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Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest photos (90 available)

Old photo of Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest maps (2 available)

Old map of Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest books (5 available)

Haverfordwest memories

The abandoned car.

Haverfordwest, High Street c1950

This photograph shows my father's car reg EDE 3 at the traffic lights in Castle Square. He was William Gywther Thomas, Divisional Highways Surveyor. The reason the car looks as if it has been abandoned was that the traffic lights had failed and father was investigating the reason at the control box on the corner of the street to the left of the photograph out of shot. The police are there to direct the traffic which was not very taxing as you can see from the volume of traffic passing through the square.
Contributed by Mr D Thomas

Dyfed memories

The abandoned car.

Haverfordwest, High Street c1950

This photograph shows my father's car reg EDE 3 at the traffic lights in Castle Square. He was William Gywther Thomas, Divisional Highways Surveyor. The reason the car looks as if it has been abandoned was that the traffic lights had failed and father was investigating the reason at the control box on the corner of the street to the left of the photograph out of shot. The police are there to direct the traffic which was not very taxing as you can see from the volume of traffic passing through the square.
A memory of Haverfordwest contributed by Mr D Thomas

Castle Quay, Pembroke

Pembroke, the Castle 1890

The white dust on the water in the Pembroke photgraphs is flour from the Town Watermill. After a minor fire this lovely building was wickedly destroyed by the Council. It would be a major attraction today.
A memory of Pembroke contributed by Max Sinclair

Robblins Sweet shop

Narberth, Coxhill Council Estate c1955

I remember Mrs Robblin used to keep a sweet shop in her pantry, which you had to walk through her living room to get to. I lived in Hill Park and as children we would walk up to the top of Coxhill and her house was tucked in on the left hand side.
I remember there would usually be a coal fire burning and two gentlemen sat on a sofa smoking their pipes!
Years later my Aunty, Uncle and cousin lived in the very house, and it had been modernised by then.
A memory of Narberth contributed by Philippa Price

Extracts From Haverfordwest & Dyfed books

Haverfordwest, the Castle from the River 1890

It is thought that Gilbert de Clare fortified the site in the early 12th century, but the ruins seen here date from the stronghold built by Walter de Valence in the 13th century. The castle withstood attacks from Llywelyn the Great and Owain Glyndwr only to be slighted by Parliament in 1646.
An extract from from"Welsh Castles".

Haverfordwest, the Castle from the River 1890

An evocative view from the north-east of the part of the town immediately below the castle and the impressive castle and prison itself. The watch-tower in the roof of the new prison was built so the guards could observe all activity in the exercise yards. These buildings in the shadow of the castle walls were the site of the Marychurch Foundry, the town’s biggest employer until its closure in the mid-1930s.
An extract from from"Haverfordwest Town and City Memories".

Haverfordwest, from the River 1890

A superb view looking up the Western Cleddau into Haverfordwest with the castle in the center and the tower of St Thomas a Becket on the hill overlooking it. Note the steamer in the forefront of the picture. The priory ruins can just be seen across the river and below St Thomas`.
An extract from from"Haverfordwest Town and City Memories".

Haverfordwest, the New Bridge 1890

The wall on the left, on which the child is sitting, is known as New Quay, and the flight of steps leads to Victoria Place, built at the same time as the bridge in 1837. Part of Lewis’s furniture warehouse can be seen on the right.
An extract from from"Pembrokeshire Photographic Memories".

Haverfordwest, St Mary's Church 1890

Dominating this area of the town is St Mary’s Church. The siting of this church dedicated to St Mary is enigmatic, but was possibly built near to a re-sited market place in the late 12th century. The building was originally graced with an impressive leaded spire and was perhaps the finest of the three in the town. Its bells would have rung out over the town adding its peal to those of St Martin’s, St Thomas’s, the Friary and, we assume, those of the Priory as well. Nearby is a surviving medieval structure known as ‘The Crypt’. Theories as to its use are plentiful but one strong contender is that it was a ‘charnel vault’ to store bones from the overcrowded graveyard. It was almost lost in the interests of road improvements, but fortunately an alternative scheme was settled on. The churchyard was once the setting for the town’s thriving markets until townsfolk complained about the large number of butchers’ stalls in the churchyard and in 1773 the churchwardens and the mayor went so far as to prevent the traders from entering the churchyard. A legal battle ensued, but the stalls were eventually relocated. A large purpose-built market house was opened in 1825.
An extract from from"Haverfordwest Town and City Memories".