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National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors
About the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society (WWMHS)
The WMHS was founded in 1984 by a group of enthusiasts and has the following aims:
- To conduct and encourage research into the maritime history of the region
- To encourage the preservation of craft, buildings and sites of historical or local interest
- To seek to preserve artefacts and records associated with this history
- To retain and encourage the skills associated with all aspects of building, repairing, handling and the use of craft
- To set up a Centre where these craft, items and skills can be preserved and shown to best advantage
- To encourage members of the public to take an interest in and develop or acquire the skills mentioned
- To operate such a Centre as a viable economic enterprise
- To increase public interest and support for maritime heritage by giving members educational and training experience afloat in heritage vessels.
The Society is run entirely by volunteers and new members are welcome.
About Charterhouse
The Society's main project is the restoration of the former lifeboat Charterhouse. Charterhouse was the first motorised lifeboat in Wales when she went on station in 1909, built by funds donated by past and present pupils of Charterhouse School. Technologically she had a number of innovative features. She was one of the earlier styles of boat that were self-righting and motorised, with two sails and oars for 12 people to row. The most technically advanced lifeboat in Wales at the time, she was in service until 1930 and saved 47 lives.
On decommissioning, she was sold into private hands, and eventually made her way to the Charterhouse Returns Trust and to Fishguard Harbour in 2009. The Trust aimed to raise funds for the conservation of the historic lifeboat, and was awarded £7,800 by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2014. The original idea was to display Charterhouse as the centrepiece of a planned new marina, but this project was eventually shelved, and the trustees spent some time investigating other options.
In 2019, Charterhouse was moved to the West Wales Maritime Museum in Pembroke Dock, where she is being conserved alongside other historic boats. The Charterhouse Returns Trust has since formally handed over ownership of Charterhouse to West Wales Maritime Museum. Pembroke Dock is an excellent home for a retired boat, with facilities and conservation expertise on hand, and members of the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society are helping and advising the conservation of Charterhouse, as well as providing accommodation and exhibiting the boat. Information displays in the museum tell the story of the lifeboat and its crew.
West Wales Maritime Museum and Hancock's Yard
West Wales Maritime Museum is a free, working museum situated at Hancock's Yard in Pembroke Dock. Ships have been built at the yard since 1804. As well as the Museum, the site includes two large workshops, where WWMS members work on boats of all sizes from kayaks to yachts; a small library; an open shelter housing the Charterhouse Lifeboat Project; an open dock; replica craft; and the UK's first Escape Boat. There are a number of restored vintage sailing craft at the Yard and several still to be restored.
The Tenby Lugger
The Museum's flagship is the replica Tenby Lugger, Heritage. Tenby Luggers once sailed the waters of Pembrokeshire from the early 19th Century until as late as the 1950's. These iconic little boats were once common in Tenby harbour. They fished, took tourists around the bay in Summer and were the Caldey Island ferries until the 1950s. It is thus very fitting that this vessel, unique to south Pembrokeshire and nowhere else in the UK, has been built by the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society to show another aspect of this County's wonderful maritime heritage. The WWMHS and partner MITEC worked together to build and launch the new Lugger in August 2018. Members now regularly sail on Heritage in Pembroke Haven.
LATEST NEWS
May 2023 The West Wales Maritime Heritage Society has announced the date for this year's Pembroke River Rally Full story
February 2023 Charterhouse Returns Trust announced it has formally handed over the ownership of the Charterhouse to the WWMHS. Full story
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