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.