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Milford Haven Milford Haven is not only the name of the town but also the name of the huge natural harbour, 10 miles by 2 miles, which at its head breaks into tidal inlets reaching far inland and into Pembrokeshire National Park. Typically for Wales, its experienced great transformations during its history. The Norsemen came here in King Alfred's time when one expedition entered 23 ships into the natural harbour, and it was from here that both Henry II and John, each with 400 - 500 ships, set off to conquer Ireland. In 1407, 12,000 French mercenaries arrived here to help Owen Glendower, the Welsh nationalist leader, fight against Henry IV. Years later, a group of Quaker Whalers laid out the town of Milford Haven, and at the same time a naval dockyard opened. Railways came in 1863 but the completed docks were never really used by large ships at that time and so the docks lacked any great commercial success. Later, the Newfoundland Neyland Trawler fleet moved into Milford Haven and by the beginning of the 20th century the harbour became one of Britain's largest fishing ports. During both wars it was busy with Atlantic convoys but there was a decline after the last war until the 1960's, when major oil ports and huge tankers came. With the oil terminus and the spread of pipelines as far as the English Midlands, Milford Haven has transformed again to be a haven for super oil tankers unloading crude oil and supporting the local economy. It's quite a contrast between the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the oil tankers and pipelines which explore the area, but the communities need the oil industry to support the livelihoods of many of the local Welsh people and so what appears to be a difficult marriage continues to co-exist. Mixed with the beauty of the surrounding National Park and its stunning coastline, Milford Haven has made the area a fascinating mix of industry, commerce and natural beauty. |
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