News

Barnard’s Tower ‘belongs to the people’

Published

8 years ago

February 29, 2016

Barnard’s Tower: Will the Town Council change their minds about the tower

ONE of Pembrokeshire’s most historic buildings is currently up for sale but there is a reluctance to do anything with it.

Barnard’s Tower in Pembroke, has been up for sale since July 2013 and many discussions have been held over what to do with it.

The tower is described as being ‘part and parcel of Pembroke’ by Cllr Jonathan Nutting who feels that Pembroke Town Council should take ownership of the building for the people of the town.

However, Pembroke Town Council have said they do not want to take the tower on because of potential costs that may be incurred in the future.

Cllr Jonathan Nutting says that the council should work together with organisations to turn the tower into a tourist attraction.

Pembrokeshire County Council have said that they may be able to gift the tower to the Town Council but there has been no movement since.

The Town Council has discussed the Tower at a number of its Town Council meetings but in January, it was agreed that the Town Council would not go ahead with the purchase.

Many people in the town see the Tower as an important part of Pembroke and are willing to work with the Town Council should they decide to take the building on.

HISTORY

Barnard’s Tower is of great historic importance to Pembroke and is a 13th century three storey tower which is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The building overlooks the Mill Pond and forms part of the town wall.

It was founded by William de Valence and flanks the north-east angle of the medieval town wall of Pembroke, it was built for independent defence.

The entrance to the fore-building was once defended by a bridge-pit and its vaulted passage was guarded by a gate and a portcullis. A spiral stair case , gives access to all the floors and the dome-vault roof supports the remains of a parapet.

The deep, plunging arrow loops are similar to those seen in the Barbican Tower at Pembroke Castle, where they date from c.1260 and from which they were probably derived.

The roof dome is intact, and the whole structure with its fireplace and lavatory is a strong, almost self-contained defensive unit; this was probably necessary as it was isolated on the north-eastern end of town, almost half a mile from the castle.

Barnard’s Tower has been subject to regular and on-going programmes of consolidation and repair since at least the mid-1970s, including the construction of the low walls against the southern face of the tower.

Today the tower is home to a nursery roost of Daubentons Bats.

TAKE A CHANCE

Cllr Jonathan Nutting wants to convince the Town Council that they should take ownership of the tower to take a chance for the future of the town of Pembroke.

Pembrokeshire County Council has been in talks with interested parties in the past about the Tower but they are now looking to gift the tower to the Town Council.

Barnard’s Tower, along with two other buildings, was put up for sale by the council in July 2013.

At the time a spokesperson said that the main reason for selling the Tower was that the Council does not have the resources to hold underutilised assets.

The Council also said they would welcome expressions of interest for the tower from the Town Council.

There was anger at the plans to sell the buildings in the community as it was felt that there had not been enough dialogue between the Council and Town Council about their plans.

Cllr Jonathan Nutting said that Pembrokeshire County Council had acted disgracefully in their advertisements of the buildings as there was no consultation with Pembroke Town Council.

He even suggested that the Town Council should make a starting offer of £1 for the tower and another offer was also made in April 2014.

Two months later Pembrokeshire County Council said they were happy to work with Pembroke Town Council to create a plan for the tower.

BAT SURVEY COST £1,270

Almost a year later, after meetings about purchasing the tower, the Town Council was asked to do a bat survey of the building.

It was revealed that the survey would cost £1 , 270 and some councillors felt that was too much and asked for another valuation.

However, a second valuation came back higher than the first and in June 2015, it was agreed to go ahead with the survey at the price originally quoted.

The results of the survey came back to the Town Council in November 2015 but councillors were still unsure over the cost of the building.

COUNCILLORS CONCERNED OVER FUTURE COSTS

Cllr Wyn Jenkins said that they should not purchase the building as, in his opinion, they could not afford it.

Cllr Keith Nicholas stated that he was originally in favour of the council purchasing the building but added that they may be expected to pay further costs of services in the town which meant that the Town Council could not take it on.

Cllr Jon Harvey said he was concerned about costs which could be involved in the upkeep of the tower and asked for full costs to be prepared.

Cllr Jonathan Nutting said that the Town Council should not make knee-jerk reactions and felt that they should be looking at the long term and not the short term.

Following a vote of 11 in favour and two against it was resolved to withdraw from the purchase of the tower.

Despite this, in December 2015, Pembrokeshire County Council said that they may be able to gift the Tower to the Town Council.

Councillors were still unsure about the future costs of the building while Cllr Nicholas commented that nothing had changed from the previous meeting.

Pembrokeshire County Council had received other offers but it was felt that the best option would be to pass it on to the Town Council.

This could be done by a Community Asset Transfer at less than market value for local social, economic or environmental benefit.

At the Town Council meeting in January, it was agreed that the matter would be laid on the table and that they would not be going ahead with the purchase of the Tower.

PEMBROKE NEEDS ATTRACTIONS

Speaking to the Herald on February 2, Pembroke Cllr Jonathan Nutting said: “It’s all part of a plan. Pembroke needs attractions to keep people in Pembroke for the whole day rather than just going to the castle and then going off to the beach.

