Haverfordwest

Coordinates: 51°48′N 4°58′W / 51.80°N 4.97°W / 51.80; -4.97

Haverfordwest (/ˈhævərfərdˈwɛst/; Welsh: Hwlffordd [ˈhuːlfɔrð]) is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and serves as the county's principal commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,367 in 2001, though its community boundaries make it the second most populous settlement in the county, with 10,812 people. The 2011 census quoted a population of 12,042 only lived within the confines of the parish. This agreed with the total population of all 5 wards involved.

The town includes the suburb of Prendergast (a former parish) and the largely industrial area of Withybush (retail parks, hospital, airport and showground). Merlin's Bridge, a separate village and community adjoins to the south.

The strategic position at the lowest fordable point of the Western Cleddau led to importance from the Roman era to the present.

Topography

Haverfordwest (UK Parliament constituency)

Haverfordwest was a parliamentary constituency. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.

History

The constituency was enfranchished in 1545, as the second borough constituency in the historic county of Pembrokeshire. In the previous election of 1542, the first at which Wales is known to have sent members to the Parliament of England, this borough was one of the ancient boroughs contributing to the wages and being in some sense represented by the member for Pembroke.

From 1832 to 1885, it was a district of boroughs constituency, consisting of the three boroughs of Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Narberth.

The constituency was abolished for the 1885 general election, and merged into the newly created constituency of Pembroke and Haverfordwest.

Members of Parliament

1543–1660

1660–1885

References

Sources