The History of Pembroke Dock

The area around the Front Street slipway - the "hard", built by the naval authorities in 1827, became an important ferry landing place. Market traders and Dockyard workers from up and down the river could alight a short walk from their destinations. Cargo boats loaded and unloaded here. The area's original ferry continued running at "the passage" - Pembroke Ferry.

Market traders wait and board their ferries at Front Street Hard, c. 1860.

Another rowing boat ferry ran between Bentlass and Pennar, carrying Dockyard workers and farmers' wives going to market. On a stormy day in 1889 the boat capsized, drowning ferryman John Jones and his eight passengers - mostly women. Mrs Phillips, a local psychic, had reputedly foreseen this tragedy while in a trance.

Hobbs Point pier was built for The Irish packet service, which ran there from the 1830s to c.1848. After about 1858, the Admiralty permitted use of the jetty by rowing boat and steam ferries to Neyland. Ferry boats operators included Captain Thomas Jackson, Mr John Henry Coram and Mr Fred Hitchings. The County Council also became involved, operating the service from the 1950s on.

The paddle vessels Lady Magdalen and Alumchine ran from the 1930s to the 1950-60s, carrying both pedestrians and vehicles. After one air raid in 1941 the boat, for a few days, prudently followed a minesweeper across the Haven. The later boats, Cleddau King and Cleddau Queen, were both built in Pembroke Dock at Hancock's Yard, and operated until the Haven Bridge opened in 1975.

Cleddau King at Hobbs Point, note the collapsed bridge behind the ferry

More than a century after steamers ceased leaving Hobbs Point for Ireland in the 1840s, Pembroke Dock again lies on the Irish ferry route. The terminal, since 1979, has been in the Dockyard.

The faithful paddle-steamer Alumchine ferried pedestrians and vehicles between Hobbs' Point and Neyland. Note her steam piston mechanism. She was broken up in 1962.

(Sources: Mason 42, 90-94; Peters 32; Phillips, Day of disaster ; Oral source; Davies, D. 124-7; Richards 1983 69; PDMT articles )

Pictures by courtesy of: Front Street Hard, Western Telegraph - Alumchine, Pembrokeshire Record Office & Mr WMD Brace.