Neyland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Nayland.
Coordinates: 51°42′41″N 4°56′43″W / 51.711272°N 4.945231°W / 51.711272; -4.945231
Neyland

View of Neyland High Street and Town Hall
Neyland

 Neyland shown within Pembrokeshire
Population 3,276 (2001 census)
OS grid reference SM965055
Principal area Pembrokeshire
Ceremonial county Dyfed
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MILFORD HAVEN
Postcode district SA73
Dialling code 01646
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament Preseli Pembrokeshire
Welsh Assembly Preseli Pembrokeshire
List of places
UK
Wales
Pembrokeshire

Neyland is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Cleddau and the upstream end of the Milford Haven estuary. The nearby Cleddau Bridge crosses the river, linking Neyland to Pembroke Dock.

History

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[1][2] with a transatlantic terminal for the largest ships of the time. It was selected instead of the other possible location Abermawr.[3] The town then grew rapidly to serve the port. An earlier plan (1846) to build the terminal at Goodwick was revived in 1899, and the more substantial port there was opened in 1906.

View of Neyland Marina looking out towards the Cleddau
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. But in 1964 the Neyland terminal ceased operation. In the 1980s redevelopment 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.
Original broad gauge rails used as safety barriers at Neyland

The Rail Terminus used to connect to a ferry that ran across the Cleddau to Hobbs Point from where there was a bus service to Pembroke Dock and Pembroke. This was stopped when the Cleddau Bridge was completed in the seventies.

In August 2010, an 8 ft bronze statue of Brunel was stolen from its site in the towns marina, presumably for its metallurgic value.[4]

Sport and leisure

Neyland has a long sporting history and is home to many sporting groups. These 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 to name just the big few. Watersports such as sailing are also popular in the area and the town has its own yacht club, situated on the northern bank of the river.

Attractions in the town include the neighbouring Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and a marina.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ History of Neyland Simon Hancock - bbc.co.uk - 09 Nov 2006
  2. ↑ Jones, Stephen K. (2006). Brunel in South Wales. II: Communications and Coal. Stroud: The History Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780752439181. 
  3. ↑ British beach of the week: Abermawr telegraph.co.uk 3.Sept.2007
  4. ↑ BBC News: Brunel statue stolen from plinth

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Neyland.

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.
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