Pembrokeshire History

Year	Event
15000000000 bc	Start of the Universe
4500000000 bc	Formation of Planet Earth
4000000000 bc	Start Life on Earth (disputed date)
2400000000 bc to 2100000000 bc	Huronian Ice Age
800000000 bc to 635000000 bc	Cryogenian Ice Age
450000000 bc to 420000000 bc	Andean-Saharan Ice Age
360000000 bc to 260000000 bc	Karoo Ice Age
2580000 bc	Current Ice Age (Quaternary)
10000 bc	Warm period in current ice age
8200 bc to 4200 bc	Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
8000 bc	Approximate date for the formation of the Haven waterway by flooding of the Daugleddau after the last ice age
6500 bc	Britain cut off from mainland by rising sea level
4200 bc to 2200 bc	Neolithic (New Stone Age)
4000 bc	Approximate date for Coetan Arthur. A Neolithic burial chamber, St Davids Peninsular
3000 bc	Approximate date for the building of Pentre Ifan- Carreg Samson and Kings Quoit
2200 bc to 1500 bc	Bronze Age (no agreement on dates)
2100 bc	Approximate date for Preseli Bluestones being taken from Pembrokeshire to Stonehenge
1500 bc to 1000 bc	The Dark Ages (no agreement on dates)
850 bc to 43 ad	Iron Age (no agreement on start date)
500 bc	Approximate date for many of Pembrokeshires Celtic Settlements
300 bc	Approximate date for the building of Castel Henllys hill fort
43 to 410	Roman Occupation
410 to 1000	Post Roman
850	Viking Raids on Milford Haven start
878	The Viking Hubba winters his fleet in Milford Haven
1000 to 1500	Gothic Art (no agreement on dates)
1000 to 1500	Medieval (Middle Ages) (no agreement on dates)
1096	Welsh siege of Pembroke Castle fails
1100	Approximate date for the building of a wooden castle at Cilgerran
1100	St Davids Church in Hubberston was founded during the 1100s.
1115	Norman Bishop installed at St Davids
1120	Pope Callixtus II declares 2 pilgrimages to St Davids = 1 pilgrimage to Rome
1136	Benedictine Monastery established on Caldey Island
1146	Gerald of Wales born at Manorbier Castle
1170	Adam de Roche founded the Benedictine priory called Hubberston Priory- in Lower Priory- Milford Haven
1180	Dedication of the Thomas a Becket beacon chapel on the Rath- Milford Haven. (Fully restored in the 1930s)
1180	Start of building work on St Davids Cathedral
1200	Milford Haven area was referred to as Millfyth by historian George Owen during the 1200s
1223	Cilgerran Castle captured by William Marshall (the Younger)(Earl of Pembroke) and rebuilt in its current layout
1260	Prince Llewellyn ransacked Tenby
1280	Start of building work for the current Carew Castle
1282 to 1307	King Edward I of Wales
1307 to 1327	King Edward II of England and Wales
1327 to 1377	King Edward III of England and Wales
1348	Black Death (The Plague strikes Hakin)
1358	First Ship bring cargo into Porth Clais for the building of St Davids Cathedral
1377 to 1399	King Richard II of England and Wales
1399 to 1413	King Henry IV of England and Wales
1399 to 1461	House of Lancaster of England and Wales
1405	French mercenaries arrive at Milford Haven to assist Owain Glyndwr they go on to set fire to Haverfordwest
1413 to 1422	King Henry V (The Warrior King) of England and Wales
1422 to 1461	King Henry VI of England and Wales
1457	Henry Tudor born in Pembroke Castle
1461 to 1483	King Edward IV of England and Wales
1461 to 1485	House of York
1471	Henry Tudor sets sail from Tenby - fleeing from the Yorkists
1483 to 1483	King Edward V of England and Wales
1483 to 1485	King Richard III of England and Wales
1485 to 1509	King Henry VII of England and Wales
1485 to 1603	House of Tudor
1485	Henry Tudor lands at Mill Bay (Dale) on the start of his campaign to retake the though. After defeating Richard III he became Henry VII
1500 to 1600	Renaissance Art
1509 to 1547	King Henry VIII of England and Wales
1547 to 1553	King Edward VI of England and Wales
1553 to 1553	Queen Jane of England and Wales
1553 to 1558	Queen Mary I of England and Wales
1558 to 1603	Queen Elizabeth I of England and Wales
1603 to 1625	King James I of England (James VI of Scotland)
1603 to 1714	House of Stuart
1625 to 1649	King Charles I of England Wales and Scotland
1642	During the Civil War- the royalist Earl of Carberry attack on Pembroke fails when he finds the Parliamentary fleet in Milford Haven
1644	Battle of Colby Moor (between Wiston and Llawhaden)
1648	Pembroke Castle besieged by Cromwell
1649 to 1659	Commonwealth (No monarch)
1649	Oliver Cromwell sets off for Ireland from Milford Haven
1653 to 1658	Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector)
1658 to 1659	Richard Cromwell (Lord Protector)
1659 to 1685	King Charles II of England Wales and Scotland
1661	Quakers being imprisoned for their beliefs forced to leave for America. They go on to found the American towns of Haverfordwest and Narberth
1685 to 1688	James II of England and Wales (James VII of Scotland)
1688 to 1689	King William III and Queen Mary II (Joint rule)
