Hammonds Park

St Catherine's Fort

by M0B1US

Demarcating the border between Tenby's North and South beaches, this fort is one of Lord Palmerston's follies built between the 1850's and '60's as a defence against the French - a threat which never transpired.

After falling into disuse and disrepair, it was bought by a family who turned it into an impressively furnished home and there are pictures of this transformation in the Tenby museum hanging with tapestries and adorned with suits of armour.

Since then the fort has changed ownership and unfortunately now lies derelict as a brooding hulk looming above the beaches of Tenby.

Admire the Colourful buildings

by Myfanwe

The houses on the Esplanade overlooking the harbour in Tenby are painted all different pastel shade of blues, pinks and yellows. It looks really pretty and adds to the character of this wonderful seaside resort.

Dinbych y Pysgod

by Balam

Tenby is steeped in history and is one of Wales few Walled Towns but Tenby has seen many changes since the Normans Arrived in the late 11th Century when impressed by the fertility of the land of Pembrokeshire and realising the strategic importance of Pembroke in any plans of subjugating the region the Town became their headquarters. The Welsh fortress at Nearby Tenby was soon captured and by the mid 12th century a primitive castle had been constructed on Castle Hill, garrisoned by English and French troops. After some skirmishes with the Welsh forces the town was attacked and ransacked in 1187 by welsh troops led by Maelgwyn ap Rhys and again In 1260 when it suffered its last battering at Welsh hands and Llewelyn ap Gruffydd slaughted the garrison and the residents in protest against the Norman occupation of Wales.

After the destruction of the town the Earls of Pembroke realised that the defences of Tenby were inadequate and as the town played an important part in controlling the south It was decided to increase the towns defences so that the whole town would be secure behind a impregnable wall with towers and gateways and the castle with its cliff top location would form another defensive bulwark.

Tenby became very popular during the Victorian era when many publications advertised Tenby as a cure for all Ills and that just visiting would be benificial to your health, if you were Ill going to Tenby would cure you! and if you were not Ill then going to Tenby would keep you Fit and Healthy.
Tenby became very popular during the Victorian era when many publications advertised Tenby as a cure for all Ills and that just visiting would be beneficial to your health, if you were Ill going to Tenby would cure you! And if you were not Ill then going to Tenby would keep you Fit and Healthy.
Afternoons and evenings were given over to the new favourite social pursuit of dressing up and being seen around town acceptable company and 'Promenading' was taken very seriously.
During the Victorian era Tenby saw a massive increase in its population and a great deal of building work was undertaken. On the cliff tops large houses with terraces were built for wealthy residents, some just for Holiday homes many eventually becoming small Hotels and guest houses.