Editing Fishguard

{{short description|Town in Pembrokeshire, Wales}}
{{for|a derived English name|Fisgard (disambiguation){{!}}Fisgard}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | country                  = Wales
 | welsh_name               = Abergwaun
 | coordinates              = {{coord|51.9982|-4.98041|display=inline,title}}
 | official_name            = Fishguard
 | static_image_name        = Fishguard Harbour.JPG
 | static_image_caption     = Lower Fishguard
 | community_wales          = [[Fishguard and Goodwick]]
 | unitary_wales            = [[Pembrokeshire]]
 | lieutenancy_wales        = [[Dyfed]]
 | constituency_westminster = [[Ceredigion Preseli (UK Parliament constituency)|Ceredigion Preseli]]
 | constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Preseli Pembrokeshire (Assembly constituency)|Preseli Pembrokeshire]]
 | post_town                = FISHGUARD
 | postcode_district        = SA65
 | postcode_area            = SA
 | dial_code                = 01348
 | os_grid_reference        = SM955375
 | population               = 3,400
 | population_ref           = (2021 census)
}}

'''Fishguard''' ({{langx|cy|Abergwaun}}, meaning "Mouth of the [[River Gwaun]]") is a coastal [[town]] in [[Pembrokeshire]], [[Wales]], with a population of 3,400 (rounded to the nearest 100) as of the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Build a custom area profile - Census 2021, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/customprofiles/draw/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> Modern Fishguard consists of two parts, Lower Fishguard and the "Main Town". Fishguard and [[Goodwick]] are twin towns with a joint Town Council.

Lower Fishguard is believed to be the site of the original hamlet from which modern Fishguard has grown. It is in a deep valley where the River Gwaun meets the sea, hence the Welsh name for Fishguard. It is a typical fishing village with a short tidal quay. The settlement stretches along the north slope of the valley.

The main town contains the parish church, the High Street and most of the modern development, and lies upon the hill to the south of Lower Fishguard, to which it is joined by a steep and winding road. The west part of the town that faces Goodwick grew in the first decade of the 20th century with the development of [[Fishguard Harbour]].

== Etymology ==
The English name Fishguard derives from [[Old Norse]] {{lang|non|Fiskigarðr}} meaning "fish catching enclosure",<ref>Charles, B. G., ''The Placenames of Pembrokeshire'', National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1992, {{ISBN|0-907158-58-7}}, p. 50</ref> cognate with Modern English ''{{lang|en|fish}}'' + ''{{lang|en|yard}}.'' In Welsh, {{lang|non|Abergwaun}} means "the mouth of the [[River Gwaun]]", the name of the river referring to the high, wet, level ground of a marsh or moor.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=A. D.|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|isbn=9780198527589|location=Oxford|pages=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru|url=https://geiriadur.ac.uk/gpc/gpc.html?bar}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Upper & Lower Town of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.jpeg|thumb|Upper and lower Fishguard, {{circa|1830}}]]

Fishguard is within the historic Welsh [[cantref]] of {{lang|cy|[[Cemais (Dyfed)|Cemais]]|italic=no}}, and part of the Welsh province of {{lang|cy|[[Kingdom of Dyfed|Dyfed]]|italic=no}}, within the historic Principality of {{lang|cy|[[Deheubarth]]|italic=no}}.<ref name="Foundation">Davies, John, ''A History of Wales'', Penguin, 1994, ''foundations of'' pp. 17, 19, 43; ''Migration of the Desi into Demetia'', p. 52; ''Demetia'' 17, 30, 34; ''ruling house of'' pp. 52, 72, 85, 87; ''and the Vikings'' p. 85' ''relations with Alfred of Wessex'', p. 85; ''and the Vikings/Northmen'' p. 98, ''and the Normans'' pp. 106, 112, 114</ref> The coasts of Wales were subject to Norse raids during the [[Viking Age]], and in the latter part of the 10th century Norse trading posts and settlements emerged within Dyfed, with Fishguard established sometime between 950 and 1000 AD.<ref name="Foundation"/>

In 1078 Goodwick Moor, was the scene of a bloody battle in which Rhys, son of Owain ap Edwyn, was defeated and slain by Trahaearn ap Caradog (Brut y Tywysogion) in the Battle of Pwllgwdig.