1689 to 1702	King William III
1702 to 1714	Queen Anne
1714 to 1727	King George I
1714 to 1901	House of Hanover
1727 to 1760	King George II
1752	All of Britain (except the Gwaun Valley near Fishguard) adopt the Gregorian Calendar
1760 to 1820	King George III
1782	Sir William Hamilton inherited Hubberston and Pill
1787	Regular Mail Coach established linking Hubberston to London
1789	Original Bethesda Baptist Church built.
1790	Act of Parliament granted right to establish a port on land at Hubberston and Pill
1790	Founding of Milford Haven by Sir William Hamilton - On 9th June- an Act of Parliament was passed which gave rise to the founding of the port.
1791	The Pill to Haverforwest Road is administered as a Turnpike Trust with a Toll Gate at Castle Terrace
1792	Greville persuaded Quaker Whalers from Nantucket to settle in Milford Haven. The Quakers had emigrated to America to escape religious persecution- hence they had experience of building new towns from scratch.
1796	Navy Board starts building ships near Hubberston Pill. Ships built here include Milford- Lavinia and Nautilus
1797	A Customs Bonded Store was built on Milford Docks. This was later extended on both sides and is now the Museum
1797	Construction of a Whale Oil Warehouse in Milford Haven
1797	The French invaded at Strumble Head. It took almost 2 days for Jemima Nicholas (armed only with a pitch-fork) and a small group of local women to defeat 1,400 French troops. After the battle of Carregwastag, the French signed the official surrender document in the Royal Oak, Fishguard.
1797	The Navy Board establish Milford Dockyard to build warships
1800	The New Inn was built in Hamilton Terrace- Milford Haven. (Now known as the Lord Nelson Hotel)
1801	Building starts on St Katherines Church in Milford Haven
1802	Nelson visits Milford Haven and declares it one of the finest harbours ever seen
1802	The New Inn in Milford Haven was renamed the Lord Nelson Hotel after Nelsons visit
1804	Founding of the Milford Artillery Company
1806	The extensions which form the sides of Milford Museum were built
1808	St Katherines Church- Milford Haven- completed
1809	Work Abandoned on the Greville Observatory Milford Haven (Part of the College of King George III)
1810	Many Quakers returned to America. Demand for Whale Oil was falling due to Gas Lamps replacing Whale Oil lamps in the cities.
1811	Opening of the Friends Meeting House in Milford Haven
1814	Pembroke Dock founded by Royal Navy who were concerned about overcharging at the port of Milford Haven
1816	Original Bethesda Baptist Church extended
1820 to 1830	King George IV
1821	King George IV visits Milford Haven twice in 4 days!(each time taking refuge from a tempest)
1830 to 1837	King William IV
1831	Weslyan Chapel built in Milford Haven (Wesleyan Court now stands on the site)
1837 to 1901	Queen Victoria
1839	Start of the Rebecca Riots which centred on the area around Narberth
1840	Building of Scolton Manor
1853	Arrival of the South Wales Railway
1855	Date on the Foundation Stone of Hubberston National Primary School
1856	Founding of Neyland - Brunel put a railway station here to slight Milford Haven.
1857	Police Station opened in Faulke Street- Milford Haven
1858	Opening of the wooden Castle Pill Bridge- known as Black Bridge because it was coated in protective tar.
1859	Building of Scoveston Fort
1859	Neyland acquires it current name. (Previously it was called Milford Haven)
1859	St. Brynach Church, Cwm-yr-Eglwys destroyed in the "Royal Charter" storm. This storm killed 800 people and was so fierce that the Meteorological Office introduced Gale Warnings in 1860.
1859	The stepping stones crossing the pill between Milford Haven and Hakin are replaced by a wooden toll bridge
1860	Start of building work at Hubberston Fort (some accounts put this in 1858)
1863	Hubberston Fort completed for a cost of £87,000
1863	The Railway arrives in Milford Haven
1874	Formation of the Milford Haven Docks Company
1875	The steam ship Great Eastern comes to Milford Haven for a refit after laying Transatlantic Cables
1876	Creation of the Port Sanitary Authority (now known as the Milford Haven Port Authority)
1877	Opening of the North Road Board School in Milford Haven
1879	Opening of the Baptist Chapel in North road- Milford Haven
1887	The book Little England Beyond Wales was published by Edward Laws
1887	Wooden Toll Bridge from Hakin to Milford Haven was replaced by an Iron Toll Bridge
1888	Flooding of Milford Docks (Project cost £1,500,000)
1889	Transatlantic Passenger Ship City of Rome arrives in Milford with Barnam Circus
1890 to 1939	Machine Age
1891	Milford Haven recognised as a Parish. Previously it was a suburb of Steynton Parish
1894	Formation of Milford Haven Urban District Council
1898	Great Western Railway extended into Milford Haven Docks
1901 to 1910	King Edward VII
1901	House of Saxe-Coburg / Windsor
1902	Opening of the Methodist Chapel in Priory Road- Milford Haven
1905	Closure of Trefrane Colliery, Newgale
1907	Extension to St Katherines Church in Milford Haven
1908	Building of first Smoke House Milford Haven - to support the fishing industry
1908	Building of Strumble Lighthouse
1908	GWR moves the Irish Ferry service from Neyland to Fishguard
1909	Opening of the Fire Station in Dartmouth Street- Milford Haven
1909	Tolls finally abolished on the bridge between Milford Haven and Hakin
1910 to 1936	King George V
1910	Approximate date for the last quarrying at Abereiddi. This quarry then flooded to create the Blue Lagoon
1910	Opening of the Tabernacle in Charles Street- Milford Haven
1914	Arrival of the Belgium Fishermen Refugees in Milford Haven
1924	Dedication of the War Memorial in Milford Haven
1926	Milford Haven electrified (The first town in Wales to be electrified)
1928	HMS Warrior laid up in the Haven (staying for 51 years)
1930	Construction of the Milford Haven sewage system
1930	Restoration of Thomas a Becket Chapel on the Rath begins
1931	Closure on the Porthgain brick works
1931	Construction of Milford Haven Central School
1931	Hakin School becomes a junior school as older pupils go to Grammar or Central School
1932	Opening of Preseli Waterworks
1933	Iron bridge between Hakin and Milford Haven replaced by a concrete one. Convoy of 8 Steam Rollers cross in close formation to prove that a bridge made from concrete is safe
1933	Royal visit to Milford Haven
1935	Building work started on the Royal Naval Armament Depot. (Often called the Mine Depot)
1935	Castell Farmhouse was abandoned. This has now been restored by the National Trust
1936 to 1936	King Edward VIII
1936 to 1952	King George VI
1936	First Haven oil spill from the Banda Sharpur who was stranded on Dale Beach
1939	Milford Haven Fire Station moved to the Town Hall
1939	Opening of Milford Haven Mine Depot
1939	Outdoor Swimming Pool on The Rath opened
1939	Town Hall started service. (There has never been an opening ceremony)
1940	German Navy start dropping Mines in the Haven
1944	Seebees (American Naval Construction Unit) build temporary hospital near Hubberston Fort to accept the casualties expected during the D-day Landings
