Harry Potter fans have successfully pushed for a major £430 million power cable project between the United Kingdom and Ireland to be moved. The original route would have passed directly through the beach memorial for Dobby, the beloved house-elf from the Harry Potter series. The memorial sits on Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where Dobby’s death scene was filmed for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
After learning about the plans, hundreds of fans called the project team to complain. The company behind the Greenlink interconnector then worked with planners to find a new route that avoids the memorial entirely.
How Fans Discovered the Cable Would Hit Dobby’s Memorial
Simon Ludlam, the CEO of Etchea Energy, which manages the Greenlink project, appeared on BBC Wales to discuss the 125-mile cable that would connect the UK’s National Grid to Ireland. During the interview, he pointed out where the cable would come ashore at Freshwater West beach.
When the interview aired weeks later, Ludlam’s company received an overwhelming response.
“We got hundreds of calls, I mean, hundreds of calls.”
Ludlam initially had no idea why people were so upset. A colleague told him that “apparently, we’re going to go straight through Dobby’s grave”.
“I said: ‘Dobby, who’s Dobby? I don’t know Dobby?’ I said: ‘He’s a fictitious character in a fictitious book, the whole thing is fictitious, what are you talking about?’”
His colleague responded: “No it’s very, very serious”.
The Greenlink Interconnector Project
The Greenlink interconnector is a major energy project worth £430 million (around $580 million or €503 million). It runs between County Wexford in southeast Ireland and Freshwater West in southwest Wales. The 125-mile (200km) undersea cable allows both countries to share excess renewable energy, boost energy security, and double electricity transfer capacity.
The original route would have disturbed the memorial where Potter fans leave handwritten tributes to Dobby on pebbles.
The Cable Was Rerouted to Avoid Dobby’s Grave
After the flood of calls, Ludlam and his team went back to planners to find a different route.
“So we wouldn’t go anywhere [near] Dobby’s grave,” Ludlam said.
The route was successfully changed. Ludlam noted: “Actually, we went quite close to some real Bronze Age remains, but we avoided Dobby’s grave”.
The Bronze Age remains include an inverted pottery vessel believed to be a collared urn from around 1700 to 1500 BC, typically associated with human burial sites.
“A lot of people were very happy about that, and the project is now going [ahead] and Dobby’s happy,” Ludlam said.
Dobby’s Memorial at Freshwater West Beach
Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire has become a popular destination for Harry Potter fans since the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in November 2010. The film showed Dobby’s death and burial on this beach.
Fans visit the site to leave stones with personal messages. Many stones read “Here Lies Dobby, a free elf”. Socks are also commonly left at the memorial, reflecting Dobby’s connection with the item in the Harry Potter story.
However, the National Trust, which owns the land, has asked visitors to stop leaving objects because the beach is an ecologically sensitive site. In 2022, the National Trust held a public consultation about whether the memorial should stay or be removed. Following the consultation, the memorial was allowed to remain, but visitors were encouraged to take photographs instead of leaving more items.
Tourism and Local Impact
The memorial draws visitors from across the world. Jack Nicholas, a 20-year-old Pembrokeshire local who posts videos about the area online, told CNN that the site attracts tourists from many countries.
“Dobby’s Grave brings tourists from all around the world down to one of Pembrokeshire’s most impressive beaches,” Nicholas said.
“The memorial has rocks from places such as Italy, Australia and South Africa, showing how far people travel to see Dobby’s Grave,” he added.
Tourism plays a major role in Pembrokeshire’s economy. According to Pembrokeshire County Council, the sector contributes an estimated £604 million (around $815 million) to the local economy. More than 6 million visitors support about 23% of local employment.
Local resident Jack Nicholas also pointed out that visitors contribute to local businesses, making tourism one of the most important industries in the area.
Miriam Margolyes’ Comments Resurface
The story has brought renewed attention to comments made by Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films. During a March 2024 interview with New Zealand broadcaster 1News, Margolyes questioned why some adults who grew up with Harry Potter remained so invested in the franchise.
“I worry about Harry Potter fans. They should be over that by now. It was 25 years ago, and it’s for children. I think it’s for children. But they get stuck in it,” Margolyes said.
She also mentioned receiving Harry Potter-themed requests through Cameo, including from couples planning Harry Potter-themed weddings. Margolyes stood by her comments during a later appearance on Australia’s ABC News Breakfast.
Despite her remarks, the dedication of Harry Potter fans has now changed the course of a major infrastructure project.
Related:
A Long History of Protecting Dobby’s Grave
This is not the first time Dobby’s memorial has been protected. In 2022, the National Trust considered removing the memorial because of environmental concerns. After a public consultation, the memorial was allowed to stay.
The latest victory shows just how much the Harry Potter franchise continues to mean to its fans, more than two decades after the first film was released. HBO is also developing a new television adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s seven Harry Potter books with a new cast.
Also Read: Nicholas Hoult Cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Season 2
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