Fishguard

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:Infobox Wales place Fishguard (Welsh: Abergwaun - "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales. From the port of Fishguard Harbour (not actually in Fishguard, but moved to Goodwick a mile away at the start of the last century though the 'Fishguard' moniker remained) a regular ferry leaves for Rosslare in Ireland. Fishguard is the terminus of the A40 London to Fishguard trunk road.

Image:Fishguard Cwm Harbour macccam.jpg

Fishguard's ancient Royal Oak pub saw the surrender signed following the last attempt to invade mainland Britain, in 1797, when a French-inspired force of 1400 troops in four warships landed on 22 February at Carregwastad Head, hoping to trigger an uprising. The invasion, under the command of American Colonel William Tate and executed by units very far from the top drawer of the French forces, did not go at all well and was concluded with little harm done on either side - a few fatalities and some looting. The surrender took place on 25 February. The local heroine of the invasion was Jemima Nicholas, who with her pitchfork single-handedly rounded up 12 invaders. The whole story is told by the Fishguard Tapestry, which was created for the 200th anniversary as a deliberate echo of the Bayeux Tapestry, and is on display in a hall near the town centre.