The north breakwater in Fishguard harbour was constructed in the early years of the 20th century as part of a scheme to create a route for transatlantic steamer passengers to travel direct to London via the rail link that was built at the same time. The service started in 1908 and continued until the outbreak of war in 1914, with the Mauritania visiting on one occasion in 1909. However the breakwater had the unforeseen effect of silting up the deep-water harbour eventually making it impossible for ocean going ships to berth to allow passengers to disembark. At the far end of the breakwater there is a lighthouse (still operational) and the remnants of wartime defensive structures. The construction of the breakwater and the railway terminus was an immense undertaking which involved the destruction of a substantial part of the cliff face to make a flat surface for the station, workshops and marshalling yards. The two million tonnes of rock removed were used to create the breakwater. Housing, known as Harbour Village, was built above the harbour for labourers, railway and harbour workers and remains to this day. The North Breakwater was publicly accessible in living memory (and a favourite place for fishing and swimming off the rocks) but it is now privately owned by Stena, and only open to those with permits or on occasional public days.
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