“Barnard’s Tower is part and parcel of what I see as integrated plan because what I did try and sell to them was that it would make a possible interpretation centre for the Town Walls, it would make a possible interpretation for the bats of south Pembrokeshire and we have to take them into account.

“It would make a brilliant interpretation centre because the Mills Ponds are a brilliant bat sanctuary and a place where you can pick up lots of things so it gives a potential for other visitors to use the town in a different way rather than just going to see the castle.

“What we’re trying to get them to do is see the castle as a start off point and they actually go around and in a circle of things that are happening in the town.

“The Council now want to gift the tower to Pembroke, they’re not interested in money, Pembroke doesn’t desperately want to take it on because they can’t see the money for where to do the tower up and put the floors back in.

POTENTIAL IS THERE

“CADW have got no worries as long as the structure is not changed, the bat people have got no problem as long as we take the bats into account. The potential is there but there is no money.

“All the Town Council can see at the moment is that they might have a white elephant on their hands where they have to pay for insurance and then maintenance which could be horrendous.

“We don’t want it just sitting there as a dead tower. The vast majority of visitors don’t even know it’s there because they never get that far and it is quite an important part of the town walls.

“Obviously Pembroke is now looking to invest in the future, we’ve got 21C, the Town Walls Trust and lots of different groups working in the town but they are not coordinated very well and we need a professional so what I am trying to get from the county council and Welsh Government is for them to put a town coordinator in.

“That has the potential to coordinate these groups, coordinate where the income comes from and where the town goes forward.

“We need a tourist industry that attracts people all the time so the tower is an integral part. There is potential to bring together the Town Council, 21C and the Town Walls Trust on a joint project.”

PEMBROKE 21C

Gareth Jones from Pembroke 21C told the Herald: “I was part of a group working in partnership with the Town Council to scope out any potential uses for the Tower.

“Pembroke Town Council are still in discussions about it and we will wait to see what their response is before moving forward.

“We are happy to work with anyone who is trying to retain Barnard’s Tower.

“Barnard’s Tower is a fantastic feature in the Town Wall and it could paint an even richer picture of town and its history as a heritage centre or information centre. Obviously we would have to consider the bats that are in there at the moment.

“It is a great opportunity and I would certainly be up for it and I think we should just go for it and I would like to be a part of any group dealing with this in the future.”

PEMBROKE TOWN WALLS TRUST

Janet Drogan from the Pembroke Town Walls Trust confirmed that they had been to two meetings with the Town Council about the tower.

She added: “The Town Walls Trust has got plenty on its plate to deal with the town walls but it is a part of Pembroke’s heritage. All things need funding.

“It is definitely an asset but there are so many assets that have a potential for the future but we can’t deal with all of them at once.”

In April 2014, The Town Walls Trust posted the following about the state of the wall and Barnard’s Tower on their website. They said: “While some stretches remain well maintained and other parts have been patched up from time to time, other stretches of wall are showing signs of long-term neglect – ivy-covered and in urgent need of re-pointing.

“The town’s three great medieval gateways are all long gone and it is partly in order to ensure that the remaining walls do not go the same way that the Pembroke Town Walls Trust has recently been formed.”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Although the building may have been declared surplus to requirements there is definitely an appetite to do something with the Tower.

Pembroke Town Council held a full council meeting on Thursday (Feb 11) after The Herald went to press.

Nobody wants this to become a ‘dead tower’ but will the Town Council change their minds to help bring this tower back into use?

Will the Town Council also accept Pembrokeshire County Council’s gifting of the tower to them?

It is clear that there is potential for the tower to become an important part of the town and the people in Pembroke would clearly like to see something done with it.

Community

Anzac Day commemoration service held in Milford Haven

Published

13 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN a service held on Sunday (Apr 28), the Milford Haven Branch of the Royal British Legion led a poignant commemoration service to mark Anzac Day, honouring the valor and sacrifices of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.

The service, which took place at 11:00am, on Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, witnessed a significant turnout.

Attendees included members of the Australian Signals and Signal Company as well as representatives of Milford Haven Town Council and the Milford Haven Sea Cadets.

The service commenced with a welcome and introduction by Lt Col Warren Coetzer, followed by a rendition of the National Anthems of Australia, New Zealand, and Wales, embodying a spirit of unity and remembrance. The anthems were a moving tribute to the camaraderie and international bonds formed in times of conflict.

***ANZAC service: Remembering soldiers who fought bravely (Pic: MHTC)***

During the service, the Ode of Remembrance was recited, a profound moment that prompted reflection on the courage and fellowship of the ANZAC forces.

The emblematic Rising Sun Cap Badge and the Union Flag were prominently displayed on the event programme, symbolising the service and sacrifice of those who served under them.

Local dignitaries laid wreaths, and a two-minute silence was observed, offering a chance for personal reflection on the cost of war and the price of peace.

**Sea Cadets and member of the public at the service (Pic: MH Sea Cadets)**

The commemoration concluded with a prayer for peace, leaving the attendees with a message of hope and a renewed commitment to the values for which the ANZAC soldiers bravely fought.

