Welcome to Porthclais Harbour Authority
A pretty little harbour near St DavidsOver 50 years now!
The Porthclais Harbour committee started in 1954, although the harbour has been used by boatmen for centuries. We lease the main body of the harbour from the Crown Commissioner through the Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks. We own Wal Basil, Cai Coch and the West Slipway entrance.Our aim is to protect, maintain and improve the facilities in and around the harbour so that locals and visitors may enjoy the wonderful harbour. We hope it is a legacy that will be enjoyed by many generations to come.
Visited Porthclais as part of our walking route. lovely place to stop, refresh & people watch, it was very busy, but well worth a visit.
The Porthclais Harbour Crest is of the Twrch Trwyth ( Wild Boar ) from the Mabinogion, which is the title given to eleven medieval stories. One of the stories is of Culwch and Olwen which dates back to the beginning of the Celtic World.
Culwch was a first cousin to Arthur, Culhwch’s stepmother swore a destiny on him that the only maiden he should marry was Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden the giant. He sought Arthurs help to win Olwen. They were set many task, one of which was to retrieve the comb and shears from between the ears of the Twrch Trwyth a huge wild boar who in reality was a King turned into a beast for his sins.
The boar was in Ireland and the huntsmen found him but he escaped and crossed the Irish Sea and came to land at PORTHCLAIS. He was hunted throughout the length and breadth of the country. Eventually the comb and shears were won from him and he ran into the sea at Cornwall and was never seen again.
History
Porthclais harbour was built in the 12th century, importing coal, timber and rock for building of the cathedral. Limestone was also brought into the harbour from South Pembrokeshire.
The harbour has three large lime kilns that are well preserved. These were used to break down the limestone by fire, where it would become a powder that could then be collected by the local farmers to spread on their land which has very acidic soil.
It has been documented that the original harbour wall was constructed by the Romans.
The St Davids Gas Works was built on the site North of the Harbour alongside the river Alun, Coal was brought into the harbour from the South Wales coalfields.
The City Harbour
Two smacks safely beached in the harbour. They may have been carrying coal and limestone for the kilns.
One of the last of the regular sailing vessels to call at Porthclais, probably with coal for the nearby gasworks and for local domestic use.
The harbour entrance in the 1920s, with little left of the old quay wall after constant battering by the sea.
By the 1950s the harbour was home to a few inshore fishing boats.
The upper part of the harbour in more recent years, with pleasure craft joining the lobster boats on the beach.
It was in response to this growing leisure use that the sea wall was rebuilt – not very long before this photograph was taken.