The English place name indicates that there may have been a Scandinavian trading post, although no evidence has been found.<ref>Charles, ''ibid'', p. xxxvi</ref> However, the V-shaped stone structures of ancient fish traps can still be seen at low tide on both sides of the bay, and it is believed these were the foundations for wooden fences that would trap the fish as the tide went out. Other examples can be found around the country, and they probably date from Saxon times, though similar devices have been in use since Neolithic times.

Called ''Fiscard'' until the turn of the 19th century when the name was Anglicised, Fishguard was a [[marcher borough]] and in 1603 was described as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a [[portreeve]].<ref>Owen, George, ''The Description of Penbrokshire by George Owen of Henllys Lord of Kemes'', Henry Owen (Ed.), London, 1892</ref> The [[Normans|Norman]] settlement lay along what is now High Street between the church at its north end and the remains of a Norman [[motte-and-bailey|motte]] at its south end.

In 1912, [[Denys Corbett Wilson]] made the first flight between Britain and Ireland. Starting his journey from Hendon aerodrome on 17 April 1912, he eventually landed in Goodwick on 21 April having made a few unscheduled stops along the way. He then set off from a field near Harbour Village at 5:47 on 22 April and crash-landed 100 minutes later in Crane near Enniscorthy in County Wexford.

Lower Fishguard developed as a [[herring]] fishery and port, trading with Ireland, [[Bristol]] and [[Liverpool]]. In the late 18th century it had 50 coasting vessels, and exported [[oats]] and salt herring.<ref>Barrett, J. H., ''The Pembrokeshire Coast Path'', HMSO, 1974, {{ISBN|0-11-700336-0}}, p 44</ref> In 1779, the port was raided by the [[privateer]] ''Black Prince'',<ref>[http://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=12891] threedecks.org: American Privateer ship ''Black Prince'' (1778)</ref> which bombarded the town when the payment of a £1,000 ransom was refused. As a result, Fishguard Fort was completed in 1781, overlooking Lower Fishguard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sitesandstones.blogspot.com/2009/04/fishguard-fort-pembrokeshire.html|title=Sites and Stones: Fishguard Fort, Pembrokeshire|first=Gavin|last=Lloyd Wilson|date=18 April 2009|website=Sites and Stones}}</ref> The port declined in the latter half of the 19th century.

Fishguard's ancient Royal Oak public house was the site of the signing of surrender after the [[Battle of Fishguard]]. This brief campaign, on 22–24 February 1797, is the most recent landing on British soil by a hostile foreign force, and thus is often referred to as the "last invasion of mainland Britain". A force of 1,400 French soldiers landed near Fishguard but surrendered two days later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wargame.ch/wc/nwc/newsletter/21st_edition/Newsletter21/fishguard.html |title=The Battle of Fishguard: The Last Invasion of Great Britain |first=Jon |last=Latimer |date=12 July 2003 |access-date=7 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427193635/http://www.wargame.ch/wc/nwc/newsletter/21st_edition/Newsletter21/fishguard.html |archive-date=27 April 2009}}</ref>

A 19th-century vicar of Fishguard, the Rev. Samuel Fenton MA, wrote the book ''The History of Pembrokeshire''.<ref name=genuki1833>{{cite web|title=FISHGUARD – from Lewis' ''Topographical Dictionary of Wales'' (1833) |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/PEM/Fishguard/Fishguard1833.html |publisher=[[Genuki]] |access-date=22 September 2018 }}</ref>

The ancient Parliamentary Borough of Fishguard was contributory to the Borough of [[Haverfordwest (UK Parliament constituency)|Haverfordwest]]. During the [[Second World War]], the Fishguard Bay Hotel was Station IXc of [[Special Operations Executive]] where [[submersible]]s were tested in Fishguard Bay.

