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Victoria Dock
Quay/New Basin/Victoria Dock
The reader will notice as proceeding along to Victoria Dock, three large archway openings within the Town Walls, these are not part of the original town wall defences but later modifications done in the 1830’s to help the flow of traffic of carts and people from within the ‘Old Town', and also to and from the dock area, proof of the increase of commerce which required their addition.
In the reign of Henry VIII, 1509 - 1547, a Sir John Wyn writes quote-
"In those days Carnarvon flourished as well by trade of merchandise, as also of the Kings Exchequer, chancery and common law - courts".
So in the 16th century, as the Quay was previously described, cargoes of salt were landed here The Quay then was a much smaller area, with no dock, however exports and some imports of goods did improve and in 1780 most exports were of slates to Liverpool, Bristol and London, also some copper ore from Llanberis to Swansea, and ochre found in Anglesey to America and the West Indies, imports were chiefly of Irish cloth, coal, fine wool, hides, tallow and grocery goods.
These two photos show the Dock as it is today. The first shows 'Galeri' in the background whilst the second shows the 'Caernarfon Archives Office' (pink)
Then in the early 1800s the trade increased to a point where a new extended Quay and Dock area was required and a ‘New basin’, with a ‘Patent Slip’, was completed around 1830. At this time 250 ships were involved in the export of states from here, and nearly 3000 coasting and foreign vessels cleared the Port of Carnarvon every year. Ship building quickly took root in Carnarvon with flourishing wood yards importing North American timber, and many other associated businesses and trades appeared i.e. Rope manufactures, Foundries, Ships Brokers, Owners, Master mariners, carpenters, joiners, smithy’s and sailing crew’s, all in the wake of the increased trade, Carnarvon's population doubled to nearly 10.000 people adding greatly to the already over- cramped conditions in and around the town, public houses, brothels and poor living conditions added to the poor standard of living of the general population, but no more so than drink, Drunkenness was rife, and was the cause of much misery, strife and petty crime in the town.
In 1834, an application was made to make Carnarvon a ‘Bonding Port’, but at that time it was refused on the grounds of Government costs involved, in 1840 it was granted and by 1843 the ‘Bonded Warehouses, were ready, to import wines and spirits from abroad, (see later ). Between 1786 to 1840 Carnarvon was also a Registration Port for vessels, also at this time owing to the economic situation in this area and other parts of Wales, emigration was already a flourishing trade to North America and Australia . Carnarvon’s ship owners quickly took every opportunity from Carnarvon to carry the thousands of disillusioned and sometimes near starving population aboard hell - bent', on leaving the land of their birth, sometimes it took up - to three months to arrive at their destinations, if they were lucky, and the law at that time required the emigrant to prove adequate food supplies for each person to cover this sailing time, consequently, the shops and food retailers in the Carnarvon town did good business by them, and the last sight of Wales and their home land of many emigrants was the Quay and Castle of Carnarvon.
From 1850 - 1868, the New Dock managed to cope with all this increased trade, but the Harbour Trust decided that again a larger dock was required, they therefore set in motion a new scheme for the Victoria Dock which was completed in 1874 with a new ‘slip - way’, and dry - dock. Around the dock area many new business linked to the sea and ship building were started. In 1863 seven salmon off- shore fishing licenses were granted from Carnarvon, with more up and down the Menai Strait, new port offices were built, with better ‘Pilot’ facilities and marker buoy’s and dredging for the sand bars. By 1870 Carnarvon was also the main Banking and Ship Broking trades centre.
Mrs. Ellen Edwards
(Mrs Ellen Edwards, the daughter of William Francis who taught navigation in Amlwch on Anglesey.
Ellen Edwards started teaching in New Street Caernarfon at around 1830. For nearly 60 years, she was outstandingly successful as a teacher of navigation methods in Caernarfon.)
Many vessels from Carnarvon were wrecked, both around these coast lines and abroad some with great loss of life i.e. The Royal Charter from Australia 1859 off Anglesey. Education and marine navigation schools sprung- up in the town, one run by a Mrs. Ellen Edwards of Carnarvon, who had many master mariners to her credit, Carnarvon then was truly in its ‘hay · day ‘ of maritime commerce, but suddenly it was all to change with the arrival of the Railways to the town.
(1864, Ship building at Carnarvon, showing the schooner 'Heroine' been built and later registered here.
The schooner was owned by Mr. J.P. De Winton.
The 'Heroine' was wrecked in 1874 near Point Lynas, Anglesey.
The Captain and four crew members drowned. Note - Christ Church in the background, before its spire was constructed.)
Main text taken from the book "Old Carnarvon - Outside the Town Walls" by K.F.Banholzer
Victoria Dock (Doc Fictoria) - Today By Richard Morris Jones (2008)
It is over 15 years ago that the old Arfon Borough Council decided that the Victoria Dock area was becoming a tiresome and outdated
hindrance to town development. Most of the old flourishing industry had
either died a slow, painful death, or were in the throes of a final illness.
The long established oil industry was facing massive problems, and the only
success seemed to be the abattoir and the printing works in the Goleuad
building, although even the most ardent supporters of Dafydd Thomas and the
history of printing in Caernarfon would have to reluctantly agree that the best
days were way gone.
A Joint Venture Board was set up between Arfon
Council, the Welsh Office, Bwrdd Datblygu Cymru and the old Gwynedd Council,
with the intention of creating a development strategy for the new dock area,
once agreement had been reached to clear it in preparation for development.
Councillor Meurig Williams was the first chairman, I had the honour of being the
only other councillor on the board.
From the outset it was agreed that we would seek a development that would have new elements, we would hope to develop a plan that would be a catalyst to the improvement and benefit of the whole town, that would guide Caernarfon into the 21st century.
We also realised from the outset that such moves
could be extremely unpopular, but being in the public domain at times means
doing what you sincerely feel is right for the town, and facing the result of
that action.
To cut a very long story short, once agreement had
been reached to move any existing tenants, we very quickly realised we had a
massive problem on our hands, oil contamination. We could not simply dig, and
dump in the sea for environmental reasons, so ultra modern means of de
contaminating were developed, a process that took three whole
years.
By today, through several years of attempts,
setbacks, hundreds of meetings (and I have been chair of these meetings for many
years!!) , we have reached a stage where one of the best developments in town
for almost a century, Galeri, is up and running and highly successful (Despite
massive cynicism and opposition!!), we have a modern, multi purpose development
nearby. Basically my reaction to those critics who have complained for decades
that nothing is being done to help Caernarfon is to refer to the fact that in
the region of thirty million pounds is being invested in Caernarfon, in various
phases through various projects.
The residential element in Victoria Dock is
progressing well, with 20 apartments already sold, mostly to locals, or people
with local connections. And it is worth reminding people that it was a part of
the agreement with the developer that locals were to have priority over a long
initial period of marketing, that the developer had also to agree to build at
least ten affordable houses in an area of the council's choice, with that number
increasing if the percentage of locals purchasing apartments in Victoria Dock
is lower than that agreed.
The developer is by now in an advanced stage of agreement with uptake for the commercial area, and the Welsh Assembly has given the go ahead for a modern health centre. There will, of course, be teething troubles, as with any development of this size, but let's pull together to embrace this new development, and to ensure that it is a development that will enhance the stature of the whole of Caernarfon, and re instate the town as the true capital of Welsh Wales.
Richard Morris Jones Chairman, Victoria Dock Development Board speaking in 2008.