Porthgain

Porthgain (Welsh for fair/beautiful port) is a village in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales, located between St David's and Goodwick, and just north of Llanrhian.

Porthgain

Porthgain Harbour

Sea view
Porthgain
Location within Pembrokeshire
Population897 
OS grid referenceSM813323
Community
  • Llanrhian
Principal area
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHAVERFORDWEST
Postcode districtSA62
Dialling code01348
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

History & amenities

The village of Porthgain has a wealth of historical relics from its time as a prosperous industrial harbour in the early 1900s.

At one time, the harbour exported slate from quarries a few miles south at Abereiddi, Trwynllwyd and Porthgain quarry works [1][2] itself. Abereiddi and the quarries to the South were linked by a tramway, the Porthgain Railway. Water-powered mills at Porthgain sawed the quarried slate slabs before shipment.[2]

In later years the slate trade was abandoned, although Porthgain survived by turning to brickmaking, and later to crushed roadstone.[2] Large brick hoppers dominate the harbour. These hoppers were used to store crushed dolerite before shipment and are now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Slate, from a local quarry, was handled through the harbour from 1850 to 1910. Bricks were made in the harbour area from 1889 to 1912 using waste from the slate operation. The crushed dolerite (1889–1931) was used as a road stone.

In the 1980s Porthgain was designated as a conservation area and the industrial properties and land were purchased by local residents[3] and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.[4]

The harbour, still home to local fishermen, can get very busy in the summer with recreational boaters. Other attractions and conveniences include the Pembrokeshire Coast Path rambling up both sides of the harbour, the “Strumble Shuttle” bus, and the Sloop, which used to be called the “Step In” when boats were able to dock beside the pub and the crews could step in. Porthgain also has the Shed, a small bistro situated by the Quay and the Harbour Lights Gallery, which is located in the manager's office of the old works.

Porthgain Kayak Club operates voyages from the harbour during the summer months.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Porthgain quarry works". Engineering Timelines. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  2. Richards, Alun John (2011). The Rails and Sails of Welsh Slate. Gwalch. pp. 132–133. ISBN 978-1-84524-174-2.
  3. "My Kind of Town". Architecture Today. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  4. "Porthgain". Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. "Porthgain Kayak Club". Porthgain Kayak Club. Retrieved 22 May 2020.


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