Fishguard & Goodwick Golf Club was founded in 1921 and closed in the 1960s.<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-64/1039-fishguard-a-goodwick-golf-club-pembrokeshire "Fishguard & Goodwick Golf Club"], "Golf's Missing Links".</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Fishguard - Town Hall (geograph 7003892).jpg|thumb|right|[[Fishguard Town Hall]]]]
There are two tiers of local government covering Fishguard, at [[Community (Wales)|community]] (town) and [[Local government in Wales|county]] level: [[Fishguard and Goodwick|Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council]] and [[Pembrokeshire County Council]]. The town council is based at [[Fishguard Town Hall]] in Market Square.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.fishguardgoodwick-tc.gov.wales/contact-us/ |website=Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council |access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref>

Fishguard was an [[ancient parish]]. When parish and district councils were established in 1894, the parish of Fishguard was included in the [[Haverfordwest Rural District]]. In 1906 it was decided to create an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] covering Fishguard, making it independent from the Haverfordwest Rural District Council. The whole parish of Fishguard was considered too large to be an urban district and so it was split into two parishes: Fishguard North covering the main built up area, to be governed by Fishguard Urban District Council, and Fishguard South which stayed in the Haverfordwest Rural District. These changes took effect on 1 April 1907.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1907 |publisher=His Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |page=26 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cE0wAQAAMAAJ&q=Fishguard+Urban+District |access-date=2 August 2022 |quote=The County of Pembroke (Fishguard Urban District) Confirmation Order 1907}}</ref> The first meeting of Fishguard Urban District Council was held on 8 April 1907 at the Town Hall, when John Robertson Richards, a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]], was appointed the first chairman of the council.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fishguard Urban Council: First meeting |url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3635182/3635185/19/J%20R%20Richards%20Fishguard |access-date=4 August 2022 |work=The County Echo |date=11 April 1907 |location=Fishguard |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Next week's contests: List of nominations |url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4117777/4117780/28/ |access-date=4 August 2022 |work=Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph |date=23 February 1910 |page=3}}</ref>

The urban district was enlarged in 1934 to include neighbouring [[Goodwick]], becoming [[Fishguard and Goodwick]] Urban District.<ref>{{cite web |title=Goodwick Urban District |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10470559 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref> Fishguard and Goodwick Urban District was abolished under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], with the area becoming part of the district of [[Preseli Pembrokeshire]] on 1 April 1974. A community covering the former urban district was established at the same time, with its council taking the name Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|year=1972|chapter=70|act=Local Government Act 1972|accessdate=31 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Districts in Wales (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|num=34|accessdate=31 July 2022}}</ref> Preseli Pembrokeshire was abolished in 1996 to become part of a re-established Pembrokeshire.

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
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| zoom=13| float = right| width = 275| height = 320
| caption = 
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|52.0135|-4.9830}}
| mark-size1=2
| label1 = RNLI
|label-pos1=right
|label-color1=hard blue| mark-title1= Fishguard RNLI lifeboat Station
| mark-image1 = Fishguard lifeboat, Blue Peter VII - geograph.org.uk - 581422.jpg

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|51|59|48|N|4|58|12|W}}
| mark-size2=0
| mark-title2= Lower Fishguard harbour
| mark-image2 =Crabbing at the Cwm (Lower Fishguard) - geograph.org.uk - 531837.jpg

| mark-coord4 = {{coord|52.0103|-4.9855}}
| label4 = Ferry
|label-color4=hard blue
| mark-title4= Fishguard Ferry Terminal
| mark-image4 = Duke of Rothesay at Fishguard - geograph.org.uk - 1034071.jpg

| mark-coord5 = {{coord|52.0016|-4.9912}}
| mark-size5=0| label5 = The Parrog
| label-color5=hard grey |label-pos5=top |label-angle5=50| mark-title5 = The Parrog
| mark-image5 = Mosaic and footpath on the Parrog - geograph.org.uk - 1542259.jpg

| arc-coordA = {{coord|52.0181|-5.004}}
| arc-textA=PEN CAER| arc-text-sizeA=10
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| arc-coordB = {{coord|52.0167|-5.004}}
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| mark-coord6 = {{coord|52.0185|-4.997}}| mark-size6=0| shape-color6=soft-green| mark-title6 = Pen Caer Peninsula
| mark-image6 = Pen Anglas - geograph.org.uk - 54538.jpg

