"Over the past twenty or thirty years the town of Pembroke Dock has seen more visitors than at any time in its admittedly, brief history. Interestingly, that huge influx of visitors has been almost totally due to the same elements that brought the town into existence in the first place - the sea and ships.
"The recent developments and gradual increase in people passing through the town have been largely due to the Irish ferry service, now based in the eastern part of the old dockyard. The original purpose behind the place was, quite simply, to build ships, warships for the Royal Navy.
"Most present day visitors to the town, even those ferry passengers who regularly and happily trundle through the streets and, eventually, through the walls of the old dockyard with their minds focussed on holidays or jobs ahead, have little or no understanding of what they are passing by.
"It is understandable. Little has been written about the town and dockyard at Pembroke Dock. The place has been largely forgotten and, these days, warrants little more than a casual mention in most naval histories. Visitors might be excused for thinking that the remains of buildings and walls so casually glimpsed through the car or lorry windows as they speed into the ferry port hold little more than a few minor slipways and jetties. How wrong they are.
"Interminable building work, the stark outlines of the ferry terminal and jetty, the numerous local business initiatives that have come and gone with increasing regularity over the years, may well dominate the remains of the dockyard these days. They tell nothing of the glory and the fame that were once inextricably linked to the name of Pembroke Dock.
"The Royal Naval Dockyard at Pembroke Dock was the only such establishment to exist in Wales - if you discount the short lived and misguided venture at nearby Milford. Founded in 1814, for a brief span of 112 years the yard at Pembroke Dock was one of the most important shipbuilding centres in the country, arguably the world. The Chief Constructor of the US Navy once apparently called the place "the first shipbuilding yards in the world." The man in question was Philip Hichborn and what he actually said was that while the yards were wonderful for building they had just one dock and no basins and, therefore, its scope was limited. Despite this undoubtedly accurate appraisal and assessment of Pembroke Dock's limitations - limitations that prevented the yards from quite making it to the top grade of British dockyards - the place was renowned for the quality of its workmanship and for the sleek lines of the ships that it built.
"From even the most casual of investigations it is clear that the warships built at Pembroke Dock were the envy of other yards. They were, for a brief and glorious period, so innovative and revolutionary that they changed the whole nature and design of shipbuilding. It can also be argued that they changed the course of naval history.
"It is still possible to gain a flavour of the old dockyard, provided you have at least a degree of imagination and are prepared to venture beyond the main thoroughfares of the town. Walk out along the beach at Front Street when the tide is low or, perhaps, stand on the great bulk of Hobbs Point jetty. Gaze back at the remains of the once proud yards. Half close the eyes and imagine the great warships, the "Renown" and "Duke of Wellington," the "Hannibal," "Drake" and "Repulse," sliding easily down the launching ways. The names and the images are evocative beyond belief. There is no doubt that this was once a very special place.
"The dockyard may be gone but the memories remain. Perhaps the star of Pembroke Dock burned too quickly and too brightly to survive for long, rather like the moth that flickers too close, too fervently, towards the dancing flame. A period of just over one hundred years is not long for a venture like a Royal Dockyard to exist and when the yards closed in 1926 the town that had been created solely to build ships was suddenly left without reason for existence.
"Despite dozens of attempts to breathe life back into this quiet, stranded community at the farthest corner of west Wales the years since 1926 have been largely unproductive and depressing. These days the town has only its history and its memories to cling to. But what memories they are!"
Phil Carradice
This is an extract from Phil Carradice's book 'A Town Built to Build Ships - A History of Pembroke Dock', published in 2006 by Accent Press.
your comments
Frank Melvin, Clarkton, NC USA
A few years back I carried my wife from Cheltenham to Pembroke Docks looking for kin. Her Grandfather and Grandmother had lived at 23 Water Street. He was Master Mariner on the Dolphin (1800s). We enjoyed our visit and a meal at cafe on Water Street.
