Fishguard, Pembrokeshire

Historical Description

Fishguard, a market-town, a sea-port, and a parish in Pembrokeshire. The town stands at the mouth of the river Gwaen, at the head of Fishguard Bay, 12 miles NNW of Clarbeston Road station on the G.W.R., 14¼ N of Haverford-west, 16 SW of Cardigan, 25 N of Pembroke, and 257 distant from London. A body of French troops about 1400 in number landed in its neighbourhood in 1797 and surrendered. to Earl Cawdor. Some curious remains of antiquity, indicative of settlements by the Britons and the Romans, including ruins, tumuli, Roman coins, and other relics, either exist or have been found in the vicinity. The town consists of two parts, upper and lower, presents a picturesque appearance, and forms a good centre for tourists in search of striking scenery. The upper part stands on a cliff overlooking the harbour, is irregularly built, has some steep streets, and contains the market-house, the parish church, and the principal shops. The lower part, sometimes called the Lower Town, is adjacent to the quay, and is inhabited chiefly by fishermen. A one-arched bridge spans the river. Congregational, Baptist, and Calvinistic Methodist chapels are in the town. Goodwick, a little watering-place on the W side of the-bay, about a mile distant, offers attractions for sea-bathing. The town is a contributory parliamentary borough to Pembroke and Haverfordwest. A weekly market is held on Thursday; and fairs are held on 5 Feb., Easter Tuesday, Whit Tuesday, 8 and 9 Oct., and 17 Nov. There is an extensive salmon and herring fishery, and flannel weaving is carried on to some extent. The bay measures 3 miles by 2, is the chief or almost only refuge on the coast between Milford Haven and Cardigan Bay, and affords anchorage with perfect shelter in from 2 to 6 fathoms. The town has a post, money order, and telegraph office (R.S.O.), two banks, and a "temperance hall used for concerts and public meetings. The parish comprises 4198 acres of land and 81 of foreshore and water; population, 1878. The living is a vicarage in thediocese of St David's; gross value, £180 with residence. Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church was erected in 1856.

Administration

The following is a list of the administrative units in which this place was either wholly or partly included.

Any dates in this table should be used as a guide only.

Land and Property

The Return of Owners of Land in 1873 for Pembrokeshire is available to browse.

Newspapers and Periodicals

The British Newspaper Archive have fully searchable digitised copies of the following newspapers online:

• South Wales Daily News
• The Cardiff Times
• Western Mail