Jottings on the History of Pembrokeshire Manorbier, St Florence and Redberth

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Parc Castell Parc Carreg Greystone Parc Greystone Lower Greystone The names of these sites suggest an historical origin and where an archaeological discovery may at any time be made. RCAM This earthwork has a horse shoe appearance but it probably originated as an irregular square with considerably rounded corners. The northern bank has been cleared away The ground is fairly level both within the enclosure and around it.

It has a diameter of about 80 ft. Within the enclosure are slight elevations as of foundations and the site may possibly have been that of a small moated dwelling. Immediately south of the earthwork is a farmhouse named Pen y castell - Visited 13 Oct RCAM At the junction of four roads a few yards east of Woodstock schoolhouse is an enclosure of about 60 ft in diameter which is possibly the site of a small moated dwelling though there are at present no indications of a moat.

A surrounding bank stands about 3 ft high. In the same field are the ruins of a small chapel and burial ground of Rinaston. The name "ring" is not common. Visited 13 Oct Cromlechau at Parc y llyn: Dogwells where another cromlech is known to have stood are the remains of at least one and probably two cromlechs. A capstone 7 foot by 5 foot, appears to rest upon two supports; these are partly covered by accumulated soil, but show a height of at least 2 ft.

The capstone is aligned North East -South West In the hedge to the east and largely concealed by it, is what may have been the capstone of another cromlech, but failing examination with a spade it is impossible to say more about it. Both remain standing upon a slightly elevated platform of ft. On a field at Woodstock called Parc Capel are the outlines about 40ft x 20ft of the foundations of a small building which may have been an early chapel.

So far as the ruins can be aligned the building seems to have stood directly East - West and a slight depression suggests the existence of a north door. The surrounding area is locally called "the Burial Ground" but nothing is known nor does any tradition exist of interments having been met with at any time. This is the name of a field on the farm of Scollock West about 1 mile SE of the parish church. No tradition explains the name which indeed is not now in use. It may at an earlier time been part of the Glebe. Visited 13 Oct Scollock Cross: Here the word "cross" merely marks the meeting and crossing of roads.

Ambleston some Names David John Vicar Ambleston Church Pembrokeshire Parsons Lewis David chaplain to the vicarage of the church of Ambleston vacant by the free resignation of Kellan David last vicar of the same and pertaining to the presentation of the venerable religious man brother Grendon Walter prior etc true patron of the same vicarage and instituted him etc Pembrokeshire Parsons David Lewis 15 January chaplain church of Ambleston Evans James Nov 19 Vicar Ambleston Church Pembrokeshire Parsons.

Glover John , 15 June On 15 June in the year and place abovesaid Llamphey he collated to one Sir John Glover, chaplain, the perpetual vicarage of the parish church of Ambleston vacant and in his collation for this turn by lapse. And he instituted him etc. Pembrokeshire Parsons Grendon Walter prior, 15 February.

At St David's , the vicar general aforesaid admitted Sir David Lewis, chaplain, to the vicarage of the church of Ambleston vacant by the free resignation of Sir Kellan David last vicar of the same and pertaining to the presentation of the venerable religious man brother Walter Grendon prior etc. At St David's , the vicar general aforesaid admitted Sir Lewis David, chaplain, to the vicarage of the church of Ambleston vacant by the free resignation of Sir David Kellan last vicar of the same and pertaining to the presentation of the venerable religious man brother Walter Grendon prior etc.

David Symyns of the parish of Ambleston. Pembrokeshire in By-gone Days. The living is a consolidated vicarage with Llawhaden, in the archdeaconry and diocese of St. Several silver coins were found here about ten years ago, but they were immediately sold at Haverfordwest, and smelted; so that nothing is known of their date or history.

There is an estate in this parish, called Langridge, which belongs to the Bishop of St. Post Town, Wiston, under Narberth. The property is subdivided. The living is a p. The church is not good. South Pembrokeshire Place Names - P. Bletherston, Church dedicated to St. At the present it is a double chambered edifice of which the southern body is earlier.

It has been very thoroughly renovated in The chancel is on the north side, divided from the nave by a modern arch. Between the two chambers is an arcade of three bays, the piers being without capitals. The west gable of the nave is crowned with a small bell cote supported on three plain corbels and in the north aisle is a blocked door with a rounded head.

The entrance is now by a door in the south wall opening from a modern porch. All the windows are modern; that to the south chamber is so covered with ivy as to hide all datable details.

In the north wall of the chancel is an Easter sepulchre or empty tomb recess. The triangular shaped churchyard is surrounded by a deep fosse cut in the rock through which the road is carried. A spring to the north of the church is said locally to be a holy well from which water for baptisms used to be taken — visited 11th June 13c church dedicated to St. Mary on suspected site of an old Celtic church dedicated to St. Contains a Norman font with 5 sides and memorials to the Colby family.

There is an Easter Sepulchre in the chancel north wall.

Much of the walling may be 13c like the pentagonal font, but the west doorway and the south aisle with a doorway and three bay arcade are early 16C. This vicarage was originally a chapelry and seems at a very early date to have been annexed to the Church of Llawhaden.

