News

Historic Pembrokeshire island fort goes on the market for £3m

Published

11 months ago

August 11, 2025

Restored Victorian fortress off West Angle Bay offers buyers a slice of Pembrokeshire history – for a cool £3 million

ONE of Pembrokeshire’s most striking and unusual landmarks, the Victorian fort on Thorne Island, has been put up for sale – and it could be yours for offers in excess of £3 million.

The Grade II* listed stronghold sits half a mile off the golden sands of West Angle Bay, commanding dramatic 360-degree views over the Milford Haven Waterway. Steeped in military history, it was built in the 1850s by more than 1,000 workers to guard against a feared French invasion during the reign of Napoleon III.

A fortress born from fear

The fort was part of a chain of defences known as Palmerston’s Forts, commissioned after a government commission concluded that the deep, sheltered harbour of Milford Haven was vulnerable to attack. With walls several feet thick, gun emplacements, and space for a 100-strong garrison, Thorne Island was designed to be impregnable.

Although it never fired a shot in anger, it became a familiar sight to generations of fishermen, sailors and beachgoers. After its military life ended, it was transformed into an unlikely hotel and, later, a private residence.

From ruin to luxury hideaway

By the time tech entrepreneur Mike Conner bought the island in 2017, the once-proud fort had fallen into disrepair. Acquired for around £500,000, it then underwent a painstaking decade-long restoration costing some £2 million.

Today, the fortress offers around 8,000 square feet of high-spec living space, blending original stonework and arched windows with modern comforts. It boasts five bedrooms – three with en suites – an open-plan kitchen and snug, and sweeping views from every room.

A rooftop bar and games area crown the structure, offering the kind of sunset panorama you simply can’t get on the mainland.

Off-grid and self-sufficient

Reaching Thorne Island is part of the adventure: visitors arrive by boat or helicopter. Once there, the property is entirely self-sufficient, with solar panels feeding a 100 kWh battery bank, air-source heat pumps with underfloor heating, a 250,000-litre rainwater harvesting system, and a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant.

There’s even a 10-metre crane for unloading supplies from boats – making it possible to stock up without braving the tides.

A playground for the imaginative

The sale is being handled by Knight Frank, who suggest the fort could serve as an ultra-private family retreat, a boutique hotel, or even a base for creative projects. With Pembrokeshire’s tourism trade booming and Milford Haven’s waters attracting increasing maritime traffic, its potential is as vast as the views.

Locals, however, will see it as more than a curiosity for wealthy buyers – it’s a piece of the county’s heritage, one that has stood watch over the Haven for more than 160 years.

For now, the tide of ownership is about to turn again. Whether its next chapter is one of public hospitality or private seclusion remains to be seen – but one thing is certain: Thorne Island’s walls will keep on watching the horizon.

Local Government

Armed Forces flag flies over County Hall

Published

2 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE ARMED FORCES flag is flying proudly at County Hall this week ahead of Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 27.

Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Simon Hancock were among those who marked the flag raising on Monday morning (June 22).

Also present were the Chairman of Council, Cllr Delme Harries, the Chief Executive, Will Bramble and the Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer, Hayley Edwards.

Cllr Hancock said: “It is always a very proud moment to see the Armed Forces Flag flying over County Hall.

“Armed Forces Day is a chance to show our deep appreciation for the men and women who serve, as well as the families and communities who support them.

“Our county has a rich history of connection with the Armed Forces, and we are proud to uphold and strengthen that bond.

“As a Council we are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community in Pembrokeshire receive the recognition and support they truly deserve and we are proud to be a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award holder.”

Crime

Accused Milford Haven rapist to stand trial at Crown Court

Published

3 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared before magistrates accused of rape and sexual assault.

James Kershaw, 46, is charged with raping a woman in Milford Haven between February 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014.

He also faces a charge of sexually assaulting a female over the age of 13 by penetration with his finger between December 1 and December 30, 2012.

Kershaw appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Jun 23) by video link and denied both charges.

Due to the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court, where Kershaw is due to appear for a pre-trial hearing on July 24.

He was released on conditional bail, with the sole condition that he must not contact the complainant.

News

Bus overturns in major incident near Kidwelly

Published

4 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

All passengers rescued as emergency services remain at scene

A BUS overturned on the A484 between Kidwelly and Ferryside on Tuesday (Jun 23), prompting a major emergency response and lengthy road closures.

The incident happened shortly after 12:20pm near the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs.

Emergency services, including firefighters from Kidwelly, Carmarthen and Tumble, were sent to the scene following reports of a serious collision involving the bus.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that all passengers were safely removed from the vehicle.

A spokesperson said: “All passengers have been safely removed from the bus and are receiving appropriate care.”

A rest centre has been established at the John Burns Centre in Kidwelly, where welfare arrangements are being made for those involved.

The scale of the incident led Dyfed-Powys Police to declare a major incident earlier in the day, with officers urging members of the public to avoid the area.

The A484 remains closed between the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs and Llandyfaelog while emergency services continue their response and carry out investigations into the cause of the crash.

Police, ambulance and fire crews remain at the scene.

Motorists are being advised to find alternative routes and are warned that the road is expected to remain closed for a considerable time.

Emergency services have also issued advice for drivers caught in congestion during the hot weather, urging people to stay hydrated, keep vehicles ventilated and never leave children, vulnerable adults or pets inside parked vehicles.

The cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed.