Last Friday evening, over 30 people squeezed into the archaeology gallery at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery to listen to an illustrated talk and guided tour of Tenby Harbour.

John Woodcock, Emeritus Professor of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering at Cardiff University and Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, delivered a riveting talk about the history of Tenby Harbour and the buildings surrounding the harbour.

John, author of 'Tenby Shops 1870-1970' and 'Tenby History,' started by explaining that the earliest reference to a pier or quay at Tenby is in 1328 when Edward III gave a grant of murage and quayage to Tenby. Before that time, the harbour was simply a sandy cove. Reference was made to several maps showing Tenby harbour, including Morris (1740), Couling (1811) and Dawson (1832).

John then conducted the audience, still comfortably seated, on a guided tour around the harbour, starting with the original St. Julian's Chapel on the old pier and working his way up Quay Hill, along Bridge Street and down Penniless Cove Hill to the South Wharf.

John explained when each building was constructed and its original use. The talk was fully illustrated utilising etchings and watercolours by Charles Norris along with old photographs and modern photographs by John himself.

Tenby's second harbour (Hollow-ways Water) was also discussed, along with details of the maritime trade that passed through the harbour and the fishing industry.

At the conclusion of the talk and guided tour, Neil Westerman, honorary curator, thanked John for a fascinating and informative talk.

Following a number of questions, the enlightened audience left knowing much more about the harbour than when they arrived.

It is worth noting that many of the illustrations used by John in the talk are reproduced in his book 'Tenby History', which is available to purchase at the museum shop.

The next talk at the museum on Friday, July 10, will be by Jill Ensom on the subject of Tenby Marine Biology.