Tue Jun 30 17:48:41 2009
Andrew Parsell
My grandfather worked in the dockyard as a crane driver until the 1970's, and I am told that he (Tom Edwards) used to take me on the crane from one end of the dockyard down to Carrs Jetty. Being only three or four years of age, I bitterly regret not being able to remember this. It must have been 1966 when these events occured.
I am very interested in finding out where the 'Lapwing' was run aground and if there was a plan of the Pembroke Dock Dockyard as in what the names of each and every building was. So many have been knocked down and others were named when the RAF moved! in. I would love to have a map pinpointing each house/building and what they were used for. Any advice from anyone would be tremendous help.
Fri Jun 5 15:09:30 2009
Philip Jones Mid Glamorgan
My Mother was a L.A.C.W at Pembroke Dock in 1943. Her name is Beryl Wiggins. She lived in Bedlinog S.Wales and was in 201 Squadron...
Tue May 26 12:26:35 2009
Bob Howells from Jacksonville Florida
I grew up in Pennar and remain close friends with Phil. The quality and volume of his many works still astound me! Well done Phil!
Thu May 7 10:36:46 2009
Veronica Smart, Llanelli
I recently visited Pembroke Castle and then by accident found the Military Cemetary. I noticed quite a few grave stones stating that these bodies were killed at Pembroke Dock late 1800's, if anyone has any information on what may have happened there I would be grateful.
Tue Mar 24 15:22:04 2009
Jim Francis from Dover Kent
I have only recently discovered the importance of the WW1 Dock Yard through a recent article I have written on the sinking of the submarine HMS J6, built at Pebmroke Dock in 1916, sunk by friendly fire by HMS Cymric on the 15th October 1918, off Blyth, papers on the matter only recently released by HM Government. My wife's father was on board at the time.
Fri Mar 6 12:10:03 2009
Mel Phillips. Pembroke
Chuck Myles from Canada, try Pembroke Dock Guntower for information on your German U Boat. You will almost certainly find something. Guntower Volunteer
Mon Feb 2 13:26:28 2009
Bruce Burden, Waterloo Canada
I'm conducting research on the schooner Olwen,register 107050, launched at Pembroke Dock in 1897, built by J and W Francis of Milford Haven. Any info on the vessel or the builder or anyone who sailed her would be appreciated.
Mon Dec 1 11:06:32 2008
Winifred Hanny nee Cousins from Nunda, NY
My father's great uncle, Joshua Cousins born in [circa] 1830. Retired from the Royal Navy Shipyard and was awarded a pension from the British Govt. His brother Joseph Cousins also worked at the same shipyard but moved to work at a shipyard in London, Eng.
Mon Jun 2 13:29:45 2008
Graham Davies, Scotland
I remember Phil and his father Jack at the Coronation School. Jack ran the Model Railway club and arranged for visits to Aberystwyth etc. I always enjoy reading about the Dock even though I was brought up in Pembroke. Good work Phil.
Mon Jan 14 09:01:48 2008
Rose Boyd from Brixham (formerly Newport South Wal
My grand father William E Davis was at Pembroke Dock during WW1. I believe he was in the Naval Reserves. I have a picture of the men coming out of the dockyard for lunch and I also have an address where he was living.Can anyone help with some more history of the dockyard during WW1? I shall obtain the book above and read with interest.
Mon Dec 10 13:39:44 2007
Eric Covill from Rugby
My grandfather Horace Covill was an Inspector in Metropolitan Police stationed at the Royal Dockyard. My father George was born 1918 in a police house in the dockyard. Has anyone got information or photographs of the Police houses?
Wed Nov 21 09:26:26 2007
Chuck Myles, Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
Does anyone have information on German submarine U-532 which I believe came to Pembroke Dock at the conclusion of WWII? Need these facts for some research I'm doing. Appreciate your assistance.
Wed Nov 7 17:07:53 2007
Andy Davies, Penyfai.Bridgend
My Grandfather - Trevor Charles Morgan was one of the 5 firemen from Cardiff who were tragically killed in the line of duty at Pembroke Dock. On page 179 of the book " the town built to build sips " is a picture of the actual funeral cortege, can anyone assist please in how I may obtain a copy of this picture?
