Welcome to this website which celebrates the link between Neyland, a small town in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and the great Victorian engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859), the bicentenary of whose birth is rightly being celebrated across Britain this year.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is universally known for his association with the Great Western Railway Company which he became Chief Engineer to at the remarkably young age of 27. He is also known for the Clifton Suspension Bridge (completed in 1864, five years after his death) and for ships like the Great Western, Great Britain and the Great Eastern. Brunel was also Chief Engineer to the South Wales Railway Company, which was established in 1844, and thus he was primarily responsible for taking the railway across South Wales.

Over the years Brunel and his staff travelled and surveyed the topography of South Wales and their efforts are recorded with the remorseless openings of the railway as it crossed the country westwards. Swansea, the great copper-smelting town of Swansea was reached, and in 1852 so was Carmarthen. On 28^th December 1853 the South Wales Railway opened in fine style at Haverfordwest when illuminated images of Brunel and his associates were lit at night.

In 1852 an Act if Parliament was obtained allowing the extension of the railway line from Haverfordwest to Neyland via Johnston. The ultimate intention was to build a railway terminus and steam packet port to Ireland.

Brunel decided, after detailed surveys, that the little scattered village of Neyland, with its shipbuilding yard, two chapels, couple of public houses, and few dozens of houses, which had deep water offshore, was the ideal location for the railway terminus. His decision was to have momentous consequences and was the spark which ultimately led to the new town of Neyland being born. The old village was swept away and a new place called Neyland was created.

Brunel’s associations with Neyland have always been of greatest interest. Here are a few contemporary descriptions of his visits to the locality:

On 16^th October 1851 Mr Brunel was accompanied by Captain Claxton and others, visited a number of locations to decide the terminus of the South Wales Railway. There was much speculation about the location suggested but ‘the mystery however will be solved in a few days as notice is to be given to bring in the Bill in the next session of Parliament.’

In January 1856 Isambard Kingdom Brunel travelled over the newly laid railway line at Neyland on a light train.

In May 1857 Brunel was present in person at Neyland to superintend the launch of the huge Pontoon which he had designed. The structure used 300 tons of iron and 600 tons of timber in its construction and was 154 feet in length. The Pontoon allowed passengers and livestock to land at Neyland from the Irish steam packets at any state of the tide. ‘The whole arrangements were perfect and reflect the highest credit on all concerned’.

In July 1857 Brunel visited Neyland and Milford Haven. It was speculated at the time in the local Telegraph that his visit might have been to find a location for the port of the Great Eastern which he was then building at the Napier Yard at Millwall (and launched with great difficulty on 31^st January 1858)

In October 1858 Brunel and his wife Mary, visited Neyland. Later on their visit they sampled the comforts of the Lord Nelson Hotel at nearby Milford Haven.

There were without doubt many other visits paid by Brunel to Neyland, both before and after the railway opened in 1856. What Brunel thought of the rapid development around the Neyland railway terminus, which he had brought into being, we shall never to know. What is certain, that even by the time his last recorded visit in October 1858, there were steam packets plying to Waterford and Cork, housing for workers, public houses open and even the luxurious South Wales Hotel receiving travellers.

Neyland folk are immensely proud of their Brunel connections and it is no accident that the only statue of Brunel in Wales is to be found at Neyland. This website has been especially created through the most generous sponsorship of Dragon LNG to celebrate Neyland’s unique relationship with this great man.

This year sees celebrations all across Britain to honour Brunel’s name and memory, including commemorative stamps and coins. However as long as Neyland exists his memory will be celebrated for having been the driving force behind the birth of our town. we are his living memorial.