ESSENTIAL conservation has been underway at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre. The programme of works at the former Garrison Chapel has been made possible through generous funding from the Welsh Government and from local business Grainger Endeavours.

Pembroke Dock Garrison Chapel is the only surviving Georgian military chapel in the UK. Built in the early 1830s to serve the Royal Dockyard, it has witnessed nearly two centuries of military and local history. Following the closure of the dockyard in 1926, it was brought back into use during the Second World War as the church for RAF Pembroke Dock and was later known locally as the Garrison Theatre. After many years standing empty and falling into disrepair, the building was lovingly restored and officially reopened by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2014 as Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.

Today, the Heritage Centre tells the remarkable story of Pembroke Dock’s unique connections with all three Armed Services through nationally significant collections of aircraft and ship models, uniforms, medals, artefacts and archives.

In recent years, however, the Trust has faced increasing financial pressures. Rising costs for utilities, insurance and the maintenance of a 200-year-old listed building, have strained the charity's resources. The Chapel’s exterior needed urgent redecoration to protect the fabric of the building and preserve one of Pembrokeshire's most important historic landmarks.

At the same time, loose and sunken blocks on the driveway had become a growing concern, creating trip hazards for visitors and presenting particular difficulties for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility.

Pembroke Dock Heritage Trust was delighted to receive £146,499 from the Welsh Government to re-lay the paviours on the Centre’s driveway, together with an £80,000 donation from Elizabeth Grainger to fund the repainting of the exterior of the Grade II listed building.

Rik Saldanha, Chairman at Pembroke Dock Heritage Trust, said:

"We are immensely grateful to the Welsh Government and to Elizabeth Grainger for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to preserving Pembroke Dock's heritage. These improvements are about far more than paint and paving—they are about protecting one of Wales' most important historic buildings and ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from it."

"As a small volunteer-led charity, we simply could not have undertaken work of this scale without this support. It represents a huge investment in the future of the Heritage Centre and in the heritage of Pembroke Dock."

Earlier this summer, the Heritage Centre opened its flagship exhibition, HMS Erebus: From Dockyard to Discovery, marking the 200th anniversary of the launch of the famous exploration ship from Pembroke Dock Royal Dockyard.

The exhibition has proved an outstanding success, attracting visitors from across Britain and overseas, generating extensive media coverage and engaging schools, volunteers and community groups.

The Trust extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the project. Their generosity and commitment are helping to secure the future of one of Wales’ most important heritage buildings and ensuring that Pembroke Dock's unique history continues to inspire generations to come.