Neyland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the town in Wales. For the surname, see Neyland (surname).
Not to be confused with Nayland.

Neyland
Neyland High Street Town Hall.jpg
View of Neyland High Street and Town Hall
Neyland is located in Pembrokeshire
Neyland
Neyland
Location within Pembrokeshire
Population3,464 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSM965055
Community
  • Neyland
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMILFORD HAVEN
Postcode districtSA73
Dialling code01646
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
  • Preseli Pembrokeshire
List of places
UK
Wales
Pembrokeshire
51°42′41″N 4°56′43″W / 51.711272°N 4.945231°W / 51.711272; -4.945231Coordinates: 51°42′41″N 4°56′43″W / 51.711272°N 4.945231°W / 51.711272; -4.945231

Neyland is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Cleddau and the upstream end of the Milford Haven estuary. The Cleddau Bridge carrying the A477 links Pembroke Dock with Neyland.

Etymology[]

The name of the town is a reduction of an earlier form of the English word island preceded by the Middle English atten "at the". It was formerly known as New Milford by contrast with Milford Haven.[2]

History[]

View of Neyland Marina looking out towards the Cleddau
Original broad gauge rails used as safety barriers at Neyland

Neyland was a small fishing village in the parish of Llanstadwell, but in 1856 it became the site for the western terminus of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Western Railway[3][4] with a transatlantic terminal for the largest ships of the time. It was selected instead of the other possible location Abermawr.[5] The town then grew rapidly to serve the port.

The construction of a more substantial port at Goodwick based on an earlier plan of 1846, was revived in 1899, and opened in 1906. Many people relocated from Neyland to Goodwick and Fishguard at that time. Neyland was partially reprieved because silting of Goodwick harbour restricted its use, and for a little over one hundred years, Neyland was a busy rail and sea port. The Neyland terminal ceased operation in 1964.

The rail terminus used to link with the ferry that crossed the Cleddau to Hobbs Point in Pembroke Dock until 1975 when the Cleddau Bridge opened. The redevelopment of the 1980s saw the creation of a new marina and rehabilitation of the old railway yard. Some of the original Brunel iron wide gauge railway tracks can be seen today in use as safety barriers around the quay.

In August 2010, an 8 ft bronze statue of Brunel was stolen from its site in the town's marina, presumably for its metallurgic value.[6]

Sport and leisure[]

Sporting groups include Neyland Cricket Club (a founder member of the Pembroke County Cricket Club) established in 1889, Neyland RFC (a rugby union club established in 1885) and Neyland AFC. The town has a yacht club and a marina. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is nearby.

Public services[]

Potable water is supplied to the town by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW).[7] There were gas works alongside the railway. In 1909 it was the site of an explosion which burnt to death a mother and her three-year-old daughter who was taken there to inhale the fumes for the benefit her health.[8]

Notable people[]

Further reading[]

  • Hancock, Simon,Chronicle of a Ministry, CIT Brace Harvatt, Haverfordwest, copyright 2002.
  • Bill Morgan and Bette Meyrick, Behind the Steam, KRB Publications. Autobiography of a GWR driver from Neyland with much background about the town.

References[]

  1. ^ "Wards and community population 2011". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  2. ^ Mills, A. D. (2003). A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198527589.
  3. ^ History of Neyland Simon Hancock - bbc.co.uk - 09 Nov 2006
  4. ^ Jones, Stephen K. (2006). Brunel in South Wales. II: Communications and Coal. Stroud: The History Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780752439181.
  5. ^ British beach of the week: Abermawr[dead link] telegraph.co.uk 3.Sept.2007
  6. ^ BBC News: Brunel statue stolen from plinth
  7. ^ "Cleddau and Pembrokeshire Coastal Rivers" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. ^ https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4117677/4117680[bare URL]

External links[]

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