| arc-coordC = {{coord|52.0184|-4.980}}
| arc-textC=Cardigan Bay| arc-text-sizeC=10
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The town is situated at the back of a north facing bay known as Fishguard Bay ({{langx|cy|Bae Abergwaun}}) which offers protection from waves generated by prevailing westerly winds. It has a relatively mild climate due to its coastal position. The winds coming from the west or south-west have a determining influence on [[temperature]] and [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]]. There is an islet in Fishguard Bay, '''Needle Rock''' which reaches {{convert|131|ft|m|abbr=off}}.

Wildlife around Fishguard is rich with a wide variety of colourful wild flowers and sea mammals including the [[grey seal]], [[porpoise]]s and [[dolphin]]s. The local birdlife include [[Eurasian curlew]], [[common redshank]] and [[sanderling]] regularly foraging in the lower Fishguard Harbour and [[European stonechat]], [[great cormorant]] and [[northern fulmar]] can be seen from the coastal path.

==Demography==
According to the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], Fishguard had a population of roughly 3,400, 29.6% of the population being able to speak Welsh.<ref name=":0" /> This compares with 39.8% in 2001, 58.9% in 1951 and 90.3% in 1901.

The population breaks down as follows:<ref name=":0" />
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="margin:auto; background:#def;"
|- style="background:#bcf;"
|Age Distribution||Fishguard||Pembrokeshire
|-
|0–4 years|| align="left" |4.3%|| style="text-align:right;" |4.5%
|-
|5–14 years|| align="left" |10.2%|| align="right" |11.3%
|-
|15–19 years|| align="left" |4.6%|| align="right" |5.1%
|-
|20–44 years|| align="left" |22.4%|| align="right" |25.2%
|-
|45–64 years|| align="left" |26.6%|| align="right" |27.7%
|-
|65+ years|| style="text-align:left;" |31.7%|| align="right" |26.3%
|}
The largest ethnic group in Fishguard is White, making up 97.7% of the population, the county average. The second largest ethnic group is Asian/Asian British who make up 0.9% of the population, also the county average. The largest religious group is Christian with 47.3% of the population, lower than the county average of 48.8%. The second largest religious group is No religion with 43.2% of the population, roughly the county average.<ref name=":0" />

== Landmarks ==
Outside Fishguard there is a stone monument commemorating the signing of the Peace Treaty after the [[last invasion of Britain]] in 1797. Women dressed in Welsh costume are said to have startled the invaders. The 19th-century parish church of St Mary's contains a memorial stone to the heroine [[Jemima Nicholas]], who helped repel the French invasion. There is also a Bi-Centenary memorial stone monument in West Street, Fishguard to commemorate the invasion. A tapestry was created in 1997 to commemorate the invasion and is on display to the public in [[Fishguard Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Visit Pembrokeshire - Fishguard & Goodwick|url=http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/explore-pembrokeshire/towns-villages/fishguard-goodwick/|access-date=19 October 2014}}</ref>

There are more than 80 [[listed building]]s in and around the town.<ref>{{cite web|title=British Listed Buildings: Fishguard|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/search/?q=Fishguard#.XTnIntNKhbU|access-date=25 July 2019}}</ref>

==Community and culture==
Fishguard has [[hotel]]s and is the main shopping town of North Pembrokeshire with a market in the town hall on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Fishguard has a [[Round Table (club)|Round Table]] doing community work including running the Fishguard & Goodwick Carnival and the Fishguard Autumn Festival.

The Gwaun Lodge of the [[Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes]], is a charitable organisation within the community who host sponsored events and other community works throughout the year.

Fishguard has a 180-seat cinema/theatre called [[Theatr Gwaun]] which provides a venue for film, music and live theatre and hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1936 and 1986.

