Full Breakdown
Harry Potter Fans Prompt Rerouting of £430 Million UK-Ireland Power Cable
8/10/2026, 7:49:23 PM
Background: Dobby’s Memorial and the Greenlink Interconnector
Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is the filming location of Dobby’s death in *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*. Fans have turned the spot into a pilgrimage site, leaving stones inscribed “Here Lies Dobby.” The National Trust, which owns the beach, has asked visitors not to leave souvenirs because the area is ecologically sensitive.
The Greenlink interconnector – a £430 million project linking the British National Grid to Ireland via an underground cable about 125 miles (?200 km) long – originally planned to pass directly beneath the fan-made memorial.
Project Adjustments and Archaeological Findings
After project manager Simon Ludlam disclosed the cable route in a BBC interview, he received “hundreds of calls” from fans concerned about the “grave.” The company enlisted planners to identify an alternative alignment. The revised route avoids the memorial but runs close to Bronze Age artifacts, including a funerary urn dated between 1700 and 1500 B.C., uncovered during archaeological excavations.
In 2022 the National Trust considered removing the Dobby memorial because of visitor pressure but ultimately left it in place, merely requesting that fans refrain from leaving items such as commemorative socks.
Official Statements & Responses
Simon Ludlam, project manager and founder of Etchea Energy, said he was initially unaware of Dobby’s fictional status and was told the concern was “very, very serious.” He explained that the team worked with designers to reroute the cable, stating the project is now proceeding “with Dobby’s happy.” The National Trust has not issued a new public comment since the route change but continues to manage the beach’s environmental protection.
Data & Statistics
- Project cost: £430 million.
- Cable length: 125 miles (?200 km).
- Archaeological find: funerary urn dated 1700–1500 B.C.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We did the shot, we finished, I went back to London, and they then aired it a couple of weeks later. And we got hundreds of calls, I mean, hundreds of calls.” — Simon Ludlam, the project manager
- “We filmed the segment, wrapped up, and I returned to London. Then the report aired a few weeks later,” — Simon Ludlam, the project manager
