September in Pembroke and in Swansea

 The big event in Pembroke this month was the Iron Man contest on September 14th - the Main Street was closed as contestants cycled along the Street in the circular route from Tenby and back.   

Our Autumn programme kicked off with Quiz Night on September 19th.  Colin and George represented the Society at the Local History Fair on September 27th which clashed with the Joint Conference of the South West Maritime History Society and the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society for which Stuart and I put together a presentation on aspects of Pembroke’s maritime past.

This took place at the Swansea Waterfront Museum, a modern build of steel and glass, it is situated in Swansea’s Martime Quarter although it is not a maritime museum as you might think (was disappointed about that).   It  actually sets out to, and I quote, ‘tell the story of how industry and innovation have affected the lives of people in Wales over the last 300 years’. 

It was built at huge cost with ‘the latest in interactive multi-media technology’ but this is not to my taste – I find this reliance on audio visual, sound effects,  touch screens (hate them, they rarely seem to work!) gimmicky and non museum like.  I found it all very confusing, especially as the interpretation screens were glass and lit from the back, a jumble of Welsh and English, with my poor eyesight I couldn’t make any sense of it. 

Copperopolis

The reason for siting an industrial museum here is Swansea’s industrial history.   Before the Industrial Revolution, Swansea was famous as a watering place, the ‘Brighton of Wales’, no less.  However, possessing plentiful coal reserves and situated on a navigable river, it was also ideal for industrial development.  Welsh coal, combined with copper ore from Cornwall and Devon, made Swansea the pre-eminent centre for the world’s copper industry, which led to its being known popularly as ‘Copperopolis’. However, it was no longer a pleasant place to live as the pollution was intense but ‘where’s there’s muck there’s money’: Swansea grew wealthy and provided employment on a massive scale.  Its population mushroomed.  A contemporary poem said it like this:

‘It came to pass in times of yore

The devil chanced upon Landore

Quoths he – by all this fume and stink

I can’t be far from home, I think!’

White Rocks and Hafod Smelters, Swansea c1830 by Gastineau.

To house a museum about our industrial past in a pristine, clinical building with exhibits in sparkling glass cases does, to me, seem rather incongruous. 

Out and About in August

At the Pembroke Show with WWMHS

At the Monkton Flower Festival

Our WW1 display at Monkton Church

At Stackpole Church Local History Exhibition

 We've been out an about throughout the summer and have support events in Lamphey School, St Mary's Church, Monkton Priory Church, the Pembroke Show, Stackpole Church, the Local History Fair, the WWMHS conference at Swansea Waterfront Museum, the Dyfed Family History Society - phew!

The July Quiz

Terry John's Civil War Walks July/ August

1648 was a big year for Pembroke – we were at war! There have been many civil wars in our history and Pembroke was often in the thick of it.  The 17^th century struggle 1642-48 was the last, and at its end Pembroke bowed out of national affairs, its power broken with the destruction of much of its castle and town walls.  This was the dramatic story told by Terry John who is leading a series of Civil War guided walks during July/ August.  

The Pembroke River Rally - July 26th

On Saturday, July 26^th Pembroke held its annual River Rally.  Sponsored by the Town Council, and organised by the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society, the River Rally took place in glorious sunshine and attracted a large crowd on the Quay who were delighted to see so many boats sail into the Castle Pond – 47 no less!  Everyone agreed it was the best rally in years and a great credit to WWMHS. 

Lamphey School WW1 Exhibition - July 5th-6th

The open air service

Studying the exhibits

We took part in this event which was initiated by the Headmaster of Lamphey School, Mr Simon Thomas and involved, as well as the school children, Lamphey Church, British Legion, Lamphey History Society, Carew Cheriton Control Tower, Pembroke&Monkton Local History Society, Freshwater East Community Association and the W.I. 

Held in the school Hall, the two day exhibition contained a great deal of material, some of it the work of the school children and supplemented by the heritage organisations and individuals from the community. A great variety of displays and many artefacts resulted.  The weekend event also included an open air Service of Remembrance led by the Venerable G. Davies which was held on the school grounds on Sunday morning. 

Volunteers Night - June 1st

The P & M Committee with Pembroke Mayor and Mayoress

Volunteers enjoying the evening

On Friday last, May 30^th, Pembroke Town Council played host to volunteers night in the Town Hall. People who have helped run and support Pembroke Museum were invited to a social evening as a ‘thank you’ for their contribution.   It was a birthday celebration too as Pembroke Museum celebrated the first anniversary of its opening on June 1^st 2013.