Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Much that goes on in Fishguard happens in the central
Town Hall
on Market Sq. The tour-
ist office is here, as is the library (handy for free internet access) and the
market hall
. It
hosts a market on Thursday and a farmers market on Saturday.
Sights
Last Invasion Gallery
( 01437-776122; 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat )
Upstairs in the Town Hall is the Last Invasion
Gallery, which displays the
Fishguard Tapestry
. Inspired by the
Bayeux Tapestry,
which
recorded the 1066 Norman invasion at Hastings, it was commissioned in 1997 to com-
memorate the bicentenary of the failed Fishguard invasion. It uses a similar cartoonish
style as the
Bayeux Tapestry
(albeit with less rude bits) and tells the story in the course of
37 frames and 30m of cloth. A film about its making demonstrates what a huge undertak-
ing it was.
EXHIBITION
THE LAST INVASION OF BRITAIN
While Hastings in 1066 may get all the press, the last invasion of Britain was actually at Carregwastad Point,
northwest of Fishguard, on 22 February 1797. The ragtag collection of 1400 French mercenaries and bailed con-
victs, led by an Irish-American named Colonel Tate, had intended to land at Bristol and march to Liverpool, keep-
ing English troops occupied while France mounted an invasion of Ireland. But bad weather blew them ashore at
Carregwastad where, after scrambling up a steep cliff, they set about looting the Pencaer peninsula for food and
drink.
The invaders had hoped that the Welsh peasants would rise up to join them in revolutionary fervour but, not
surprisingly, their drunken pillaging didn't endear them to the locals. The French were quickly seen off by volun-
teer 'yeoman' soldiers, with help from the people of Fishguard including, most famously, one Jemima Nicholas
who, armed with nothing more than a pitchfork, single-handedly captured 12 mercenaries.
The beleaguered Tate surrendered and a mere two days after their arrival the invaders laid down their weapons
at Goodwick and were sent off to the jail at Haverfordwest.
Festivals & Events
Fishguard Folk Festival
(
www.pembrokeshire-folk-music.co.uk
;
late May or early Jun)
A four-day festival of music, song and
dance, with mostly free performances and events, this is a wonderful way to experience
Welsh musical traditions as well as modern-day interpretations of this ancient craft. With
FOLK FESTIVAL
