The Beginning

There are several stories which suggest that coal was first mined in Pembrokeshire during the 13th Century.

One suggested story is that of a Spanish ship, which was heading to Cornwall to collect a cargo of tin, was blown off course during a storm and ended up sheltering around in Milford Haven.

The ship then sailed further up the Cleddau to Hook, where the crew are said to have seen locals burning anthracite. They realised the potential to use anthracite instead of charcoal to smelt tin and so they acquired a cargo of coal and sailed back to Spain.

A more likely possibility is found in Medieval Latin records relating to the building of Aberystwyth Castle in 1282. It mentions the purchase of five hundred cartloads of coal from David the coal-dealer and one hundred from Ada de Munfort, both of Tenby. This documentation suggests a well established coal mining industry with traders and shipping destinations.

There are several mentions of coal mines at Saundersfoot, Porthclais (St. David’s), Begelly, Freystrop and Roch in documents originating from the end of the 14th Century.

However, there is no in-depth account of the coal mining in Pembrokeshire until the end of the 16th Century when a document written by George Owen describes in detail the experience and knowledge of coal miners in the County.

It is in the 16th Century that there are records found show clear evidence of a coal mining industry. The most notable are found in the Welsh Port Books, which began recording shipments from Welsh ports in 1559. These contain details of coal shipments from the ports of Milford and Tenby.