The harbour at Stackpole Quay is formed from a single north-south breakwater set within a small cove which dries out at low tide. The original quay dates to the 1680s before being rebuilt in 1735 by the Earl of Cawdor. Stone for its construction, and rebuild, is likely  to have been sourced from a quarry cut into the cliff on the southern side of the cove. The quay served the Stackpole estate, centred on Stackpole Court, and other associated structures include a boathouse and stores (NPRN 34956), a warehouse (NPRN 32955) and a lime kiln (NPRN 40732).

The RCAHMW visited the site on 31/03/2025 to undertake a UAV photogrammetry survey of the quay to create a 3D Digital baseline record of the archaeological remains (links below).

The main breakwater is in good condition and extends NNW-SSE for 45m. It is 15m wide across the top of its northern end, before narrowing to 6.5m, and then widening again to 7.7m at its southern end. The inland (western), side of the breakwater is straight in plan-view, while the seaward (eastern) side is more curved. The northern end of the breakwater is formed from 16 courses of stones, rising c. 6.6m to the top of the stonework, which carries a rounded concrete top extending a further 1m in height. The top of the breakwater is featureless, apart from six mooring rings arranged at regular intervals along the western side. A smaller, secondary breakwater (15m west-east,10m north-south), anchors the southern end of the quay, preventing waves running through a narrow gully in the rocks on the southern side of the cove. 

A further significant area of dressed stonework, backfilled by seemingly jumbled piles of stones lies to seaward of the main breakwater. This is formed by a wall of dressed stones, 2-2.5m high, running west-east for 33m before returning north-south for 25m to the large area of rocks at the southern side of the cove. The purpose of this lower, square, breakwater is unclear. Its edges comprise large, dressed, well-laid stones, including a gently curved edge around its north-eastern corner. It may be the footprint of the original quay, robbed out in the 1735 rebuild, or a form of sea defence intended to reduce the power of the sea striking the eastern side of the main breakwater during storm conditions.

The stonework of the main breakwater is neatly laid for its full height around the northern end, and for much of the straight, western side. Within the lower courses of stones at the southern end of the western side, the construction is less neat, comprising squarer, rather than rectangular blocks, suggestive of an earlier phase of construction; 1680, rather than 1735. The eastern face of the main breakwater is also much more irregular in the stonework of its lower extant half. This again suggests evidence of the original 1680 quay, possibly including the full extension to the east, noted above, prior to the 1735 rebuild. On the basis of the visible stonework, the latter rebuild also seems to have raised the height of the stone courses by c. 1.6m.

Further research into documentary sources relating to the 1735 rebuild would be helpful in unpicking the relationship between the main breakwater, and the square area to the east, and in understanding the phasing of the construction work of the quay.

Sources Include:

Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record, PRN 8755: https://archwilio.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?watprn=DAT8755

RCAHMW Photogrammetry Survey, DS2025_131_PG, 31/03/2025. View here: https://skfb.ly/pwnKI