The Llŷn Maritime Museum is in the former Eglwys Santes Fair (St Mary’s Church), Nefyn. There has been a religious building on this site since the 6th century. Nefyn is linked with Saint Nyfain, who was born around 458, the daughter of Brychan, King of Brycheiniog (Brecon), but that is not certain.
Notice how much higher the ground of the cemetery is compared to the field around it – evidence of the large numbers of bodies buried here over the centuries. Many ships’ captains and their families lie here.
We know that Giraldus Cambrensis stayed in the priory behind the church on the Saturday before Palm Sunday 1188; he preached here the next day. He went to look in the monks’ library (known by its Latin name, scriptorium) where he discovered a lost manuscript about the legendary hero, Myrddin.
Nefyn’s new church, Eglwys Dewi Sant (St David’s Church), was built in 1904. It was built because some of the influential townspeople disliked having to walk down to church along the dark, narrow streets! There was a Sunday school here later, until the middle of the last century, before it finally closed.
In the mid-1970s, as the building was becoming derelict, a small group came together with the intention of opening a Maritime Museum and Study Centre here. This was achieved quite soon afterwards. They acquired an interesting collection of artefacts and a wealth of information from local people, making the Museum a very popular attraction.
In 2013/4 the building was refurbished, and now provides a performance stage, café, shop and brand new exhibition. You can learn about the early history of the area and town, including the tournament held by Edward I and the attack by Owain Glyndŵr. Also explored here is the history of local industries, such as herring fishing, quarrying granite and building sailing ships, as well as the stories of some leading maritime families.
Opening times vary - check website or telephone beforehand
Free Entry
From the Groes crossroads in the middle of Nefyn town go towards Stryd y Plas and then along Stryd y Llan, or the B4417 (Pistyll – Nefyn) and turn into Stryd y Felin where it leaves the town for Pistyll.
Coastal Bus O Ddrws i Ddrws available April-October. £1 only. See website link below.