Early History

Inside the Castle Probably there was originally an Iron Age Hill Fort on the present castle site, possibly Bronze Age.

The current site of the castle was chosen not just for a marvellously defensive position over the town and Western Cleddau River but also because the existing fortified banks and ditches could be renovated and included in the castle. Unfortunately the castle now obscures all traces of Iron Age remains.

Famous People

Sir John Perrot

Born in 1527 at Haroldston House, the ruin of which is visible on the south side of Freemans Way. He was a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth and a close friend of Edward v1, who gave him his knighthood.

Georgian Haverfordwest

Castle View Haverfordwest was an excellent example of a prosperous Georgian town, complete with cobbled streets, elegant buildings and thriving centres of commerce and social life.

The 1748 copperplate engraving by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck shows the row of large warehouses fronting the river and the surprising range of craft which underlined the town’s status as a major port.

Historic Buildings

Bridges

The town has two fine historical bridges spanning the River Cleddau, the Old Bridge and the New Bridge.

The Old Bridge was gifted, in 1726 by Sir John Philipps of Picton Castle. The Old Bridge was constructed over the ford of Haverfordwest that Henry Tudor crossed, with his army, after landing at Dale in August 1485.

Town Museum

Situated within the Castle wall and previously the old prison governor’s house is the town museum.It houses exhibitions of art and local history and has artefacts relating to the town’s past. Haverford West Town Museum & Haverfordwest Castle