Aberdaugleddau

Settlement in Pembrokeshire

Wales

Aberdaugleddau

Oil terminal, Popton Point One of the two Texaco piers. — Oil terminal, Popton Point Credit: Richard Webb

Aberdaugleddau, also known as Milford Haven, is a town and natural harbor located on the western coast of Wales, in Pembrokeshire. Situated at the estuary of the River Cleddau, it is the largest port in Wales and one of the deepest natural harbors in the world. Aberdaugleddau is approximately 85 miles west of Cardiff and 20 miles northwest of Pembroke.

The town has a rich maritime history dating back to the Middle Ages when it served as a significant trading port. Today, it is a thriving industrial center, primarily known for its oil and gas industry, with several oil refineries and terminals located in the area. The harbor also serves as a base for a variety of maritime activities, including fishing, sailing, and water sports.

Aberdaugleddau offers visitors and residents a range of attractions, such as the Milford Haven Museum, which showcases the town's maritime heritage, and the Milford Waterfront, a vibrant development with shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities. The town is also surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, including the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and exploring picturesque beaches.

In terms of infrastructure, Aberdaugleddau boasts excellent transport links, with a railway station connecting it to the Welsh rail network and regular ferry services to Ireland. It is also well-connected by road, with the A477 and A4076 providing easy access to nearby towns and cities.

Overall, Aberdaugleddau is a bustling town with a rich maritime history, a thriving industrial sector, and stunning natural surroundings, making it an appealing destination for both visitors and residents alike.

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Aberdaugleddau Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.713037/-5.036052 or Grid Reference SM9005. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Oil terminal, Popton Point

One of the two Texaco piers.

Richard Webb

Jetty at Hakin

With Milford Haven pilots.

Jennifer Luther Thomas

Hubberston Church

Jennifer Luther Thomas

Across Gelliswick Bay

With the disused Fort Hubberston occupying the headland.

Jennifer Luther Thomas

Tanker "Anna Knutsen" at Texaco oil terminal , Popton point

Mike Graham

Liddeston "Long" Stone

The surviving stump of this standing stone is presumably an abbreviated version of its former stature - unless its name was intended ironically! Fragments of the old red sandstone of which it is formed lie crumbled around the base and it can only be a matter of time before the entire stone is weathered out of existence, or ploughed under. The situation is the crest of a hill close to two ancient fortifications and the present-day village of Liddeston. Across the valley to the west lies one of Milford's old oil refineries.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Liddeston short Long Stone

Another view showing the remaining portion of the stone with broken shards lying roundabout. Unfortunately I have not been able to find an image of how it used to look nor information on how long it has been in this sorry state.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

What on earth is it?

The streetname gives the game away but there is nothing on the OS map, nor in the Pevsner Architectural Guide, to prepare you for this sight of an early C19 observatory lurking in the middle of a C20 housing estate here in the Milford Haven suburb of Hakin. Although in private ownership it is a Grade One monument.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Hakin observatory

This surprising structure can be found nestled cheek by jowl with the modern housing and back-yard clutter that has accumulated around it since it was built by Charles Francis Greville (1749-1809) in the early years of the C19 as part of a planned mathematics, engineering and technical college. Thomas Firminger (1775-1861), previously Assistant to Nevil Maskelyne at Greenwich, was appointed briefly as superintendent. An excellent collection of instruments was assembled, including the celebrated Lee transit circle. The plans were abandoned after Greville's death due to a lack of money and interest and although the observatory was completed, the college itself never came into being.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Hakin observatory interior

The observatory consisted of an octagonal two-storey tower with a conical roof and vertical side-slits. The roof and internal structure have fallen in and steel struts have been used to brace the walls. Although it is protected as an ancient monument there is no sign of any attempt to restore this fascinating building (Griff Rees Jones, where are you?).

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Hakin observatory back view

Squatting amongst casual modern surroundings the observatory has a slightly sinister appearance, like a wartime relic, but in fact its purpose was simply to train naval students in navigation at a time, a decade or so into the C19, when the problem of longitude had not yet been solved and an accurate knowledge the stars was essential for sailors.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Seal hospital, Milford dockyard

This is a genuine, fully operational, hospital for seals and other marine life. The outside clearly reveals that the entire building is an example of architectural recycling - i.e it is built into an oil refinery storage tank. Inside the tank is a modern recovery and treatment centre; visitors are welcome: there is normally a sign to indicate whether there are any patients in the hospital. Thanks to Link

for this info. There were no patients on the day I visited.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Gelliswick Bay oil pipeline and jetty

One of several oil pipelines comes ashore here at this small working beach just west of Milford Haven. The to-ing and fro-ing of vast oil and liquid gas tankers in the Haven keeps this coastline constantly at risk of pollution incidents of which the most catastrophic was the grounding of Sea Empress in 1996. The resulting environmental damage cost 60 million pounds to clean up.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Alexanders at Gelliswick Bay

Just behind the bay, the bank here is covered with Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), a plant that was introduced by the Romans as a potherb and a medicinal herb. It is very common in Pembrokeshire as the salty atmosphere suits it and it's easily spotted on the roadsides in early spring. The leaves taste rather strong and coarse but the best part is the thick stem, cut before flowering, peeled and lightly steamed: it resembles celery or some say asparagus, but it has a distinctive flavour of its own.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Milford dock looking east

These two huge objects were standing on a barge tied up on the western side of the dockyard; the view between them shows the opposite side with part of Milford town above. The prominent tall building is the Torch Theatre.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Fish merchants

There is only a small fishing industry at Milford now - and much of the catch, caught by Spanish fishermen, goes straight to Spain - but in during the first half of the C20 fishing was big business here with work on, and supporting, the trawler fleet, the main occupation for local people: once 'ever day was pay-day' it is said. Fishing stocks declined from the 60's onwards and pollution has been an on-going problem.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

All dressed up...

West Wales has long been in a state of economic decline and Milford Haven dockyard on Saturday in March is not the liveliest place: there is little going on and few people around to admire you and your dog's best gear. The passing geographer felt this image represented an aspect of human geography. (The dog's jacket says SECURITY, something that many local inhabitants feel is lacking.)

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff