the capital is accessible to everyone, former Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett believes.

Jul 03, 2010
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Rude Car Park Attendant
by: Anonymous

I stumbled across this as I am looking for ways to avoid this chap, with whom I've tried to deal with for 6 years.

As a tour guide I have paid a great deal of money to him for the privilege of mostly being snarled at.

(A season ticket costs �25 and single visit �2.50 - although more often than not you don't get a ticket). A couple of days ago he was actually insulting towards me which was noticed by my group who consisted of Sri Lankans, Americans and Canadians.

They were upset - particularly the Sri Lankan gentlemen. My visitors often notice the resentment of some Welsh towards the English.

However, they don't realise they actually are shooting themselves in the foot. Who wants to visit a place - however beautiful - which is full of surly people?

Just think yourself lucky you didn't meet his mother-in-law! I had the misfortune of her wrath when I had forgotten my season ticket and refused to pay again, saying that they must have had a record of my ticket (which was a crooked photocopied piece of green paper).

Curious to know what connection these people are to Lord Bulkeley?

Jun 04, 2010
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penmon priory stress car parking
by: Anonymous

I should have said that a nice clear sign would resolve this problem and no one would get stressed (although it would be difficult to be too stressed in such a great place!).

Jun 04, 2010
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More penmon parking woes
by: Anonymous

I had a very similar experience, it "looked" like the charge was for driving down to the point but he pointed out a small sign mentioning the estate. I tried to explain that I wanted to find out the times of services so that we could attend one later in the week, as we did many years ago - he said you ALWAYS had to pay and he didn't know the times. I paid up, went to the church and was back in the car within 2 minutes. The most expensive two minutes parking ever! I looked online when I got back and many places say there is free parking at the Priory. Was it worth it - yes, a very spiritual place (paid again!!!) and I guess I forgive the parking attendent, I just wish he had been nicer about it - please remember that all Welsh people are not like him, most are very pleasant!

Jun 04, 2010
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Parking at Penmon
by: Anonymous

The land is privately owned and the charge is for parking or driving down to the point. The only exception are people attending church services. In my experience the guy in the hut only gets upset when people refuse to pay, understandably. People don't complain when they park and pay for car parks in Bangor or Beumaris, why so here?

May 04, 2010
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How sad
by: Liz Thomas

I'm sad to see this comment.

I used to go to Penmon regularly as a child with my father -- of course there were no car parks in those days and it wasn't even a recognised tourism spot -- father knew everyone and we just visited and I thought that was normal and everyone did it and enjoyed it.

Of course, nowadays it is all different and it is good to know that these wonderful places are being preserved and given the publicity they deserve.

I cannot help but think that Jenny has been made a victim by someone abusing his power.

Did you report this to the Anglesey Tourism Authorities? If not, I do wish you would, it is all too easy in these places for unscrupulous individuals to take the law into their own hands if they are not supervised.

Please try and visit again, you will love the dovecote and the well -- all part of the memories of my childhood which I would love your children to experience too.

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Penmon Priory Extortionate Car Parking

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Penmon Priory Extortionate Car Parking