Exploring St Annes Head
St Anne`s Head protrudes from the bottom of Pembrokeshire - if you excuse the expression! This was the area we had decided to explore today, starting on the left side at Westdale Bay and making our way along the coast in an anti-clockwise direction. As with most bays and inlets, there was hardly another soul about.
Westdale Bay - not a soul in sight.
Wheatear sitting by the fence.
Around the area of Frenchman's Bay with the beautiful rock formations.
Wonderful rock formation at St Anne`s Point
St. Ann’s Head Lighthouse was built in 1844 to guide shipping bound for Milford Haven, replacing two leading lights established in 1714.
Trinity House approved in principal a private application to build a coal-fired light at St. Ann's Head in the second half of the 17th century to guide Milford-bound shipping; it was to be supported by voluntary payment of dues. However, the owners extracted dues illegally from shipowners and the light—the only one on the west coast—was discontinued. 40 years passed before another light was established although it is said that sea traders petitioned many times for the area to have lights.
On 15 March 1712 a patent was granted to Trinity House to build a lighthouse at St. Ann's Head. Trinity House in turn—as was its policy at the time—leased it to the owner of the land, Joseph Allen, who agreed to build two lighthouses and keep them in good repair. The terms of the lease were for 99 years at an annual rent of £10; to help maintain the lights, Allen was permitted to collect dues from the shipmasters at Milford Haven amounting to one penny per ton of cargo on British vessels and two pence on foreign vessels. Allen established two towers near the old disused lighthouse and lit coal fires on them in June 1714. St. Ann’s Head Lighthouse was automated and de-manned in 1998. The lighthouse is now monitored and controlled from Trinity House’s Planning Centre in Harwich, Essex.
Henry Tudor’s landing site
Further around the coast we came across this plaque with an important piece of history on it. On 7 August 1485, Henry Tudor landed here at Mill Bay, at the mouth of the Milford Haven waterway. He was 28 years old and had lived most of his life in exile in France. With him were c.2,000 French mercenaries, funded by the King of France. Little more than a fortnight later, his supporters had defeated King Richard III at Bosworth, near Leicester, and he became King Henry VII. The Tudor dynasty which followed had a profound influence on Britain as we know it today.
Why did Henry choose Mill Bay? Familiarity was one reason. Henry was born in Pembroke Castle, on the opposite side of the Milford Haven waterway. His uncle, Jasper Tudor, was nominally Earl of Pembroke and had maintained contact with people in the area while bringing up his nephew in France.
Another reason for choosing Mill Bay was to avoid detection by the king’s observers at Dale Castle, some 3km further north. Inevitably, news of Henry’s landing travelled quickly – the king knew about it by 11 August. Crucially, however, the decision to land in this secluded bay allowed the fledgling army to come ashore unopposed.
It was also imperative for Henry to start his march to Bosworth in a sympathetic region, because the army would quickly need provisions from supportive locals as well as extra soldiers from gentry who would rally to his cause. His strategy paid off, and he received a hearty welcome in Haverfordwest, the first major town on his route.
His chief supporter in Wales was Rhys ap Thomas, whose homes included Carew Castle, near Pembroke. He marched across Wales via a different route to gather more soldiers for the battle. The story was later romanticised to portray Rhys standing at Mill Bay to welcome Henry.
Mill Bay. Looking back toward the bay where Henry Tudor landed from France.
Last, but not least, Watwick Bay. Then home for a rest! Not a lot to to be said about the area, but a beautiful, peaceful place to wander and stand and stare. That's what life should have in it surely for all of us - a time to do just that?
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