Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is located in the central part of the county, on the River Cleddau near where its eastern and western branches form an estuary that connects with the Milford Haven Waterway. The town serves as Pembrokeshire’s administrative and commercial hub, with a history as a market town dating to the Middle Ages.

The origins of Haverfordwest lie in medieval fortifications and river crossings; a Norman motte-and-bailey and later stone structures were built in or near the town. Over the centuries it expanded around markets, trade routes, and religious establishments, and it became the site of county administration. The town retains a historic core with laid-out streets and several listed buildings.

In the modern era, Haverfordwest has a mixed economy based on retail, public services, and light industry. It hosts the county council offices and Withybush Hospital on its outskirts, and Pembrokeshire College is located in the town, providing further and higher education. The town is connected by road via the A40 and the nearby Cleddau Bridge, and by rail via Haverfordwest railway station on the West Wales line, with services to Swansea and Pembroke Dock, among others. Local bus services link surrounding communities.

Notable features include the ruins of Haverfordwest Castle, a reminder of the town’s medieval past, and the surrounding historic streets such as High Street and Market Street. The town serves as a gateway to the Pembrokeshire coast and the broader county’s rural landscape.