==Transport==
[[File:Fishguard railway station photo-survey (1) - geograph.org.uk - 1525054.jpg|thumb|[[Fishguard Harbour railway station]]]]
Fishguard is the terminus of [[A40 road|the London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40)]]. A regular [[ferry]] operated by [[Stena Line]] leaves for [[Rosslare Europort|Rosslare]] in [[Ireland]] from the port of Fishguard Harbour, [[Goodwick]]. Following the [[Brexit withdrawal agreement]], freight traffic from Rosslare fell by 50% in January 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Partridge|first=Joanna|date=20 February 2021|title=Ports feel the chill as trade re-routes around Brexit Britain|language=en-GB|work=The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/20/ports-feel-the-chill-as-trade-re-routes-around-brexit-britain|access-date=21 February 2021|issn=0029-7712}}</ref>

Rail services are operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail]] from [[Fishguard Harbour railway station|Fishguard Harbour]] and [[Fishguard and Goodwick railway station|Fishguard and Goodwick]] railway stations on the [[West Wales line]] to [[Swansea railway station|Swansea]] and [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff]]. Through trains to London were withdrawn in 2004.

Starting in 1909 the fast Cunard liners from New York began anchoring at Fishguard to allow passengers to take a Great Western train to London, saving a few hours compared to Liverpool.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015010881848&view=1up&seq=501&skin=2021|title=Railroad age gazette|year=1908}}</ref>

==In the media==
[[File:Fishguard Aerial.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of Fishguard]]
[[File:Main Street - geograph.org.uk - 496197.jpg|thumb|Main Street, Fishguard in 2006]]
Lower Fishguard was used as "Llareggub" in the film of [[Dylan Thomas]]'s ''[[Under Milk Wood (1972 film)|Under Milk Wood]]'', starring [[Richard Burton]], [[Elizabeth Taylor]] and [[Peter O'Toole]]. Many local people were involved in the production of this film as background characters. The film ''[[Moby Dick (1956 film)|Moby Dick]]'' (starring [[Gregory Peck]]) was filmed there in 1955.

==Business==
Fishguard and Goodwick Chamber of Trade and Tourism is a business support group.

==Notable people==
:''See [[:Category:People from Fishguard]]''
* [[Richard Fenton]] (1747–1821), a Welsh lawyer, topographer and poet; retired and died in Fishguard
* [[Jemima Nicholas]] (ca.1750–1832), armed only with a pitchfork, single-handedly captured 12 French soldiers in the [[Battle of Fishguard]] in 1797.
* [[John Bowen (bishop)|John Bowen]] (1815–1859), an Anglican bishop in Sierra Leone; born at nearby Court.<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle= Bowen, John (1815-1859) |volume= 06 |last=  Boase |first= George Clement   |author-link= George Clement Boase |page = 48 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Willie Thomas]] (1866–1921), rugby player
* [[Arthur Wade-Evans]] (1875–1964), clergyman and historian
* [[Thomas James Stretch]] (1915–1973), clergyman and WW2 army chaplain
* [[Glenys Cour]] (born 1924), a Welsh artist known for painting, stained glass and collage
* [[Sue Jones-Davies]] (born 1949), actress and singer, attended [[Ysgol Bro Gwaun|Fishguard County Secondary School]] during the 1960s.
* [[Jonathan Lean]] (born 1952), retired as Dean of [[St Davids Cathedral]] in 2017.
* [[Paula Craig]] (born 1963), a former detective, cyclist, former runner, paratriathlete
* [[Cerys Matthews]] (born 1969), lead singer of [[Catatonia (band)|Catatonia]] went to [[Ysgol Bro Gwaun]].
* [[Mark Delaney (footballer)|Mark Delaney]] (born 1976), footballer, grew up in Fishguard.

==Twinning==
Fishguard is [[sister city|twinned]] with  [[Loctudy]] in [[Brittany]], France.

==See also==
* [[Fishguard Folk Festival]]
* [[Fishguard Lifeboat Station]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Fishguard}}
{{Commons category|Fishguard}}
* [http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Wales-History/Fishguard.htm historic-uk.com An historic account of Fishguard]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Fishguard| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Pembrokeshire]]
[[Category:Coast of Pembrokeshire]]
[[Category:Fishguard and Goodwick]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Wales]]