Museums, archives and heritage in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire, a maritime county of South Wales, washed by the sea on all sides excepting the NE. and E., where it is bounded respectively by Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire; greatest length, N. to S., about 30 miles; greatest breadth, E. to W., about 25 miles; area, 391,181 acres, population 91,824. The coast line, which on the S. is rugged and inhospitable, shows several indentations of more or less importance to mariners; they include St Bride’s Bay and Milford. Haven in the S., and Newport and Fishguard Bays in the N. Inland the surface of the co. displays a succession of green hills, with fertile valleys intervening. Among the Preseley Hills the highest elevation (1764 ft.) is reached. The chief rivers are the Teifi, which separates the co. from Cardiganshire in the NE., the East Cleddau, and the West Cleddau. Considerable variety characterises the soil; in the S. it is very productive, and in the NW. it is excellently suited for barley growing; but in the hilly and coal districts it is very poor. Owing to the violence of the SW. wind there is comparatively little timber, excepting in sheltered spots. Oats, barley, and potatoes are the chief crops, all being raised under very careful farming. Coal, lead, iron, and slate are the only minerals of the co. having a commercial value. From the number of English-speaking people in Pembrokeshire (chiefly through the settlement of a colony of Flemings, who adopted the English tongue), the county has been called ‘Little England beyond Wales’. It comprises 7 hundreds, 153 parish, with part of 1 other, the Pembroke District of Parliamentary Boroughs (Pembroke, Milford, Tenby, Wiston, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, and Narberth), and the municipal boroughs of Haverfordwest, Pembroke, and Tenby.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Carew Castle & Tidal Mill

Carew Castle, Carew

Nr Tenby SA70 8SL

01646 651782

www.carewcastle.com

The magnificent Carew Castle has a history spanning 2000 years. Set in a stunning location, overlooking a 23 acre millpond, the castle displays the development from a Norman fortification to an Elizabethan country house. Carew Castle still belongs to the Carew family.

Carew Cheriton Control Tower

near Tenby SA70 8PD

www.carewcheritoncontroltower.co.uk

An old WW2 airfield, renovated by volunteers. RAF Carew Cheriton was first used during the First World War as a Royal Naval Air Station.

Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort

Meline

Nr Crymych SA41 3UT

01239 891319

castellhenllys.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

Castell Henllys is a prehistoric promontory forts dating to around 600BC, the site of excavations for twenty years and home to several re-constructed thatched Iron Age buildings.

Haverfordwest Town Museum

Castle House

Haverfordwest SA61 2EF

01437 763087

www.haverfordwest-town-museum.org.uk

The museum seeks to give a flavour of the great heritage of Haverfordwest, a rich history from the Norman times to the present day. Using artefacts, photography and touch screen multimedia presentations the past is interpreted in an interesting and innovative way.

Lamphey Bishop’s Palace

Lamphey SA71 5NT

01646 672224

goo.gl/wgs065

Now, as in the past, this is a place to seek solice from the stresses of everyday life. The medieval bishops of St Davids chose just the right place for a lavish sanctuary.

Milford Haven Heritage & Maritime Museum

The Old Custom House, The Docks

Milford Haven SA73 3AF

01646 694 496

goo.gl/AJHBd8

Housed in the old custom house on the quayside, the museum recreates Milford’s colourful past focusing, naturally, on its maritime history.

Narberth Museum

The Bonded Stores, Church Street, Narberth

Narberth SA67 7BH

01834 860500

www.narberthmuseum.co.uk

Narberth Museum has recently re-opened in the historic Bonded Stores. Here you can discover more about the people and places that define this ancient market town.

Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust

1 The Terrace, Royal Dockyard

Pembroke Dock SA72 6YH

01646 684220

www.sunderlandtrust.com

Heritage group which has two established visitor attractions in the former military town of Pembroke Dock and is leading heritage initiatives.

Pembrokeshire Record Office

The Castle

Haverfordwest SA61 2EF

01437 763707

goo.gl/X1oHde

Are you interested in your ancestors, the history of your house, the story of your village, parish, town, church, chapel or any aspect of Pembrokeshire’s history? Pembrokeshire Archives holds historical sources ranging from a document from 1272 to last week’s local newspaper.

Penrhos Cottage

Llanycefn

Clunderwen SA66 7XT

01437 731328

www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/content.asp?id=5877&d1=0

This tiny cottage was built as a ty un nos (house built in one night) around 1800 and last occupied in 1967. It is the last thatched cottage in Pembrokeshire.

Picton Castle & Gardens

The Rhos

Haverfordwest SA62 4AS

01437 751326

www.pictoncastle.co.uk

A spectacular forty acre garden surrounding a 13th century fairy tale castle, with an ever changing pattern of colours and scents throughout the seasons, which never fails to enchant the visitor. A Royal Horticultural Society partner garden.

Scolton Manor Museum

Pembrokeshire Museums Service, Scolton Manor, Spittal

Haverfordwest SA62 5QL

01437 731328

goo.gl/0LGbXb

A traditional Victorian country house, Scolton Manor was home to successive generations of the Higgon family, until it was bought by Pembrokeshire County Council in 1972. The house has been sympathetically restored in order to provide visitors with a taste of Victorian society and style, both above and below stairs. The site also provides a home for the County Museum collection which includes fine art, photographs, costume and agricultural collections.

St David’s Bishop’s Palace

St Davids SA62 6PE

01437 720517

goo.gl/v4HuZ1

High walls, high carved stone human heads and mystical beasts. Only the striking chequerboard stonework hints at what lies within what was once the fabulous palace of the medieval bishops of St David’s, built a stone’s throw from the cathedral.

Tenby Museum & Art Gallery

Castle Hill

Tenby SA70 7BP

01834 842809

www.tenbymuseum.org.uk

Tenby Museum was founded in 1878 by a group of interested gentlemen; it is now the oldest independent museum in Wales. The building is Grade II listed and situated in part of the old town castle.