Pembrokeshire – Pembroke Dock
Compared to its neighbouring town, Pembroke Dock is relatively new, built around 1814 as a result of the establishment of the Royal Dockyard, but as proud of its naval background as any other town near the sea.
Many famous ships were built in the dockyard, including the ‘Victoria and Albert’, the last of five yachts built there for the royal family. The first war ships built there were the ‘Valorous’ and the ‘Ariadne’ and in the middle of the 20th century it was famous as the main home of the Sunderland flying boats, which regularly landed and took off from the waters off Hobbs Point. The town is also very proud of its current link with ‘HMS Pembroke’.
It now plays host to the Irish Ferries’ link from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare in Southern Ireland, with many visitors travelling through on their way to and from the Emerald Isle, whilst the terminal for British Rail takes travellers from there to Swansea, Cardiff and London. The Cleddau Toll Bridge provides the road link with North Pembrokeshire and the coastal road to Cardigan, Aberystwyth and North Wales.
The local police station and South Pembrokeshire Hospital are situated in Pembroke Dock, alongside the main library and Citizen’s Advice Bureau, with the town well served by the Pater Hall, run by Pembroke Dock Town Council, whilst large shops like Woolworth’s, Asda, Tesco’s, Quicksave, Lidl and Focus Do-It-All are part of the town’s services. There are also small shops aplenty in the town itself; with estate agents FBM situated just a mile up the road at Pembroke.
There is a McDonald’s fast food outlet and good food to be found at the Ferry Inn, la Brasseria, the First and Last Inn and the Cleddau Bridge Hotel, which has accommodation alongside the Travel Lodge Pembroke Dock Hotel and the Dolphin Hotel, situated conveniently for the ferry entry.
The Martello Tower was built in 1851 and now houses a museum, while the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society is committed to keeping their subject in the public eye. There is still talk of a marina being sited on the town’s waterway and there are friendly welcomes at the local football, rugby, cricket, tennis and bowls clubs, whilst the South Pembs Golf Club provides a ‘good walk spoilt’ for those who enjoy playing 18 holes and looking at panoramic views of the haven.
