This round trinket box with an image on its lid ‘Bangor from Anglesey’ dates from the beginning of the 20th century. The image shows a view towards the pier and the Clio ship can be seen on the Menai Straits. The origins of trinket boxes can be traced back to the history of Egypt when they were used to store cosmetics, jewellery and perfume. As well as being a practical item for storing personal belongings, they were also chosen to be used as gifts, especially to mark special occasions or celebrate milestones. They were very popular during the Victorian era with a transformation in their design and purpose and they became important to store personal mementos or items that held treasured memories.
Garth Pier or Bangor pier is a grade II listed structure that was opened in 1896 by Lord Penrhyn. The pier was designed by London based engineer JJWebster and cost £17,000 to construct. Its primary purpose was to enable steamships from Liverpool and other places to bring passengers to Bangor. The condition of the Pier deteriorated in the 1960s and it closed to the public in 1971. Bangor City Community Council purchased the pier in 1978 and a restoration project began with the pier reopening to the public in 1988. Further restoration took place in 2017 and it reopened to the public celebrating 125 years in 2021.
The Clio was a training ship moored in the Menai Straits 1877-1920. It was aimed to provide boys of a poorer background with the skills necessary for life at sea. It was also a reformatory school for delinquent boys between the ages of 12 to 16. Only a small proportion of the Clio’s residents were local boys.