Welcome to the Maritime Heritage in Wales discussion area.

You are invited to post your comments both on maritime heritage in Wales and also on our website.

This is your opportunity to have your say and interact with Maritime Heritage in Wales, it is as open as that. If you have any Maritime Heritage related subject that you feel strongly enough about or if you just want to comment, here is your opportunity.

I would offer 2 comments for discusion and will follow this post with them individually, I am doing this as I believe that both comments are important issues in their own rights and deserve their own message.

Edited by author 10-18-2006 01:04 PM
I visited Cardiff Bay last weekend, to see the wonderful Pier Head building, built for the Marquis of Bute in approximately 1896.This building is a landmark for the City Docks and Bay area. It is more significant than the Welsh Assembly building as it represents Cardiff's Maritime Heritage. Yet when I walked into the door I found that this special heritage building known throughout Wales, was being used as a visitor centre, plotting the construction of the Welsh Assembly building!

What a travesty, I believe that this is indicative of the attitude towards Maritime Heritage in our Capital City and hence the reason why Cardiff has nearly lost its Maritime past!

I too visited the Pier Head Building in Cardiff last week - it's still the most beautiful building in the bay despite all the developments. I'm unaware of its history and as you say Richard, there is nothing there to inform me - what a shame. I did see a wonderful photographic exhibition in Bute Street a few years back, it was mainly about the Tiger Bay area and the development of black culture in the 50's; there were some wonderful shots of the old docks.

I am interested in investigating in detail the 'career' of the steam coaster 'Ben Rein' which was owned by John George of Trefin in Pembrokeshire prior to the 1939 -1945 World War 11. I am aware that R.S. Fenton in his 'Cambrian Coasters' [World Ship Society, 1989] gives a summary of her'life', but I would like to add 'flesh' to it. I remember as a young boy, her trading into Padstow, and I have seen photographs of her in Solva. From memory, when I knew her, she seemed to have a shorter funnel [black with a yellow band]than the photo depiced in Fenton's book, so I wonder whether she had some refit [while still powered by steam] at this time. Another another steam coaster, the 'Florence' also with black funnel with a yellow band, regularly brought coal from Barry to Padstow at this time. Could the black and yellow funnel indicate ownership by the Ilfracombe Coal and Salvage Company, especially since the Padsow Harbour Book also records both vessels calling at Ilfracombe, sometimes light. Do any readers of this message board recall her? The three mast schooner 'Mary B.Mitchell' was a less frequent visitor to Padstow during this period, also bringing coal, and perhaps sailing with china clay.I would be interested in information about the M.B.M. built at Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, and a wellknown Q Ship of World War, 1 after she left Tyrell's [Arklow] ownership. Finally, some information about the 'Mary Barrow' owned [by a certain Captain Mortenson?]in Truro would be appreciated. I wonder whether anyone can recall any of the last named ships visiting ports in West Wales. Your observations and comments would be welcomed.

Wales is a country perhaps best known for its coal mines and sheep farming and though there was also considerable heavy engineering including steelworks and copper works, the country does not seem to be known for its Maritime Heritage and yet!

Wales is surrounded on three sides by the sea with rugged cliffs, glorious beaches and rolling hills and whilst tourism is the major industry these days, somehow the myriad of small harbours, rivers and large ports seem almost unknown to the sailing world. The presence of these harbours and rivers of course causes interest as visitors wander, discovering quiet remote places with their half hidden relics of broken quays and port constructions from a bygone era and the questions begin to be asked.

Stepping back in time over 200 years ago to an age where we had no heavy vehicles, Lorries or trains, if you use your imagination then you will begin to understand the maritime heritage of Wales.

Remote villages developed close to the water surrounded by hills and mountains and suddenly you realise that the sea was the main and often the only means of transportation. Land owners had harbours constructed and shipyards grew up to service this need with ships being built on the foreshores, using local timber and skills. Farmers often had their own ships built to carry there own produce to distant markets and often the second son of these farmers became the skipper, usually becoming a Master Mariner, a Captain sailing around the world in great Tall Ships!

As with all movement of expensive products crime was a major factor, unprotected vessels laden with goods on their way to markets were good pickings for the unscrupulous and the Welsh coast became a hotbed of piracy with such infamous names as Black Bart, Bartholomew Roberts, who later became so well known in the Caribbean. The ground swell of complaint grew as this reign of piracy gripped the area and finally the Royal Navy had to be present effectively policing the coast.

The result was, Royal Naval dockyards and Naval ship construction in Milford Haven.

Understanding this history that welsh ancestors have left to their children, embedded in their genes, gives an understanding of the psyche and culture, yet leaves you wondering why more hasn’t been made of Welsh Maritime Heritage. After all where is the Welsh sail training ship? Why doesn’t the Urdd have a sailing or maritime wing? What about Welsh disaffected children cant they sail in a classic or traditional craft and understand the lessons that the sea teaches us?
It makes you think, what does make us Welsh and why are we forgetting our heritage?

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Hello!
How are you?

Hi

What a great organisation and website. I have sent links to this to a few friends who would be very interested.

Trying to develop a similar organisation in East South Wales. Talking to various people about this now.

Keep up the grand work.

Jeff Cuffe