Wed Oct 24 09:37:05 2007
Mary Ring from Andover, MA USA
My great-grandfather, Stephen J. Whelan, came from Ireland to work as a boiler-maker in Wales. I am searching to see if he worked at the Pembroke Dock in 1860. He married a girl from Wales and I believe that he came to the USA in 1862 to work on the Monitor in New York City. Interested in any history about Irish workers in Wales.
Mon Jul 23 10:37:37 2007
Arthur Arran. Neyland
While working at Plymouth Devonport Dockyard in 2000 to 2002 on a nuclear submarine facility, (with a highly skilled workforce largely recruited from the Pembroke area) I visited the local museum and found quite a few of the figureheads of some of the Pembroke Dock ships lovingly restored to their seagoing glory. I'm sure that some of the skills from the then workforce have been passed down the generations to their great-great-grandchildren
Mon Jul 16 11:27:40 2007
Henry Leander now in S.Carolina, U.S.
I was there in 1944 with the U,S,Navy flying the Bay Of Biscay Patrol with an Austrailian Squadron flying Short Sunderlands. I've found no mention of the old PBY's.This brings back old memories .
Tue May 29 09:55:14 2007
Heather Bentley, Lincolnshire
An interesting piece on the history of the dock yard. I have just started to trace my family tree and have found my great great grandfather worked at the dockyard around 1909 a Benjamin Harries.
Thu Feb 22 09:09:01 2007
Alison Hawkins, Grand Junction. Colorado USA
Hello from Colorado, my mother was stationed at Pembroke Dock in the WAAFs as a cook, she was 17 years of age (1942).
Her name then was Irene (Peggy) Keel and was born in Gilfach Goch, we were visitors
to P.D.in 1983. She is 81 years old now and lives in British Columbia...
Mon Jan 22 14:09:46 2007
Mel Rollinson, Devon
A very interesting article, but from 1941 to 1957 the dock yard was occupied by the RAF with their flying boats - Londons and later Sunderlands who became part of Pembroke Dock and its folks. 1990 was the last reunion I know of organized by the Town Council, spent many hours flying Sunderlands in early 50's.
Wed Jan 17 09:02:49 2007
Dr.D.E. Thomas, Shrewsbury
Our family lived at 18 Bush St. form 1938 to 1949 during which time father was the Dstrict Suprintendent of the Refuge Insurance Co. that had its office at that address. Across the road was a grocer's shop whose owner was a Mr.Griffiths. This might be relevant to Norma Williamson in her search for her ancestors mentoned in her message of 24 Nov. last. My parents, brother and I were in the house during the German raid in the early hours ov 6 Nov. 1940 when a bomb caused serious damage to the doctor's house next door and the Keillers' grocery shop next door but one. There were a number of fatalities, but while our house was considreably damaged we escaped uninjury. Father continued to live in the house but Mother, my brother and I were "evacuated" to Narberth until the house had been restored sufficiently to allow our return in early '43.
Mon Jan 15 09:58:56 2007
Derrick Bond, Kettering, Northamptonshire
I am impressed by your website. My Grandmother, Winifred Gwyther, was born in
Pembroke Dock in 1865, but I have never been to Pembroke. I have been given the book you advertise and found it facsinating. I hope to visit the town this year.
Mon Jan 8 11:23:17 2007
Norma Williamson from Staffordshire
I am researching my ancesters the Griffiths family - my great great grandfather Charles Griffiths was working as a Shipwright and living at Pembroke Dock with his wife and family. He was born in 1818 and appears in the 1881 census as a superannuated Shipwright.
Thu Dec 28 12:14:54 2006
David Price, Aylesbury, Bucks
An item of interest to me as my G.Grandfather, William Davies would have been frequenting the dock in its later years as a crew member on a Trinity tender, so an inclusion for my family history file. Many thanks.
Fri Nov 24 09:49:23 2006
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