TRUE STORY of Pirate John Robert | A short story | Welsh Myths & Legends

Welcome back to the channel, where we dust off old legends, dig up the odd truth, and occasionally trip over cursed jugs in the woods.

Today’s tale takes us deep into the golden age of piracy while we also have a little wander around the pretty village of Solva.

Todays Story
Some say he was the greatest pirate who ever lived. Others say he just had excellent timing and an oddly strong opinion about gambling.

But who was John Roberts? and how did a lad from Wales end up commanding hundreds of ships… only to meet one of the most ironic ends in pirate history?

Solva
Solva is one of Pembrokeshire’s most picturesque villages—and its harbour has been its lifeblood for centuries.

Natural Haven
Solva’s long, narrow tidal inlet made it an ideal natural harbour, sheltered from the wild Atlantic swells. In fact, its name likely comes from the Norse “Sol-vik,” meaning “sunny creek.” Thanks, Vikings—always keen on real estate.

18th & 19th Century Boom
During the 1700s and 1800s, Solva became a bustling trading port. Ships would load and unload lime, coal, wool, and slate, as well as export local products like hides and butter.

The lime kilns (you can still spot their ruins) were vital for agriculture, sweetening the acidic soil of Pembrokeshire farms.

Solva also supported a lively shipbuilding industry, with small vessels like sloops and smacks built right on the beach. It wasn’t exactly Bristol, but it punched above its weight for such a snug harbour.

Smuggling & Seafaring
As with many coastal Welsh villages, tales of smuggling swirl through Solva’s history. Hidden caves and coves made for excellent hiding spots—just saying, if you were a barrel of brandy and didn’t want to pay tax.

Local sailors were skilled and tough, and many left to crew merchant ships—or more colourfully, pirate vessels—sailing out of Bristol or even crossing the Atlantic.

Today’s Harbour
Today, Solva’s harbour is a peaceful haven for fishing boats, sailing dinghies, and kayaking tourists. But at low tide, when the river carves a silver path through the sand and the boat moorings lean like tired old sailors you can still feel the echo of that working harbour—full of grit, gossip, and salt.

so settle in, and let’s meet the surprisingly well-dressed pirate who took the high seas by storm.

Lisa x

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