Little Haven Explained

Country:Wales
Static Image:Little Haven, Pembrokeshire, May 2024.jpg
Coordinates:51.774°N -5.107°W
Official Name:Little Haven
Community Wales:The Havens
Unitary Wales:Pembrokeshire
Lieutenancy Wales:Dyfed
Constituency Welsh Assembly:Preseli Pembrokeshire
Constituency Westminster:Preseli Pembrokeshire
Post Town:Haverfordwest
Postcode District:SA62
Postcode Area:SA
Dial Code:01437

Little Haven (Welsh: Hafan Fach) is a village at the south-east corner of St Bride's Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Together with Broad Haven to the north, Little Haven forms The Havens community for which the 2001 census recorded a population of 1,328.The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs through the village. Since May 2012, this route has also formed a part of the Wales Coast Path. At low tide it is possible to walk north along the sandy shore from Little Haven via a larger bay known as the Settlands, past a second point ('The Rain') to the wider bay at Broad Haven.[1] There is an Anglican church in Little Haven.

Geology

Little Haven lies at the westernmost edge of the Pembrokeshire Coalfield. The local rocks are assigned to the South Wales Lower and Middle Coal Measures formations. They largely comprise faulted mudstones with thin and contorted coal seams though the cliffs to the north and the south of the bay are formed in sandstones. Woodlands Colliery once worked seams such as the Crane Vein inland of the village. The Howelston Level was driven into the ground south of the village.[2] The east–west aligned fault runs inland from the bay whilst a series of north–south aligned faults affect the rocks of the Point to its south. The floor of the valley stretching southwestwards from the village is filled by more recent alluvial deposits.[3]

History

Little Haven has been an agricultural, fishing and coal-mining area for some centuries; coal was loaded on to coasters from the beach. Since the early 19th century. with the decline of industry in the 20th century, its primary focus has been development as a seaside resort.[4] There are many holiday lets in the village along with three public houses.

Little Haven, including the Swan Inn, is the filming location for the S4C romantic comedy series Cara Fi (English: Love Me), starring Steffan Rhodri, first aired on 9 November 2014.[5]

Lifeboat

In response to the rise in visitors to the beaches and waters of the Havens. RNLI lifeboat was stationed at Little Haven from 1882 to 1921. In 1967, the lifeboat station was reopened with an inshore lifeboat and the station name was changed to Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: 1:25,000 scale Explorer map OL36 South Pembrokeshire/De Sir Benfro. Ordnance Survey.
  2. Book: Connop Price, M.R.. 2004. Pembrokeshire: the Forgotten Coalfield. Landmark Publishing, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. 1843060949.
  3. Book: British Geological Survey 1:50,000 scale geological map sheet 226/227 (England & Wales) Milford. 1978.
  4. Web site: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority - Little Haven. 16 June 2014.
  5. News: Western Telegraph. 9 November 2014. Fall in love with Little Haven in new S4C rom-com. 10 November 2014.
  6. Web site: Little and Broad Haven lifeboat station. 6 March 2016.