THE CURATOR at Haverfordwest Museum has released photographs showing the shocking damage to the 238-year-old building’s roof after it was stripped by lead thieves.

Curator Simon Hancock issued the photographs showing the timber substrate laid bare behind the roof’s parapet wall. Lead was stripped from the roof’s stepped gutter, shattering adjoining slates and leaving the wood exposed.

After heavy rain in the area, water has ingressed throughout the building, threatening the museum’s contents which have had to be relocated to several other public buildings.

Stolen Lead

Simon Hancock told local newspaper The Herald: “Lead has been stripped wholesale from the roof of the Prison Governor’s House (A Grade II listed building) and slates smashed leaving the wooden roof exposed. The very wet weather has meant there has been considerable water ingress into the three floors on the upper floor.

“This has been disastrous for the museum. It has been imperative to remove all the artefacts so they are not damaged. The roof is still not watertight so efforts are ongoing to ensure this. Some of the ceilings may need to come down. We are so grateful to a number of people who have assisted during this emergency.”

Race Against Time

Simon explained how the museum’s staff have been in a race against time to arrange for many of the museum’s artefacts and unique treasures to be safely re-housed.

Simon Hancock added, “There is shocking damage. We are having to empty the upper floors and place the items in storage.”

The police are investigating the incident which happened on 8 November 2023, checking CCTV and making local enquiries.

The historical building dates back to 1779 when it was built as residence of the governor of Pembrokeshire County Prison constructed in the grounds of Haverfordwest Castle.

After the theft took place, archaeologists working in the castle ward found around 12 cubic metres of lead hidden under tarpaulin. Police think the thieves had stored the lead there because it was too heavy to transport in one journey in their van. They may have planned to return for the rest but have not done so since the discovery.

The museum had already been closed to the public since May 2023 for renovation work to take place on the adjoining county court building which included a planned new roof.

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