Welcome to Milford Haven                  Croeso I Aberdaugleddau

This is the official Town Council Web-site for Milford Haven.

Milford Haven situated near the mouth of the River Cleddau, at the extreme end of south west Wales, is the largest town in the County of Pembrokeshire, with a population of just under 14,000. In the 9th and 10th Centuries Viking seafarers frequently took shelter here, the name Milford probably coming from a phonic development of two Old Norse words – Melyr/Fyord (sand bank inlet).

In the late 18th century, the Nantucket Quaker Whalers made it their home for the great whaling fleets of the age,(the first oil age), for following their persuasion to return to the Old World, the town of Milford Haven was built on the American gridiron system by Charles Francis Greville. On his visit to the town in 1802, Admiral Lord Nelson was heard to remark that he thought it was one of the great harbours of the world.

 In the early part of the 20th century, it was the base for a very large fishing industry, where it was once possible to walk across the entire width of the docks on the decks of trawlers, but following the fishing industry’s decline in the 1950’s hard times were followed by the second oil age with the construction of large oil refineries in the 1960’s onwards. A very large Marina now occupies a part of the dock basin, with local, Spanish and Belgian trawlers also using the facilities on a daily basis. A glance at the History of the Town will help both visitor and local alike, to understand what has made Milford Haven, the Town it is today.

In true traditions of the sea, just as the tide ebbs and flows, so the fortunes of the town have fluctuated over the centuries. Apart from the oil industry, making the Port of Milford Haven the sixth largest in tonnage in the UK., it has also diversified into light industry, with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, passing right though the town. The Milford Haven Port Authority, Milford Docks Company, and Marina have all made huge contributions to the well being of the town, and photographic evidence of the many and varied facets of the town can be viewed by link from this site to the excellent Photographs kindly supplied by Daniel Adams.

 There are good road and rail links to other parts of the U.K, a small local airport is based 10 miles away at Withybush, Haverfordwest, whilst Irish Ferries run twice daily package boats from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare in the Irish Republic. Travel information has been gathered for easy access, with all above modes of transport covered, not forgetting the free parking in most parts of the town.

A full list of the many facilities available in Milford Haven is included on the ‘Site, which has been structured as a facility for visitors and locals alike. Information on Education, Finance, General Information, Grants, Health and New/Media matters have all been made easily accessible, with Worship included in its own section.

The Tourism and Leisure, together with a separate Sport section provides opportunities to the most discerning person, for facilities on land or on the waterway. It must not be forgotten that the area is also included in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). There are countless places of interest inside and within a short travelling distance of the town, with more than adequate Accommodation and Restaurant facilities, for the most discerning visitor.

 It is hoped you enjoy your visit to this Web-Site, and that you find the information provided useful. Every effort has been made to provide accurate information and the Web master would welcome information on corrections as a means of continually improving the Site. Links to many other Web-Sites have been provided, and although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these web-sites, the Web master cannot be held responsible for the contents of these pages.

Please enjoy your visit.

The Web master welcomes ideas for additions and improvements to this Site.
simply E-mail at:- webmaster@milfordhaven.info