Maritime History of Pembrokeshire
History | Pembroke Dock | Newport | Milford Haven
Overview with a page for each story or area, i.e Pembroke Dock, Newport
With the help of those organisations participating in the maintenance of the history and heritage of Pembrokeshire and South East Ireland, the Celtic Maritime Connections project, together with the partners , will be working to produce a series of leaflets plotting the Maritime History of these areas.
It is intended to create interest, highlighting and advertising the Maritime history of Pembrokeshire , providing an awareness of it and the organisations supporting it, to visitors and schools.
Welsh Maritime Heritage Musings
Wales is a country perhaps best known for its coal mines and sheep farming and though there was also considerable heavy engineering including steelworks and copper works, the country does not seem to be known for its Maritime Heritage and yet!
Wales is surrounded on three sides by the sea with rugged cliffs, glorious beaches and rolling hills and whilst tourism is the major industry these days, somehow the myriad of small harbours, rivers and large ports seem almost unknown to the sailing world. The presence of these harbours and rivers of course causes interest as visitors wander, discovering quiet remote places with their half hidden relics of broken quays and port constructions from a bygone era and the questions begin to be asked.
Stepping back in time over 200 years ago to an age where we had no heavy vehicles, Lorries or trains, if you use your imagination then you will begin to understand the maritime heritage of Wales.
Remote villages developed close to the water surrounded by hills and mountains and suddenly you realise that the sea was the main and often the only means of transportation. Land owners had harbours constructed and shipyards grew up to service this need with ships being built on the foreshores, using local timber and skills. Farmers often had their own ships built to carry there own produce to distant markets and often the second son of these farmers became the skipper, usually becoming a Master Mariner, a Captain sailing around the world in great Tall Ships!
As with all movement of expensive products crime was a major factor, unprotected vessels laden with goods on their way to markets were good pickings for the unscrupulous and the Welsh coast became a hotbed of piracy with such infamous names as Black Bart, Bartholomew Roberts, who later became so well known in the Caribbean. The ground swell of complaint grew as this reign of piracy gripped the area and finally the Royal Navy had to be present effectively policing the coast.
The result was, Royal Naval dockyards and Naval ship construction in Milford Haven.
Understanding this history that welsh ancestors have left to their children, embedded in their genes, gives an understanding of the psyche and culture, yet leaves you wondering why more hasn’t been made of Welsh Maritime Heritage. After all where is the Welsh sail training ship? Why doesn’t the Urdd have a sailing or maritime wing? What about Welsh disaffected children cant they sail in a classic or traditional craft and understand the lessons that the sea teaches us?
It makes you think, what does make us Welsh and why are we forgetting our heritage?
The Forts of Milford Haven
These comprise of Dale Fort, Stack Rock Fort, Chapel Bay Battery, South Hook Fort, Thorn Island Fort, East & West Blockhouse Batteries and Pembroke Dock's East and West Martello Towers
They were all built in the 1850/60's as part of the Palmerston defences of Milford Haven
Milford Haven's Outer Defences
Pembroke Dock's Martello Towers
Tenby Museum
Tenby Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest independent museum in Wales, having been established in 1878.
The museum continues to develop its ideas and exhibitions and in its galleries the visitor can learn about the geological and archaeological development of Pembrokeshire.
Learn about
The history of the RNLI in the town,
The development of the town in the Story of Tenby Gallery,
The history of the harbour in the Ebb and Flow exhibition and
The natural history of the seashore.
Also having the opportunity to view art works by such well-known artists as Augustus and Gwen John, Nina Hamnett, David Jones, John Piper and John Knapp-Fisher to name but a few.
The museum has a permanent exhibition of art works as well as a gallery which houses temporary exhibitions with a continuously busy programme of shows.
The museum is open to the public every day during the summer and from Monday to Friday during the winter, from 10 am to 5 pm, with last admissions at 4,30pm. We also undertake research (available by appointment) including family history research.
If you wish to know more about Tenby Museum then please email at tenbymuseum@hotmail.com or telephone on (01834) 842809.
