14 Facts About Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire with a population of 14,596 in 2011.

Haverfordwest is located in a strategic position, being at the lowest bridging point of the Western Cleddau prior to the opening of the Cleddau Bridge in 1975.

Haverfordwest is a market town, the county town of Pembrokeshire and an important road network hub between Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, Fishguard and St David's as a result of its position at the tidal limit of the Western Cleddau.

Haverfordwest's sources are not given but the Cambro-Briton in 1822 recorded that Maximus, the last Roman Emperor of Britain, a man who for a time divided the Roman Empire with Theodosius I, on withdrawing Roman legions from Britain granted civic status and Celtic names to a number of pacified Romano-British settlements, including Southampton, Chichester, Old Sarum near Salisbury, Carmarthen and Haverfordwest.

Haverfordwest rapidly grew, initially around the castle and St Martin's Church, then spreading into the High Street area.

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In common with other large towns in Europe, Haverfordwest was hit hard by the Black Death in 1348, suffering both depopulation and diminution of trade.

In 1405, the town was burned by the French allies of Owain Glyndwr, although in its early history Haverfordwest suffered less than most towns in Wales from such depredations.

Some 1,200 men of Pembrokeshire lost their lives in World War I, and Haverfordwest was the location chosen for the County of Pembroke War Memorial, unveiled in 1921.

Haverfordwest was bombed for the first time during World War II on 24 September 1940.

Haverfordwest today has the air of a typical small country market town, but the centre still conveys the feel of the important mediaeval borough.

Haverfordwest is part of the Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd constituency and UK Parliamentary constituency.

Haverfordwest was an ancient borough, receiving its first charter from Henry II in 1169.

Haverfordwest had a medieval guildhall which stood at the top of High Street in front of St Mary's Church.

Concerns about the relative decline of the historic town centre compared to the growth of the retail centre at Withybush led to Welsh historian John Davies expressing his concern that Haverfordwest is becoming "a medieval town surrounded by tin sheds".