Major milestone reached in project to transform historic gaol building into flagship visitor attraction

A MAJOR milestone has been reached in the redevelopment of Haverfordwest Castle, with the new roof now lifted into place on the historic gaol building inside the castle walls.

Morgan Sindall Construction is carrying out the work on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council as part of the wider project to rejuvenate the castle site and create a flagship visitor attraction for the county.

The Grade II listed former gaol, which is more than 200 years old and covers around 800 square metres, has undergone major structural work, including a full replacement of its two-level roof and measures to stabilise the core of the building.

Once complete, the building will tell the story of Pembrokeshire across three floors of interactive, hands-on and immersive exhibits.

The redevelopment will also include a new café serving locally sourced food, a shop selling local and bespoke products, free-to-access grounds with new interpretation of the site, and a 500-seat outdoor events space for community events, fairs and markets during the summer months.

The main section of the gaol building has been fitted with a replacement timber frame and slate tiles, while a cladding system has been used over the lower section. Zinc cladding has also been incorporated to bring the building up to modern standards while respecting its historic setting.

Other work already completed includes repairs to the thick stone walls, the careful removal of non-heritage debris, and the installation of new drainage and flooring.

Because Haverfordwest Castle is a Scheduled Monument, preservation work on the site is carefully controlled by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service. The castle’s original walls, which date back to the 1120s, are being strengthened and repointed by specialist contractors.

The project forms part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s £17.7m levelling-up programme, funded by the UK Government.

Extensive archaeological excavations have also taken place in the castle’s Inner Bailey. Drainage has been replaced, new accessible footpaths have been created, and landscaping work is underway. When the site reopens, the Inner Bailey will be used as a flexible outdoor space for events, open-air theatre and markets.

Morgan Sindall said sustainability has been a key part of the project. The contractor has taken part in its 10 Tonne Carbon Challenge, working with its supply chain to reduce emissions by at least 10 tonnes. The project has already exceeded that target, with a reported saving of 230.5 tonnes of CO₂ across four stages, equivalent to heating 86 UK homes for a year.

Stonework debris removed from the site has also been reused rather than sent to landfill. It was donated to Walters Group, a local civil engineering company, and much of it has been used to repair parts of Castle Back steps, improving the link between the castle and Haverfordwest town centre.

Sections of roofing that were still structurally sound have been recycled and chipped for use as bedding at local horse training facilities. A 1960s hardwood staircase, formerly part of the archives, has been stored off site by the Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme, which will turn it into furniture for the new café.

Morgan Sindall said it has also focused on creating social value locally. Eight local businesses have been employed on the project so far, including Haverfordwest firms Coe Stone and SJB, which have been involved in conservation work including stone cleaning and repairs.

Project partners include AtkinsRéalis, Roger Casey Associates and DB3 Architects.

Ten apprentices have worked on the scheme, while five young people have been given work experience placements through Pembrokeshire College and Futureworks. Students from Pembrokeshire College, Swansea University, Coleg Sir Gâr and local primary schools have also visited the site to learn more about careers in construction.

Young “Castle Ambassadors” will continue to be involved in the next phase of the project, helping to shape parts of the exhibition and schools activity programme.

Morgan Sindall has also donated money and supplies to The Men’s Shed, a charity based near the castle grounds which helps reduce loneliness and isolation by bringing people together to recycle and repair furniture and other items. A donation has also been made to a local woodturning club.

Rob Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, said: “It has been a real responsibility and privilege to work with Pembrokeshire County Council on delivering such a nationally significant project.

“We work on a lot of heritage projects and have developed a clear and robust process to ensure that we protect these incredibly important buildings and give them a new lease of life.

“Haverfordwest Castle and its grounds will deliver so much more value to the local community and visiting tourists than just being a historical landmark once the project is completed.

“The structure of the castle itself will be more secure, it will have an event space, and now the roof has successfully been completed, a visitor centre which lives and breathes history. All of which will be fully accessible to everyone.”

Cllr Thomas Tudor, county councillor for Haverfordwest’s Castle Ward, said: “Haverfordwest Castle is without doubt the jewel in the crown for the county town of Pembrokeshire, and I am so pleased that the redevelopment of the castle is gaining momentum.

“It is brilliant news that Morgan Sindall Construction has reached a key milestone in the project to rejuvenate Haverfordwest Castle, with the new roof now in place.

