ABSTRACT
The coastline of Wales is studded with small coves, inlets and rivers. These have been used since prehistory as landing places, anchorages, and places to beach all types of vessels. Over time, many of these locations have been developed and augmented to create a diverse and striking collection of small historic harbours, from the Dee Estuary in the north, via the rugged western coasts, to the Severn Estuary in the south. As the organisation responsible for maintaining the National Monuments Record of Wales, the Royal Commission has a long history of investigating, surveying and documenting Wales’ historic harbours. This chapter will set out the extent of these records to provide an overview of the breadth and range of such harbours within Wales. It will also highlight the current challenges for improving our understanding of this record, and the opportunities afforded by advances in survey technology, and demonstrate that in the 21st century, it is still possible to discover new harbour structures previously overlooked by heritage agencies.
