1. Clover Hill and Clovers
SN13500163 Sheet XLI.7 (2nd edition 1907) Tenby
The site lies to the north north-east of the North Cliffe housing estate on the headland behind Bowman's Point.

Early this century a retired naval officer, a scion of the Allen family, acquired several acres on this rather windswept headland approached by the lane which continues the north cliff road northwards and becomes a track to Waterwinch. He erected a gate, a lodge set back a little and a small farm building which is now a partial ruin. He made a road towards the point and constructed a modest house called Clover Hill. The site of the house and its garden beyond was quarried from the land which sloped steeply down to the cliff proper thus affording protection from northerly winds. He built several terraces with stone retaining walls which are in perfect condition today. The views south across Tenby harbour and Castle Hill to Caldey island are stunning.
At some point trees were planted. There are tall Scots pine (the original wind break?) and various other conifers. Near the house is a palm; when the present owner came here 27 years ago it appeared stunted and did not thrive; he dug around the base and removed a large amount of rubble replacing it with soil; the palm has since grown to a healthy 8 or 10 feet with quite a wide trunk. On a terrace is an Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle) perhaps 20 feet high but with a flattish rounded top caused by the wind. Above the house is a row of Cupressus macrocarpa; they may have been planted when Clovers was built and a boundary thus created. There are several lengths of Lonicera nitida ("Poor man's box") hedging neatly clipped. The present owners have planted a wide variety of colourful flowers and shrubs making a very attractive garden.

A second house, Clovers, was later built in a more exposed position and came to be occupied by Miss M Jessie Allen (daughter?). She is said to have been an enthusiastic gardener. She was also very interested in things Greek and had an open-air theatre constructed on the cliff top where occasional dramatic performances were held. (see photographs). Miss Allen gave the site of the viewpoint named after her to the people of Tenby. After her death in 1971 the two houses were separately sold. Clovers and its outbuildings have been modernised; the garden is now mostly down to grass with a variety of shrubs and trees and is surrounded by a formidable security fence.

Gazetteer:
Clover Hill: private house with walled terraces. Interesting plants and trees.
Clovers: deserted open air theatre.
Viewpoint/garden. Trees and view. Air of neglect.

G.Hudson for WHGT
August 2001
Taken from C441680, 'Digital Copy of brief notes about Clover Hill House, Tenby'
Entered by CSB
C.S.Briggs 20.10.05

2. This garden is depicted on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map of Pembrokeshire XLI, sheet 7 (1907). C.H. Nicholas, RCAHMW, 24th August 2006.

3. The portion of the site known as Allen's view was donated to the Friends of Tenby (later known as Tenby Civic Society) in two parts in 1965 and 1974. From 2015 the Tenby Civic Society has undertaken efforts to restore and renovate the site, including the installation of benches, a wooden sculpture of a red kite, and information panels.

(Sources: Visit Tenby website; Tenby Civic Society website; `Allens View 50th Anniversary Project?, Tenby Observerr, 27.11.2015)
A.N. Coward, RCAHMW, 10.10.2018