Coordinates: 51°59′54″N 4°58′49″W / 51.9982°N 4.98041°W / 51.9982; -4.98041

Fishguard
Welsh: Abergwaun
Lower Fishguard
Fishguard  Fishguard shown within Pembrokeshire
Population	5,043 [1]
OS grid reference	SM955375
Principal area	Pembrokeshire
Ceremonial county	Dyfed
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FISHGUARD
Postcode district	SA65
Dialling code	01348
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Preseli Pembrokeshire
Welsh Assembly	Preseli Pembrokeshire
List of places: UK • Wales • Pembrokeshire

Fishguard (Welsh: Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 (est. 2006). The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census.

The town of Fishguard (proper) is divided into two parts, the main town of Fishguard and Lower Fishguard. Lower Fishguard (locally known as 'Lower Town') is situated where the River Gwaun meets the sea in a deep valley. It is a typical fishing village with a short tidal quay. The settlement stretches along the north slope of the valley.

The main town contains the parish church, the High Street and most of the modern development, and lies upon the hill to the south of Lower Fishguard, to which it is joined by a steep and winding hill. The western part of the town, facing Goodwick, grew up in the first decade of the 20th century with the development of the harbour.

History[link]

Fishguard is within the historic Welsh cantref of Cemais, and part of the Welsh province of Dyfed, within the historic Principality of Deheubarth.^[2] The coasts of Wales were subject to Norse raids during the Viking Era, and in the latter part of the 10th century Norse trading posts and settlements emerged within Dyfed, with Fishguard established sometime between 950 and 1000 AD.^[2]

The town was surrounded by secure castle walls and the name Fishguard derives from old Norse fiskigarðr meaning "fish catching enclosure",^[3] indicating that there may have been a Scandinavian trading post, although no evidence has been found.^[4] Fishguard was a marcher borough and in 1603 was described as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve.^[5] The Norman settlement lay along what is now High Street between the church at its north end and the remains of a Norman motte at its south end. Lower Fishguard developed as a herring fishery and port, trading with Ireland, Bristol and Liverpool. In the late 18th century it had 50 coasting vessels, and exported oats and salt herring.^[6] In 1779, the port was raided by the privateer Black Prince, which bombarded the town when the payment of a £1,000 ransom was refused. As a result, Fishguard Fort was completed in 1781, overlooking Lower Fishguard.^[7] The port declined in the latter half of the 19th century.

Fishguard's ancient Royal Oak pub was the site of the signing of surrender after the Battle of Fishguard in 1797, said to be the last invasion of Britain, when a force of 1,400 French soldiers landed near Fishguard but surrendered two days later.^[8] The story is told in the Fishguard Tapestry created for the 200th anniversary to emulate the Bayeux Tapestry, and displayed in a hall near the town centre. The 19th century vicar of Fishguard, the Rev Samuel Fenton, wrote the book 'The History of Pembrokeshire'. The ancient Parliamentary Borough of Fishguard was contributary to the Borough of Haverfordwest. In 1907, it was created an urban district, which included Goodwick from 1934 until it was abolished in 1974. During the Second World War, the Fishguard Bay Hotel was Station IXc of Special Operations Executive where submersibles were tested in Fishguard Bay.

Since 1995, the town of Loctudy (Breton: Loktudi) in Brittany, France has been twinned with Fishguard.

Geography[link]

Fishguard in Pembrokeshire

The town is situated at the back of a north facing bay known as Fishguard Bay (Welsh: Bae Abergwaun) which offers protection from waves generated by prevailing westerly winds. It has a relatively mild climate due to its coastal position. The winds coming from the west or south-west have a determining influence on temperature and precipitation.

Wildlife around Fishguard is rich in flora and fauna: it shows a wide variety of colourful wild flowers and sea mammals including the grey seal, and even porpoises and dolphins. The local birdlife include Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank and Sanderling regularly foraging in the lower fishguard harbour and European Stonechat, Great Cormorant and Northern Fulmar can be seen from the coastal path.

Demography[link]

According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, Fishguard had 3,193 inhabitants and 1,465 households. In 2001, 39.8% of the population could speak Welsh. This compares with 58.9% in 1951 and 90.3% in 1901. The population of 3,193 breaks down as follows:

Landmarks[link]

Outside of Fishguard there is a stone monument commemorating the signing of the Peace Treaty after the last invasion of Britain in 1797. Women dressed in Welsh costume startled the invaders. Also there is the 19th century parish church of St Mary's containing the grave of the heroine Jemima Nicholas. There is also a Bi-Centenary memorial stone monument in West Street, Fishguard to commemorate the Invasion. A tapestry was created in 1997 to commemorate the invasion and can be viewed free of charge in Fishguard's Town Hall.

Fishguard has many hotels and is the main shopping town of North Pembrokeshire with a busy Thursday market in the Town Hall.

Fishguard hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1936 and 1986.

Fishguard has a thriving Round Table with 20 members doing all sorts of good work including running the Fishguard & Goodwick Carnival which has been voted the most popular community event.

The Gwaun Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, is also a thriving charitable organisation within the community who host a number of sponsored events and other community works throughout the year thanks to the influx of younger brethren to the Order.

Fishguard has a 180-seat cinema/theatre called Theatr Gwaun which provides a venue for film, music and live theatre.

Transport[link]

A regular ferry leaves for Rosslare in Ireland from the port of Fishguard Harbour (not actually in Fishguard, but a mile away at Goodwick). Fishguard is the terminus of the A40 London to Fishguard trunk road. It is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Fishguard is served by train at Fishguard Harbour railway station.

In the media[link]

Fishguard has acquired a reputation as a result of "Hugh Pugh", a comic character in the Welsh TV series Barry Welsh is Coming, who reports from Fishguard and constantly points out the rivalry between Fishguard and Haverfordwest.

Fishguard's Royal Oak pub appeared in the film I'll Sleep When I'm Dead starring Clive Owen.

Lower Fishguard was used as "Llareggub" in the film of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O'Toole.

The film Moby Dick (starring Gregory Peck) was filmed there in 1955.

In sci-fi comic 2000 AD, Fishguard was the landing point for the Allied liberation of the United Kingdom in Savage Book 5.

Notable people[link]

See Category:People from Fishguard

• Mark Delaney, footballer, grew up in Fishguard
• Cerys Matthews, lead singer, Catatonia, went to Fishguard High School and now lives locally
• Jemima Nicholas, single handedly captured 12 French soldiers in 1797, armed only with a pitchfork

See also[link]

• Fishguard Folk Festival

References[link]

External links[link]

• historic-uk.com An historic account of Fishguard
• Photographs and description from Strolling Guides
• Panoramic photograph looking down into Lower Fishguard
• Fishguard Music Festival

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