Milford Haven East Blockhouse

Description

Fragmentary remains of C16th artillery blockhouse built by instruction of Thomas Cromwell for King Henry VIII. (Coflein)
The East Blockhouse is one of a pair of Tudor blockhouses constructed by Henry VIII in the sizteenth century to guard Milford Haven. It is one of a pair of blockhouses protecting the mouth of the haven. It was later adapted for local defence in World War Two when a signed and dated rifle embrasure was cut in the building's east wall. It is a roofless ruin, 7.3m north-south by 4.0m, divided into two unequal parts; an enclosure was noted to the north and a second, smaller building to the south-east, however by 1975 cliff errosion had caused t the building's north wall to fall. (Coflein)

Soon after 1539 construction started on two blockhouses at the mouth of Milford Haven waterway, East Blockhouse and West Blockhouse. The latter at Dale was removed by a 19th century gun fort. It would seem that the blockhouses were never finished for in 1546 it was recorded that they were not made up to the first floor and part of them had already fallen over.
East Blockhouse is in a perilous location and much has already fallen into the sea, and what survives is essentially one room with some walls up to c. 4m high. An excavation in 2012 showed that all floor levels and rubble had been cleared from the room during the 20th century, probably during the Second World War when witnessed limited reuse. (K Murphy, March 2012) (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument consists of the remains of a blockhouse, a small isolated fort intended to serve as a strongpoint, dating to the medieval period and erected as part of the Haven defences. The remains lie on a promontory, ocvered with short grass and gradually will undoubtedly crumble into the sea. Of the eastern blockhouse, three walls of a stone built rectangular structure remain, with a filled in doorway. The walls stand to a height of c. 12 ft. The fourth wall has presumably fallen into the sea. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Possibly referred to in 1543 as the 'bulwarks', "lately made at Milford Haven"
King wrote the visible ruins are of "some later addition of no importance" although this seems to be a bit too dismissive of the actual fragmentary remains.
Twin to West Blockhouse of which there are no remains.