Pwllheli - Key Dates History

Key dates in the History of Pwllheli as a Harbour Town.

• 1356 After the 'Battle of Poictiers' (the mediaeval name for Poitiers) in 1356 Edward, the Black Prince, bestowed various favours for gallantry upon Nigel of Lorraine. These favours included a grant of land in  Llŷn and the incorporation, by royal charter, of Pwllheli and Nefyn. A market is still held each Wednesday in the centre of the town on the 'Maes' (=field in English).
• 1813 Work started on the Town Embankment. Y Cob (The embankment)  was built at a cost of £8,000. £7,000 was raised by selling common land and the balance was raised by levies on the landlowners who benefited from the work.
• 1824 A new Breakwater was opened.
• 1856 The Harbour of Refuge at Cardigan Bay Bill  - failed.
• 1867 The Coast Railway was completed to Abererch by 'The Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway' (note the spelling of Aberystwyth as in the enabling parliamentary bill). The original station was just to the east of the level crossing (where Pwllheli Goods Station was before the building of the Glan Don industrial estate.
• 1891 A lifeboat station was established. A boathouse was built, with doors at both ends so that the lifeboat could be launched either into the harbour or over the beach.
• 1909 The present Rail Terminus was completed.
• 1958 Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club was established. A ‘not for profit’ company run by volunteers for the advancement of the sport of sailing.
• 1991 The Hafan was developed and Pwllheli established itself as one of the principal sailing venues in Britain.
• 1997 CHPSC move to our fourth home on the completion of the existing Event Centre Building.
• 2007 Plans started on the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre.
• 2015 CHPSC moved to the new Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre