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Town Trails
Hakin
Milford Haven
MilfordHaven.eu
Milford Haven Town Trails

Milford Haven
The trail begins in the towns traditional shopping area of Charles Street. This is the focal point of Milford's annual Founders' Day Celebrations, when we celebrate an Act of Parliament on 9 June, 1790 that gave Royal Assent for Sir William Hamilton to build a new town. Every year the town centre throngs with people, street stalls, bands and entertainments.
As we exit Charles Street into Great North Road, we pass the Memorial Gardens
and turn right to look at the Church of St. Katherines and St. Peters the cause of a local dispute. The church was started in 1801 and completed in 1808. Great controversy arose because it was then designated a Chapel of Ease to the Parish of Steynton. This meant that Milford was not a parish in its own right merely a district of Steynton. It took until 1891 for Milford to be formally recognised as a Parish in its own right.
Continuing past the church and heading directly towards the Haven Estuary we come to The Rath This beautiful green walkway was originally established as a gun emplacement in the 18th Century. The location would have been carefully chosen because of its panoramic views of the Haven would maximise that chances of defending its shores against attacking ships. The current layout of the rath owes a lot to Milford's Sewerage System. When the sewers were dug in the 1930's, all the waste earth was used to build the sloping grass banks.
Mounted high on its platform there is a spectacular bronze Statue of a Fisherman hauling his nets. This is a permanent reminder of a 200 year period when the Fishing Industry provided the wealth of the town.
Turning away from the docks, we find a Bronze Map mounted next to the path. This plaque was donated by the Rotary Club in 2005 and depicts all the places visible from this point on the Rath.
Close to the mine, a Bronze Plaque is mounted on a podium that overlooks the Haven. The enscription explains that it was placed there on 6th June, 1994 by the Normandy Veterans Association, to remember the 50th aninversary of Operation Overloard. (The D-Day landings and supporting operations when the Allies started to take France back from the occupying forces.
On the sloped grassland of the rath, there is a small Paddling Pool
Look carefully as you continue and you will discover the wonderful Water Gardens In 1939, one of the largest open air swimming pools in the country was completed and it remained popular until 1973 when the modern heated pool at the Meads Sport Centre was established. By 1987 the pool was still loved but rarely used and closure was inevitable. The Water Gardens were built on the site and opened by Margaret Thatcher in September 1990. The paddling pool was also part of the open air swimming facility.
Wandering on a short distance, we find another mine. A large Black Mine mounted on its trolley carries two separate dedications. On one side it says, "Dedicated to the Port of Milford Haven and HM Fast Minelayers - Abdiel, Apollo, Ariadne, Latona, Manxman, Welshman - in operational support HM Minelayer Adventure operating extensive offensive minelaying against the enemy 1941-1945". The other side carries this dedication, "Dedicated to the workforce of RNMD Milford Haven without whose efforts fast minelaying operations would not have been possible."
We will cross over the road now and turn back towards Hamilton Terrace. Whilst it is not easy to spot, you will find a small gate leading to the Chapel of St. Thomas a Becket built in 1180, centuries before the townwas founded. This was a Beacon Chapel designed to be visible to seafarers on the Haven - a light that called them to prayer.
As we leave The Rath and join Hamilton Terrace we see the Town Hall on our right, the focal point of the towns civic events,
including the annual arrival of Father Christmas
If we are really observant we spot a small Wooden Shed opposite the Town Hall. In the Christmas Season this houses the towns Nativity Crib.
Instead of going back past the Memorial Gardens, will stop where the Rath meats Hamilton Terrace and Slip Hill. It is impossible to miss the Belgian Monument given to the people of Milford by Ostend, in gratitude for helping their refugees who fished from Milford from 1914 to 1919 while Belgium was occupied. Originally it was protected by ornamental posts but the metal was melted down to make munitions for the Second World War.
As we amble towards Hakin, we look at the Town Houses on Hamilton Terrace sensing how simple and austere they are. To understand the reason for this, we must be aware that the town was developed by Quakers. They processed Whale Oil for street lighting (before the days of gas lights) and being Quakers, they wanted the houses to reflect their religious convictions. Continuing along Hamilton Terrace we can look down over the Marina which we will visit later and also pass the town's War Memorial dedicated in 1924 to those who fell in the First World War. The original plan was to put an Angel on top of the Memorial but this idea was dropped in favour of an Airman.
As we continue towards Hakin, we pass one of the stopping places of the Mail Coach to London The Lord Nelson Hotel. When the Nelson first opened on the 24th September 1800, it was called the New Inn but it was renamed The Lord Nelson after Nelson and Lady Hamilton visited the town in 1802.
At the bottom of the hill we notice Hakin Bridge and the new retail park, both of which are covered in the Hakin Town Trail. However, just on the Milford side of underground Hubberston Pill, at the entrance to the retail park stands an unusual monument. A collection of Mines and Anchors acknowledge the maritime history of the town.
As we prepare to turn left into Milford Docks, we glance to our right at the buildings on the top of the cliff, The destinctive architecture of the Torch Theatre built in 1977, is prominent. This National theatre was build with the aid of funding from the Amoco Oil Refinery and provides a venue for top celebraties, entertainers, orchestras and operas as well highly talented amateur groups.
Entering the docks and turning towards the Marina, we pass the towns Museum. The centre part of Milford Museum was constructed in 1797 as a Customs House, the two wings were added a short time later. The building was later used a a warehouse and eventually it became a museum of Milford's History that concentrated on the town's sea faring tradition.
As we look out across Milford Docks built to attract the transatlantic passenger liners, it became a properous fishing port. Since the dock gates first opened in 1990, the docks have continued to develop, with the modern marina being completed in 1990 ready for the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race of 1991.
The original fish market was also converted to form the popular Martha's Vinyard restaurant, chandelry, shopping and office complex.
To complete our town Trail, I would like to reflect on a quotation from William Shakespeare's play Cymberline
...how far it is to this same blessed Milford. And by th'way Tell me how Wales was made so happy as Tinherit such a Haven. (Cymberline - Act 3 Scene 2)