Often the subject of paintings by local artists, the coastal village of Porthgain is today one of the scenic jewels of the Pembrokeshire coast, and in season is very popular with tourists. The small harbour was originally constructed to serve freighters transporting the slate, and later brick and road stone, produced from the quarries on the cliffs above the village and in the neighbouring village of Abereiddy. From 1850 to 1931 this would have been anything but a pleasant place to visit whilst on holiday. Since closure of the brick works and road stone crushing plant, most of the industrial buildings which clustered around the harbour have been demolished, and Porthgain has become a popular residential village.