The service was not just a remembrance of past sacrifices but also a reminder of the enduring spirit of the ANZACs, which continues to inspire and guide future generations.

Community

Survey of Picton Castle reveals groundbreaking medieval architecture

Published

14 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE first ever detailed architectural survey of Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire, has revealed a medieval castle ahead of its time in terms of design and high status living. Much altered in the Georgian period, the castle was surveyed by the author, Neil Ludlow, with Phil Poucher of Heneb – Dyfed Archaeology (formerly Dyfed Archaeological Trust) and funded by the Castle Studies Trust: it reveals a sophisticated building fit for royalty.

However, the building was actually built between 1315-20 by a senior royal government official called Sir John Wogan, who held office in Pembrokeshire, Northern England and Ireland and possibly fought on a military campaign in Gascony.

While outwardly it retains much of its medieval flavour, the interiors were extensively made over during the eighteenth century so that it now presents itself first and foremost as a Georgian country seat. But beneath this veneer, much medieval work still survives – though a lot of it is tucked away behind stud-walls, in cupboards, or is otherwise obscured.

Picton’s unique layout makes it a castle of great importance and architecturally ground-breaking for when it was built in the early fourteenth century. Most castles have at least some close parallels, but Picton is effectively one of a kind. Close study shows that it resolves as a central first-floor hall, flanked by services and a chamber-block to form a very early example of the three-unit ‘H-plan’ house.

The gatehouse – unusual in buildings of this kind – led onto an equally unusual ‘grand stairway’ to the hall; a second ground-floor entry probably led to an external kitchen and bakehouse.

The castle’s spatial disposition, access and circulation are meticulously planned, while the domestic appointments show a remarkable level of sophistication for the period, including what appear to be vertical serving-hatches between the ground floor and the service rooms above. At second-floor level, the east towers and gatehouse form two integrated suites of residential apartments either side of a chapel, in a manner firmly rooted within royal planning. The opposite pair of towers, at the west end, seem to have been united internally to form a residential chamber-block, for Wogan’s officials and guests, possibly served by latrines in the former west tower; the present partition walls are later.

Neil Ludlow told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “The enigmatic castle at Picton in Pembrokeshire is best-known for its magnificent Georgian interiors. But beneath this veneer is a medieval castle, from around 1315-20, with a unique layout. A towered hall-block with a pioneering ‘H-plan’, it reveals elements derived from royal planning, and sophisticated domestic arrangements including serving hatches between the floor levels. These innovations show it to have been a castle that was ahead of its time.”

Castle Studies Trust Chair of Trustees Jeremy Cunnington added: “The Castle Studies Trust is delighted to have funded the first ever detailed survey of Picton Castle and to have learned so much more about the medieval form of this unique building.”

Dr Rhiannon Talbot-English, Director at Picton Castle Trust told this newspaper: “Picton Castle has always been something of an enigmatic mystery: hidden gothic alcoves and arches, secret spiral staircases and untouched medieval Undercroft. Picton Castle Charitable Trust is extremely grateful to the Castle Studies Trust for its generous financial support which has enabled this research to be undertaken and we look forward to sharing this new knowledge with the public in a new exhibition about the early castle.”

Community

Solemn tributes at Freshwater West for WWII maritime tragedy

Published

14 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN an emotional gathering at Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, the public and veterans convened on April 29, to honour the memory of the 85 souls lost in the tragic sinking of Landing Craft, Gun (LCG) 15 and LCG 16 during a brutal storm in April 1943.

The memorial service took place near the scenic, surf-popular beach, where the community assembled to reflect on the calamity that struck during a perilous wartime operation.

The service highlighted the sacrifices made by those aboard the LCGs, as well as six valiant crew members from the HMS Rosemary, who perished while attempting a daring rescue amidst the tempest.

Originally designed as Landing Craft, Tanks (LCTs), LCG 15 and LCG 16 were converted at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard to support amphibious operations by equipping them with heavy artillery.

Their redesign included the installation of two 4.7 inch guns intended for use during D-Day, suggesting that, had they survived, these crafts and their crews could have played a pivotal role in the Normandy Landings.

The crafts were en route to Falmouth when they encountered severe weather off the coast of Freshwater West.

Compounded by their flat-bottomed design, which was ill-suited for rough seas, both vessels tragically succumbed to the stormy conditions.

Denied shelter at Fishguard, they were compelled to continue towards Milford Haven, a decision that ultimately led to their sinking.

Today, the wrecks of LCG 15 and LCG 16 lie as protected war graves, and a poignant memorial stands overlooking the beach, a testament to the bravery and enduring legacy of the men lost to the sea.

Visitors to the memorial site at Freshwater West, which also hosts another commemorative marker at Thornton Cemetery in Milford Haven, can reflect upon the harrowing experiences faced by wartime naval personnel and the profound impact of their service.

The event served not only as a remembrance but also as an educational experience, particularly for younger generations unaware of the perils faced by their forebears during such tumultuous times.

The memorial at Freshwater West remains open to the public, offering a place for contemplation and respect, against the backdrop of one of Wales’ most beloved surfing beaches, where the echoes of history resonate with the sounds of the waves.

Pictures by Martin Cavaney