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'Tenby Harbour' by Wilfred Harrison,
written for the Tenby Sailing Club Guide of 1955.
Tenby HarbourIt seems likely that the most important cargoes handled during the 14th century were imported wine and salt and that only gradually did local ships and seamen come to take part in foreign trade. By this time many goods were being carried in embattled ships resembling the one shown on the obverse of the Tenby Corporation Seal. The embattled ship was a single master with square sail and carrack shaped clinker built hull raised at stem and stern to form palisaded platforms for archers. The steerboard (starboard), or steering paddle, was replaced by a rudder and a large hawse hole was provided for the anchor cable. The 15th and 16th centuries brought a great expansion of trade, both coastal and foreign. The 16th century Port Books, containing the accounts of customs officials, bear witness to the quantity and variety of merchandise imported, exported, or re-exported :- Wine, salt, linen cloth, sugar, oil, honey, butter, cheese, grain, coal, culm, wood, wire, skins, brass, soap, canvas, herrings and others. And what fascinating names were borne by the ships! Among them were the Saynt Antonio de Avero, Le Concepcio de Viana, Nicholi de Conkeut, Le Bonaventure, Le Saviour of Tenby, Le Lettis de Tenbie, Le Katharina de Tenbie, Le Cock Boate de Tenby, the Phenix of Tenby, La Jonas de Tenbye, Le George de London. The larger vessels were now three-masters, rigged with mainsail, maintop, foresail, foretop and lateen, the hulls with high poop and forecastle being carvel built. Masters of Tenby ships included Nicholas Longe, Thomas Kynge, Nicholas Roiche, John Glover, John Canton, John Eleot, Philip Thomas, William Young and Walter Hooper. Reminders of this prosperous period of Tenby harbour's history are to be seen in the reconstructions in St. Mary's Church, in the tombs of Thomas and John White. merchants, and in the Tudor Merchant's House in Bridge Street. The early 14th century quay may have been no more than a breakwater of great boulders, some of which can still be seen under the northern side of the present pier. A drawing by a 17th century artist, Francis Place, who visited Tenby in 1678, shows a pier resembling that in later pictures by Reinagle, Norris and others. When this pier was built is not known. It was narrow and walled, it ran north west for over half its length and then turned westwards to its rounded end, and on it stood, until about 1845, St. Julian's Chapel where prayers were sometimes offered for the safety of the fishermen. Francis Place's drawing shows ships drawn up on a sandy beach on the south side. the site of the so-called 'sluice'. On this townward side was built a barricade of stones running out towards the old pier head and subsequently, in the late 17th century, there was made a basin with three sluices through which water could be released simultaneously so as to clear the harbour of sand. In the course of the 19th century sail was giving place to steam and at Sleeman's Stores, the warehouse now used as the Headquarters of the Tenby Sailing Club, were discharged the cargoes brought in from Bristol. Although foreign trade had declined, the coastal business continued. The steamers brought passengers and shipments of groceries, ironware, glass, wine and spirits, while the Tenby Custom House cleared coal boats from Saundersfoot and thousands of pickled oysters were exported annually. Among the early steamers visiting Tenby was 'The Palmerston', which arrived in 1828. An 1840 Charles Norris drawing shows 'The Archimedes' with its tall funnel, three masts and long bowsprit. Pigott's Directory of 1847 advertises the Steam Packets 'The Phoenix' and 'The Star' sailing weekly to Haverfordwest and Carmarthen and twice a week to Bristol. The need for better landing facilities led to the removal of St. Julian's Chapel, which had become in turn a bath and a blacksmith's storehouse, and to the straightening and widening of the pier. The advent of the railway caused the decline of the coastal trade, of which the Spillers' steamer came as a faint reminder down to the eve of the Second World War. For many years Tenby was a port of call for trawlers from Brixham. In the early 19th century the catches of fifteen to twenty trawlers were regularly taken aboard two vessels to Bristol and Gloucester. The trawlers came in ever increasing numbers but in the present century these visits have ceased; moreover local fishing has almost died out and the Tenby luggers are seen no more. The harbour, once the scene of a thriving trade, has become the focal point of Tenby as a holiday resort. where the attractions are the pleasure boats, the passenger carrying motor launches offering cruises along the coast and to Caldey and the colourful craft of the Tenby Sailing Club which has done much to capture popular interest. Wilfred Harrison was a History teacher and Deputy Headmaster of Greenhill School, Tenby, and the Curator of Tenby Museum. |
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