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Picture courtesy of Castle Photography www.castlephotography.co.uk

Haverfordwest owes its existence to its location on the River Cleddau which today flows through the centre of this bustling market town. It was the first place on the river which afforded a safe opportunity to ford the Western Cleddau, hence its name which is derived from the Old English word haefer, meaning buck or he-goat. It was the place where goats crossed the river.

It was at this point that Henry Tudor crossed with his army after landing at Dale in August 1485 on his way to Bosworth Field, where he defeated Richard III and became King Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty.

It was also the highest tidal point of the river and in later years became a thriving port with coastal and foreign vessels sailing right into the centre of town to deal in such cargoes as salt, iron, wines and apples from the orchards of the Forest of Dean. Exports, which contributed to Haverfordwest being regarded during the reign of Elizabeth I as the second largest port in Wales, included coal, slates, butter, oats, wheat, barley, hides and wool.

There are two surviving fairs in the town, both held on the open space at St Thomas Green. The May Fair was granted by the charter of James 1, but the larger fair is the October event, known locally as Portfield Fair, as it was formerly held on Portfield Common. Its origin date back to 1659 and it was the occasion of the hiring of farm servants.

The Town and County of Haverfordwest

On 30th April 1479 the town was incorporated by a charter of Edward, the nine-year old Prince of Wales and Lord of Haverfordwest. The charter decreed that the town should have a Mayor, Sheriff, two Bailiffs and Burgesses and conferred upon it the status of a county, designated as ‘the county and town of Haverfordwest‘.

The town had its own Lord Lieutenant until it was merged with the county of Pembroke in 1888 and its own Member of Parliament until 1885.

Mayor and Admiral of the Port

The charter of 1479, incorporated the town of a mayor, sheriff, two bailiffs and burgesses and in 1545, Henry VIII gave Haverfordwest county status. From the time of James 1 the Mayor of Haverfordwest has carried the title of Admiral of the Port of Haverfordwest.

The Mayor, who was appointed annually, was also a magistrate, coroner, escheater, clerk of the market, a deputy lieutenant and admiral of the port. The sheriff, bailiffs, sword-bearer and sergeants at mace had to attend upon him whenever necessary.

He had a salary of £30.00 and the rights of public fishery within the borough. He was given six shillings and eight pence at Christmas out of public funds to buy a kechyn, a sort of brawn and he was also allowed 200 apples from every cargo coming into the town’s Quay from the Forest of Dean.

As Admiral of the Port the Mayor travels in a water-borne procession to the White Stone at the town’s riverside boundary to exercise his rights of fishery.

The town’s prominence as a principal west Wales port seriously declined with the advent of the railway in 1853, which signalled the end of the centuries old river trade.

For details of the current Mayor and Town Council please click here