Pembroke Dock Museum

A ‘Pembroke Dock Museum’ was first talked about in 1917, but it was not until the mid 1990s that renewed efforts were made. The opportunity to actually create one came when the former South Pembrokeshire District Council, relocated their Tourist Information Centre from a Cambridge Gun Tower to another location.

Meanwhile in 1996 a meeting had been called with the idea of establishing a museum. This brought together local military, aviation and maritime historians, professional people and council representatives. A Trust was formed and made good progress to establish its credibility, and so it was the logical organisation to occupy the now empty Gun.

On July 1^st 2001 the Trust, having acquired a lease moved into the Gun Tower. For what remained of the summer season the Trust ran the Tower without any changes. The winter of 2001/2002 provided the opportunity for the Trust to make substantial changes – for example the Dockyard display was moved into the central room and three distinct ‘themed rooms’ relating to the military, naval and RAF roles locally were created.

The Gun Tower alone has created, for the first time, a place for both residence and visitors to the town to discover the part played in the development of the army coupled with the history of the once largest Royal Dockyard in the country, launching 263 ships, submarines and five of the six Royal Yachts, including the Royal Air Force during the 1939/45 war.

The Gun Tower has been visited by members of the Victoria & Albert Museum from London and from the Museum of Land & Air from Denver, Colorado plus ex-service men and women who, during WW2 were stationed in the town. Besides our local Schools some from America and Czechoslovakia have also come to see us, and so we go from strength to strength. And so assisted by support from the Town Council it is hoped that at long last the town has something to be proud of.

A visit to the Gun Tower is a brilliant experience for just a small charge.  Visits by school and other groups are available by arrangement in or out of season. 

For further information contact Ron Watts:
Telephone (Office) - 01646  681446
Telephone (Gun Tower) - 01646  622246