Scotch Bay and Ward's Yard, c.1869 - 1920

 

Courtesy of Jeff Dunn

 

Scotch Bay, with the broad gauge railway cutting leading to Newton Noyes pier, c. 1869.  The first swing bridge across the entrance to Castle Pill can be seen just beyond the cutting, and the building to the left of the far cutting may be the "Milford Summer House", as on the 1830 Chart of Milford Haven

The headland to the right of the cutting was flattened and became the site of Samuel Lake's shipyard, Castle Steel and Ironworks, taken over in 1882 by Oswald and Sons' shipbuilding yard, and Ward's shipbreaking yard, which opened just after the Great War.

 

John Stevenson Collection

 

A view showing the western headland of Scotch Bay in the process of being flattened, c.1869.

The photograph was apparently captioned "After the Storm", which would explain the presence of the two grounded vessels.

The Western Mail of Tuesday 14th September 1869 had the following item:

                                                                                                                        PEMBROKE DOCK, Monday

Today we experienced a very severe gale of wind, with a heavy sea running in the haven.  A number of vessels have passed here, running higher up the haven, from Milford, &c., for refuge.  A number of boats have been sunk, trees blown down, and roofs of houses partially stripped. .....

 

 

 

Courtesy of Jeff Dunn

 

A postcard, date unknown (pre 1900?), of Scotch Bay with Oswald's shipbuilding and repairing yard, when the beach was a popular place for bathing.   The two flattened headlands to the west and east of the bay can be clearly seen.

 

 

John Stevenson Collection

 

The former cruiser HMS ARGONAUT in the process of being broken up at Ward's Yard in 1920.

To her right is the hulk of a wooden sailing ship, the remains of which were still visible in the 1980s.

 

 

 

Haven and Docks