Secrets in dockyard garden

 

 

A secret garden in Pembroke Dock may soon be revealing treasures hidden away over 200 years.

 

Metal detectorists have begun a detailed examination of the walled garden of the Fleet Surgeon’s House, one of the earliest buildings in the former Royal Dockyard.

 

Dating from around 1817, the Fleet Surgeon’s House is shortly to open as a visitor centre, run by the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust. As work goes on to prepare the ground floor for its new visitor role, the newly cleared garden is getting a thorough investigation by Sunderland Trust volunteers who are metal detector enthusiasts.

 

“So far the finds have been confined to coins and lots of pieces of metal of indeterminate date but it is early days yet,” said Pat James, one of the detector crew. “We hope to find items which have a direct link to the history of a superb Georgian building and the glory days of Pembroke Royal Dockyard.”

 

When it opens the new visitor centre will complement the Flying Boat Centre run by the Sunderland Trust which in three years has had over 22,000 visitors.

 

The very overgrown garden has been cleared in conjunction with a team from Greenlinks CIC working with COAST participants.

 

Caption:

Detectors at the ready the Sunderland Trust squad prepares for action in the walled garden of the Fleet Surgeon’s House. Left to right: Sunderland Trust volunteers Mike Hurley, Pat James, Mags and Barry Clark and Glynnis Iles of the Sunderland Trust project team.

PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.