“The future is looking very positive for Haverfordwest, which can be enjoyed by tourists and residents alike.”

The project is due to be completed in summer 2027.

Suggested photo caption:
New heights: The replacement roof structure being lifted into place at Haverfordwest Castle as work continues on the former gaol building.

Heartbroken owner says her five-year-old cat died after being found fitting near Picton Road, amid concerns over possible poisonings in the area

A HAKIN cat owner has warned others to be vigilant after her five-year-old cat died following a suspected antifreeze poisoning.

Lucy Harris said her much-loved pet was found fitting by a neighbour near Picton Road after the family had recently moved nearby.

He was rushed to the vets, where attempts were made to save him, but his kidneys failed and the family had to make the devastating decision to have him put to sleep.

Lucy said she has since been told there are concerns about a possible spate of poisonings in the Picton Road and Picton Close area.

She told The Herald: “Please put this in your paper. The vets said there’s a spate of cats being poisoned on Picton Road and Picton Close.

“The RSPCA inspector has been notified by the vets and will investigate.

“Within an hour of ingesting antifreeze it can be too late. They have seizures, heavy panting, and then the kidneys, liver and brain shut down. It is a horrible, painful death.

“To watch a poor, defenceless, loving cat go through that pain was heartbreaking. At the end of all that pain and upset we had to pay nearly £500 trying to save him, only to then have him put to sleep because he was suffering too much.

“People need to be made aware and be cautious. It is a very quick poison that kills if not treated immediately.”

Lucy said the incident has left her family devastated, but she is determined to raise awareness so other owners know how quickly suspected antifreeze poisoning can become fatal.

She added: “I’m determined to find out what has happened. I’d be more than happy to speak about it because people need to know.”

Pet owners in Picton Road, Picton Close and the surrounding Hakin area are being urged to monitor their animals closely and seek immediate veterinary help if a cat shows signs of poisoning.

Symptoms can include seizures, vomiting, weakness, heavy panting, confusion, collapse, or sudden changes in behaviour.

Anyone with information about suspected animal poisoning in the area is asked to contact the RSPCA, Dyfed-Powys Police, or their local vet.

Last woman hanged in Britain receives conditional pardon after Government recognises domestic abuse and “profound injustice” of her death sentence

RUTH ELLIS , the last woman to be hanged in Britain, has been granted a conditional posthumous pardon more than 70 years after her execution.

Ellis was 28 when she was hanged at Holloway Prison in July 1955 after being convicted of murdering David Blakely, a racing driver with whom she had been in a violent and abusive relationship.

The pardon was granted by The King following advice from Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy. It follows an application made on behalf of four of Ellis’s grandchildren.

The Government said the case involved exceptional circumstances, including evidence of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour which would be understood very differently by the courts today.

Ellis shot Blakely on April 10, 1955. She was convicted of murder and executed on July 13 that year. No appeal was lodged and no reprieve was granted.

The conditional pardon does not overturn her conviction. Instead, it recognises that the death sentence itself was unjust, replacing it in legal effect with a sentence of life imprisonment.

Mr Lammy said: “We cannot change what happened seventy years ago. But we can recognise that this was an exceptional case. Today’s conditional pardon is an act of mercy. We hope it brings some measure of peace to Ruth’s family.”

Matrix Chambers, whose lawyers acted on the application, said Ellis had suffered “terrible abuse” by Blakely which affected her mental state and culpability, and that the full circumstances of the killing were not properly investigated or explored at trial.

The chambers said the case prompted widespread public condemnation at the time and helped accelerate the eventual abolition of capital punishment in Britain.

Ellis’s granddaughter Laura Enston said the pardon could not undo what happened, but formally acknowledged that Ellis should not have been executed and that the justice system had failed her.

The case has long been seen as one of the most controversial executions in modern British history, not only because Ellis was the last woman to be hanged, but because later accounts revealed the extent of the abuse she had suffered before the killing.

Under modern law, the Government said, Ellis may have been able to argue partial defences including loss of control or diminished responsibility. Had those arguments succeeded, her conviction could have been reduced from murder to manslaughter.

Lawyers Alex Bailin KC and Jessica Jones, of Matrix Chambers, were instructed by Mishcon de Reya on the application and acted pro bono.