Royal Dockyard Pembroke - The Reason that Pembroke Dock Exists - 3

  Heritage Under Threat - 3

Figure 1

The rather tatty photograph at Figure 1, taken in c.1900  from Lanion to the north-east of Pembroke Dockyard , shows the building slips in The Yard that still had sheds covering them.

Slips 1 and 2, the most westerly, have different roof lines to the other sheds. These two slips, although long denuded of their coverings, are due to be altered in a major way as part of Milford Haven Port Authority's plans, known as the Pembroke Dock Infrastructure. The listed monuments due to be majorly affected by this project are:

• The Timber Pond (Listed Grade II)
• The Graving Dock (Listed Grade II*)
• Slip 1 (Listed Grade II)
• Slip 2 (Listed Grade II)
• Foreman’s Office or former guard house (Listed Grade II)

This post is mainly about Slips 1 and 2.

Slips 1 and 2 (Listed Grade II)

These two slips are survivors of the 13 building slips that Pembroke Dockyard had at its disposal over the course of its naval working life. Two other slips remain in some degree - slips 3 and 4. Both are now used by Mainstay Marine Solutions in their marine fabrication work. I am told, but cannot confirm this, that Slip 4 is the least altered.

The other slips were adapted by the RAF when Pembroke Dock became a flying boat base in the 1930s, until they were finally buried or destroyed to build the infrequently used Quay 1 in the eastern part of the dockyard.

Figure 2

Figure2  shows the interior of either slip 1 or 2 with a warship in the early stages of construction. The date is c1902.

Figure 3 shows HMS Defence entering the water from Slip 1 in 1907.

Figure 3

Figure 4 shows another slip in the dockyard, now buried under the deep water berth or the ferry terminal. It looks rather neglected, but the facility that such a structure offers to the small boat owner is obvious. At the same time it preserves the monument in a recognisable state....or this one DID.

It is worth noting that the public hard on Front Street, just outside the eastern wall of the dockyard was badly damaged when the deep water berth was dredged and as far as I am aware it has never been returned to it former condition.

Figure 4 (Copyright Unknown)

Milford Haven Port Authority proposes to combine both Slips 1 and 2 (Listed Grade II) into a "Super Slip". This will be achieved by removing the bar of land between the two slips whilst retaining the eastern wall of Slip 2 and the western wall of Slip 1. The stone and soil from the removed piece of land will be used as fill for the Timber Pond (Listed Grade II) and The Graving Dock (Listed Grade II*), both of which will be capped with concrete.

Further more, the construction of the slip, which will involve digging up to four metres into bed rock, could potentially cause problems for the foundations of the wonderful Carr Jetty (Listed Grade II), which is sited immediately to the west of Slips 1 and 2.

The Super Slip is supposedly required for the launching of large marine energy devices that might be built within the fabrication sheds. Have a look on Youtube. One you might start with is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWNGhWyLqIw

Remember, this project is a speculative venture and I will comment about this (perhaps) in future posts. Listed heritage structures may be destroyed for a project that may never find a use that will justify the cost and loss.

Figure 5

Figure 5 is a LIDAR scan of the dockyard area.

• Red denotes buildings that existed in c1860 that still stand;
• Pale blue indicates the approximate footprint of the proposed two huge  sheds;
• Pink denotes the extent of the proposed super slip;
• Blue stars indicate the location of listed buildings and structures;

Figure 6 is a view of the foreshore in front of the two slips

Figure 6

Figures 7 and 8 show the Carr Jetty (Listed Grade II), which lies a few metres west of the proposed super slip and could be damaged by works. The Carr Jetty was built c1899 to enable ships launched at Pembroke Dockyard to be fitted out. Previously this was done at Hobbs Point. It is named after the Carr Rocks, which it partially sits on/

Figure 7

Figure 8

Please also see:

Royal Dockyard Pembroke - The Reason that Pembroke Dock Exists - 1

Royal Dockyard Pembroke - The Reason that Pembroke Dock Exists - 2

Royal Dockyard Pembroke - The Reason that Pembroke Dock Exists - 4

The usual plea to finish off....

Please do get involved and contact Pembrokeshire County Council with your views. Comments about the planning application can be made by following the instructions at the link below:

https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/planning-applications/commenting-on-applications

The planning application has the reference: 20/0732/PA

The official deadline for comments is: 29 January 2021

However, there is a very strong case for extending this, as despite Milford Haven Port Authority's efforts to subvert the planning process by submitting the application at the start of the Christmas break, when everyone else has other things on their mind, there are several extenuating circumstances that should be taken into account.

• The application is for an outline consent, but contains so much detail that there is very little left for future consideration should the application be passed;
• There are over 120 documents submitted as part of the application. These could possibly be read on the PCC planning website, but are so mixed up, inappropriately labelled when downloaded that they make for very difficult and disjointed reading;
• Important information is missing from the application that would describe the overall impact of the scheme in a transparent way - for example the set of montage views from various viewpoints that show waht the sheds would look like when built - the view from Llanreath would be an interesting one!;
• The scheme is VERY speculative and there is little eidence of actual need for what is proposed;
• There are alternative sites that MHPA part own, some of which would directly support and utilise  local employers, that have not been given adequate consideration;
• If  alternative sites are used then this would open up the western dockyard as a wonderful tourism, heritage, boating and watersports venue - a truly all year stopover attraction on the way to Ireland;
• Working in partnership with another organisation (apart from PCC who are strategic partners , I believe) has not, as far as I am aware, been explored in any great depth. Remember, PCC is the planning authority who will decide on the outcome of this scheme;

More to follow.....so until next time......

Thanks - Keep safe and keep well!