1945 to 1980	Atomic Age
1950	Memorial Garden given to Milford Haven Urban District Council by the Welcome Home and Memorial Fund Committee
1952	Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Park created
1952	Queen Elizabeth II
1957	Construction works starts on the Esso Refinery in Milford Haven
1958	Founding of the Milford Haven Conservancy Board
1959	First Meeting of the Milford Haven Round Table
1960	Esso Portsmouth explodes while alongside the Esso jetty in Milford Haven
1960	Opening of Esso- the first Milford Haven Oil Refinery
1960	Opening of the BP Jetty
1962	First Annual Carnival organised by Milford Haven Round Table
1964	Official opening of Texaco Refinery by the Queen
1964	Opening of Milford Haven Grammar School in Steynton Road
1966	Milford Haven Fire Station moved to Yorke Street
1966	Opening of Texaco
1967	Torrey Canyon Oil Spill (Tanker was on route to Milford Haven)
1968	Building work started at Llys-y-fran Dam
1968	Opening of Gulf Oil Refinery
1968	Royal Family visit Milford Haven for Opening of Gulf Refinery
1970	Collapse of the Cleddau Bridge during construction
1971	Amoco Oil Refinery building started
1972	Founding of the Pembrokeshire Coast national Park
1972	Official Opening of Llys-y-fran Dam
1973	Amoco Oil Refinery (now Elf/Total/Murco) came on-line
1973	Opening of The Meads Sports Centre with its Indoor Swimming Pool
1974	Formation of Preseli District Council
1975	Haven ferries replaced by the Cleddau Bridge
1976	Official Opening of the Cleddau Bridge
1977	Opening of the Torch Theatre
1977	Pembroke walled town and waterway declared an Outstanding Conservation Area
1977	The Astoria Cinema in Milford Haven becomes a bingo hall
1978	Cristos Bitos Oil Spill
1978	Filming of The Onedin Line television series in the Haven
1979	BI Ferry Connacht arrived in Pembroke Dock
1979	HMS Warrior departs the Haven (after 51 years)
1980	Computer Age
1981	Approx. 90 Buildings in Pembroke are listed as Special Architectural/Historic Interest
1983	Amoco Oil Refinery Fire (involved 150 firemen!)
1983	Closure of the Esso Oil refinery
1985	Brunel Quay Marina in Neyland Opens
1985	Closure of BP Oil Facility
1986	Conservancy board became the Port Authority
1987	Outdoor Swimming Pool on The Rath closed
1988	Milford Haven Grammar School went Comprehensive and became Milford School
1989	A blue stone travelled to Stonehenge from the Preselis. (This journey did not use authentic transport techniques.)
1989	Closure of the Royal Naval Armament Depot
1990	Approximate opening of the Thornton Business Park
1990	Milford Haven celebrated 200th anniversary with visit by Princess Alexandra
1990	Opening of the Water Gardens on The Rath by Margaret Thatcher
1991	Closure of the Milford Haven Royal Naval Armament Depot
1991	Construction of the new Fish Market on Milford Docks
1991	Opening of Milford Marina by the Duke of York
1991	The Tall Ships Race started at Milford Haven
1992	First Texaco Explosion - so serious they offered to buy houses in Rhoscrowther
1992	Unveiling of the Fisherman Tribute statue on the Rath
1993	Llys-y-fran dam raised by 1.5m to ease national water shortage
1994	Gas Reserves discovered off-shore from Pembrokeshire
1994	Second explosion and major fire at Texaco Refinery - blast felt 30 miles away
1996	Sea Empress oil tanker - spills it cargo causing environmental disaster
1997	Opening of the Seal Hospital
1998	Fish market extended to 3 times its original size
1998	Gulf stopped refining oil and became the Petroplus facility
1998	Opening of the current bridge between Hakin and Milford Haven
1999	Opening of the Electronic Fish Auction on Milford Docks.
1999	Unveiling of the Statue of Brunel at Neyland by HRH Prince Charles
2000	Blockade of Elf and Texaco Refineries as Truck Drivers protest over rising fuel prices
2000	First DigitalDan web site- (dedicated to Milford Haven-) goes on-line
2000	Ill-fated journey of the second Millennium Blue Stone
2000	Opening of MITEC (Part of Pembrokeshire College based in Milford Docks)
2001	Opening of the Phoenix Bowl
2002	3 Cruise Ships visit Milford Haven
2002	First Milford Haven Round Table Firework Spectacular detonated from the Sea Front
2002	Milford Haven Annual Carnival destination moved from Pill Field to Marble Hall
2003	First of the big Street Fairs takes over Hamilton Terrace- Milford Haven
2003	Milford Haven Annual Carnival Magazines replaced by Carnival Raffle Tickets
2003	Milford Haven Town Council web site goes on-line
2003	Permission granted for LPG gas facilities at Petroplus and Esso
2004	LPG Regasification Plant construction work starts at South Hook and Waterston
2006	Major expansion to DigitalDan.co.uk Website to incorporate extensive photo library of the larger Pembrokeshire towns.
2011	DigitalDan places a decade of event photographs on-line
2013	After the closure of Milford Haven Tourist information Centre, DigitalDan creates a temporary on-line alternative
2015	Milford Haven docks stepped in to save our Fish Week event. It was going to be cancelled at the last minute.
2016	Having overcome the problems of 2015, Fish Week was expanded from 1 to 2 days.
2016	Milford Haven Round Table held the first "Real Ale" beer festival on the docks.
2020	Covid Pandemic places the World in lockdown. Non-essential travel banned throughout UK and many other countries
2020	Covid measures - Pembrokeshire closes car-parks and toilets in holiday areas, most of holiday season cancelled
2020	Milford Haven 60th Carnival cancelled due to risk of Covid spread.
2020	Ice Factory (Burnyates building) demolished to make way for new hotel
2021	Milford Haven 60th Carnival cancelled a second time due to Covid.
2021	Military lorry drivers called in when lorry driver shortage left garages without fuel. Both Milford fuel stations ran out of Diesel.
2021	Withybush hospital was overloaded. (Almost) all visitors banned due to Covid risks.
2021	Openning of Ty Waterfront Hotel. A significant milestone in the Marina redevelopment plan
2022	Queen Elizabeth II passed on 7 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle
2023	Milford Haven granted Freeport status in March 2023
2023	King Charles III coronation at Westminster Abbey

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