Front Street
Pembroke Dock's first major private shipbuilding works developed in area along the shore from Front Street to Gordon Street - along with the timber business, in early days closely linked to shipbuilding.
Mr William Robertson's career began in the 1830s. He moved into private business from the Dockyard where he had been a clerk. He "built several small craft" including the barques Resolution and Cambria "and worked up an excellent timber trade", with "two large sawpits" on the site later occupied by Robinson's timber yard and saw mills.
Mr Richard Allen from the 1850s constructed ships first on his own account, then in partnership at various times with Mr James Warlow, Mr Long, and his son Mr S.R. Allen - who directed the business after his father's death in 1873. Ships built, as listed by Mrs Peters, included:Arethusa, for Capt. Pring of BrixhamCarmarthenshire, owned by David Jenkins & Co., London, was the first merchant ship to enter Yokohama harbour.Wave, a steamer used for local market day traffic.
Richard Allen & Son were also " contractors to the Trinity Brethren for the repairing of lightships ... and also to the Admiralty, for whom they built and equipped a sailing vessel for trading between the various yards".
Two other enterprises operated, in this area. Around 1860, Messrs McMaster "built a few ships", including Katherine Jane, a brigante and Monte Bello, a barque. Their yard then developed into a timber store for the company's sawmills.
The Pembroke Dock Co-operative Shipbuilding Company was in business from 1873-9, employing nearly a hundred men. McMasters returned briefly to shipbuilding to complete the co-operative company's last, unfinished, vessel. She was launched in 1881 as Mary McMaster.