Welsh Journals

SEAFARING ALONG THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST IN THE DAYS OF THE SAILING SHIPS Emeritus Professor E. G. Bowen, M.A., D.Litt., F.S.A. One of the essential physical features of Pembrokeshire is its peninsular character. This is true not only of the county as a whole, but also of its several parts. Jutting out from the north-west is the Pen-caer peninsula, followed to the westward by that of Dewisland. South of this lies the Dale peninsula, followed beyond the Haven by that of Castlemartin. Each of these in turn is broken up by the action of the sea into lesser peninsulas, thereby giving the county its multi- peninsular character. This basic physical factor has meant that the influence of the sea throughout the area is all-pervading, and indeed, the magnificent ria coastline has meant that the sea has flooded the river valleys and their tributaries far inland, so that there are very few parts of Pembrokeshire that are more than ten miles distant from tidal water. Such conditions were ideal for the brigs, brigantines, sloops and schooners that made up the merchant fleet of former times -a fleet that plied to and fro along the coast and often times sailed far out across the seas, in the days before the steam ship. Before the coming of the railways and modem roads, it is no exaggeration to say that it was easier to move by sea from one place to another in south-west Wales, than it was to move by land. It is no wonder, therefore, that we find the coastland of Pembrokeshire dotted with little ports, creeks, and harbours right around from St. Dogmaels to St. Issell's, and that Pembroke itself, together with Cardiff (and Chester for the North), were officially designated as the Head Ports of Wales in Tudor times. It is to Tudor times that we must look for our first really detailed information regarding Pembrokeshire shipping, to be found in the Port Book Records of the middle of the sixteenth century. These Books originated with the measures taken to improve the administration of the English Customs Revenue and to establish effective control over the coasting trade of the country as a whole. By the middle of the century a great deal had been accomplished in establishing law and order in Welsh maritime affairs. The ever present danger of invasion from Spain meant that our Western Approaches were specially guarded, so the defences of the Welsh coast were considerably improved-as we know from the history of Tenby. Likewise, under Queen Elizabeth strong measures were taken to suppress piracy on the Welsh coast and this, in turn, led to careful surveys being made of all the ports, creeks and landing places in Wales, and to the appointment of competent officers to supervise local trading activities. A document drawn up in the year 1566 gives the names of all the ports, creeks, havens and landing places in Pembroke- shire, based on the certificates returned to the Piracy Commissions appointed in 1565 and 1577 for the suppression of piracy, and the