A HISTORIC theatre in Fishguard has unveiled a newly carved replica foundation stone after the original, dating back nearly 150 years, became too weathered to read.

The ceremony took place on Sunday [Mar 8] at Theatr Gwaun, where staff, trustees and volunteers gathered to mark the installation of the replacement stone.

The original foundation stone was laid in 1878 by Martha Philipps when the building first opened as a Temperance Hall. Over the decades, exposure to the elements caused the inscription to fade significantly, raising concerns that the historic detail would eventually be lost.

The project to preserve the stone was driven by Swanny MacCarthy, a former Fishguard resident with strong ties to the theatre. Mr MacCarthy previously volunteered as a carpenter at Theatr Gwaun and has also appeared on stage there.

After noticing the deteriorating condition of the stone, he set about organising a replacement.

To recreate the original, Mr MacCarthy commissioned Goodwick sculptor Darren Yeadon, who produced an accurate replica carved from local spotted dolerite – also known as Preseli bluestone. The new stone was made in two pieces to match the design of the original.

Over recent weeks, Mr MacCarthy and Mr Yeadon carefully removed the old stone and installed the replica in its place.

Despite wet weather on the day, the unveiling ceremony went ahead successfully, with those involved in the theatre’s running turning out to witness the moment.

Theatr Gwaun has thanked both men for their work, paying particular tribute to Mr MacCarthy for spearheading the effort to preserve an important piece of the building’s history.

Among those attending the ceremony were relatives of Martha Philipps, including her direct descendant Dafydd Williams. Mr Williams still owns the mason’s trowel used by Mrs Philipps when she laid the original foundation stone in 1878.

The replacement ensures the historic inscription can continue to be seen and appreciated by future visitors.

Originally established as a Temperance Hall, the building has evolved over the years and today operates as a popular community theatre and cinema at the heart of Fishguard.

LINK, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, has today announced local people and businesses in Pembroke Dock will benefit from a new banking hub. The town has been recommended a hub following community requests for an access to cash review.

Pembroke Dock is the first banking hub to be recommended in Pembrokeshire and to date, LINK have recommended more than 270 hubs across the UK.

Banking hubs are a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to everyone. When opened, the hub will consist of a counter service where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash and make bill payments. In addition, there will be private spaces where customers can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy. The banks work on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.  

The banking hub will now be delivered by Cash Access UK. Over the next few weeks, it will begin to engage with the local community and will start to look for potential sites. There are currently 12 hubs open in Wales, and over 200 across the UK.

Dr Chris Ashton, Chief Commercial Officer, LINK: “While more people are choosing to bank and pay for things digitally, we know that many people still rely on cash and face-to-face banking. That’s why we’re delighted to recommend a new hub in Pembroke Dock – the first in Pembrokeshire. When it opens, the hub will be a huge boost for the local community and high street.” 

Henry Tufnell, MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire: “I am delighted that LINK has recommended a banking hub for Pembroke Dock following our constructive engagement last month. This is something I have been pushing for over a year, working with LINK, government ministers, the regulator, Lloyds Bank, the Post Office, and my constituents.

A banking hub will provide much-needed face-to-face banking services for residents in the south of the county, many of whom have had to travel significant distances since the closure of the Lloyds branch.

Access to in-person banking services remains vital for communities across Pembrokeshire, and I will continue to work hard to ensure these services are delivered.”

Sam Kurtz, MS for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome LINK’s decision to recommend a banking hub in Pembroke Dock, a landmark moment for our town and the wider South Pembrokeshire community.”

“This hub will provide residents and businesses with the vital banking services they need, right here in our town, reducing the need to travel long distances and strengthening the local economy. It’s a win for fairness, accessibility, and for every resident who has campaigned tirelessly alongside me for the past 12 months.”

“I look forward to working with LINK, local stakeholders, and residents to turn this recommendation into reality and ensure Pembroke Dock gets the service it deserves.”

Anyone can contact LINK at this website: https://www.link.co.uk/initiatives/bank-branch-closures/

Additionally, to check for your nearest free access to cash point, you can download the app or visit the Cash Locator tool here: https://www.link.co.uk/consumers/locator/

A MODERN-DAY maritime hero has welcomed plans to commemorate the launch of HMS Erebus from Pembroke Dockyard two centuries ago.

Admiral Lord West has congratulated the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre after learning it has secured funding for its forthcoming exhibition, HMS Erebus: From Dockyard to Discovery.

He said: “I am delighted to send my warmest good wishes for the HMS Erebus: From Dockyard to Discovery exhibition.

“With strong family links to Pembroke Dock, it is wonderful to see this remarkable maritime story being celebrated and shared with new generations.

“I wish everyone involved every success with what promises to be a truly inspiring and fitting tribute.”

The exhibition comes as 2026 marks the 200th anniversary of HMS Erebus being launched from Pembroke Dock. (Pic: Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre)

Admiral Lord West – who served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 2002 to 2006 – can trace his family links back to Pembroke Dock, where his great-grandfather worked at the Royal Dockyard.

He went on to enjoy a distinguished naval career.

In 1982, aged 34, he was the commanding officer of the frigate HMS Ardent when it was sunk by Argentine forces during the Falklands War. He was the last to leave the sinking ship, earning him the Distinguished Service Cross.

After retiring from the Royal Navy, Lord West went on to advise successive UK governments on defence and foreign policy.

Praise for the exhibition has also come from the much-loved British adventurer and storyteller Michael Palin, who has written a book about the famous vessel.

The Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre’s forthcoming exhibition, HMS Erebus: From Dockyard to Discovery, will mark the 200th anniversary of the ship’s launch.

HMS Erebus was built and launched at the Royal Dockyard on June 7, 1826, thanks to the exceptional skill of Pembrokeshire’s 19th-century shipwrights and the region’s proud maritime craftsmanship.

The ship went on to play a pivotal role in some of the most important explorations of the age, including the pioneering Ross Antarctic Expedition, before being lost during the ill-fated Franklin Expedition to the Arctic.

Her rediscovery beneath the icy waters of the Canadian Arctic in 2014 reignited worldwide interest in the mystery and legacy of polar exploration.

The exhibition will feature recovered artefacts never before shown to the public, alongside interactive displays and video footage telling the dramatic story of the ship’s construction, service and discovery.

Cover image: Painting by François Etienne Musin (1820-1888) – HMS ‘Erebus’ in the Ice, 1846 – BHC3325 – Royal Museums Greenwich