The church contains a pentagonal font - an unusual shape and a plain arcade of early origin. In the north wall of the chancel is a tomb lacking an effigy. The Church Plate Of Pembrokeshire. The Bletherston chalice, however, is an exceptional cup, as it varies in decoration from all the others done by this maker. Instead of two bands round the bowl there is here only one, close up to the lip. Still open Coflein Parish of Bletherston State of Education in Wales — There is no school of any description, either day of Sunday, held in the above parish.

There had been a Sunday School there a little time previous, held in the church but the attendance was so bad it that it was abandoned.

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About twelve months ago a person started a day school, but the number in attendance was insufficient to support a master and so he left the place. The children who attend a day school from the parish go either to New Moat or Lawhaden. The rate of wagers in this parish is the same as at Lawhaden, 6d to 8d a day with food or from 9d to 1s 4d without.

The condition of the people is poor, and their character sober. Bletherston H2 Colby John. Bletherston Prosecutor John John Before the Pembrokeshire Courts Sites of Interest Parc Stone In a field within a short distance of the village of Bletherston, called Parc Stone is a monolith which stands to the height of about 5 feet having a width of 2 ft and a depth of 7 inches; it faces east and west. A hole has been drilled through it near the top, but there is no corresponding hole near the foot — Visited 11th June Posty Farm stone On a field called Parc maen llwyd belonging to posty Farm is a stone now standing only 2 feet above the ground level, but known to have sunk considerably within living memory; the top is fairly oblong 3ft by 2 ft Visited 11th June Posty draw Camp This is a fine earthwork.

The knowledge of its existence is due to the record in the Tithe Schedule of the field name, Parc y Garn[? It is not marked on the Ordinance sheet and has also escaped the Pembrokeshire Archaeological Survey Committee. The camp is of the promontory fort type, a small tongue of land being cut off by a strong earthen rampart having a gentle outward curve. This rampart ft in length, is from 8 to 10 feet above the interior, and about 15ft above the ground in front dropping to a shallow ditch now considerably filled in by cultivation; the depth thus enclosed is about ft.

The point is somewhat clubbed and falls of sharply all round especially to the west, on which side flows Rhyd Brown brook. The entrance at the western end of the rampart has a space of 15ft between the edge of the slope and the bank. There are signs of scarping on the slope to the south. Close to the east end of the Rampart is a strong spring visited 11th June Posty Draw, Bletherston A promontory, or tongue of land, cut off by a bank and ditch, both now obscured, or mutilated. It stands on a field known as Parc Castell about yards east by south of the hamlet of Pen ffordd, and on the farm of Castell y fran Crow Castle The mound rises about 15ft above the surrounding level, and is of about ft circumference at the base.

The summit 23 ft in diameter, is slightly depressed in the centre. The ditch has almost disappeared, and there are no traces of a bailey. The mound stands on the highest point of the district ft above sea level, and commands an extensive view —- Visited 7th October A mound, once thought to be ditched, 21m in diameter and 2. This parish was for many generations the residence of the ancient family of Wogan, by one of whom the church is supposed to have been built.

It is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Cleddau, and the surrounding scenery, which in some parts is richly wooded, is pleasingly and agreeably diversified. Culm abounds in the parish, but it has not been worked; and a vein of iron-ore has been discovered, but no preparations for procuring it have been made. The church is an ancient structure, ornamented on the outside, above the chancel window, with the arms of the Wogans, and containing several monuments, among them a very curious effigy.

There are several tumuli in the parish, one of which was opened by Mr. Fenton, in his tour through this county, and found to contain a rudely-formed kist, in which were some human bones half calcined, intermixed with pieces of charcoal. Some remains of the ancient mansion of the Wogans, on the bank of the river, are still preserved, as a picturesque ruin, in the beautiful grounds of an elegant mansion the seat of Mr.

The inscription states that Sir John died A. Several memorial tablets to the Acklands also are here. Here lived the Wogans, a well-known family in days of yore, who adopted a wyvern as their crest from the following tradition. Amidst the broad- woodlands that formerly extended around the ancestral mansion, wild beasts of various kinds were supposed to roam at large. In the remotest depths of the forest lurked the dreaded basilisk, a formidable monster whose glance caused instant death to the ill-starred wight upon whom its gaze might rest, but which perished itself if first perceived by a man.

At last a certain bold fellow determined to rid the countryside of this objectionable beast. Causing himself to be shut up in a cask and rolled into the forest, he peeped through the bung-hole, and presently spied the basilisk without himself being seen. Thereupon the dreaded monster, giving vent to an unearthly yell that could be heard for miles around, fell down and perished upon the spot, so that the country-folk were no longer troubled by the molestations of the basilisk.

A dragon legend, very similar to the above, is connected with the village of Mordford in Herefordshire. Ackland Boulston, or Bullston, from Adam le Bull, the Norman, now a ruin by the shores of Milford Haven, just where the two branches of the river Cleddau meet called, in Camden's ' Britarmia,' Aberdaugleddau, from Gledheu, ancient British for a sword, the ' Water of the Two Swords , was formerly a seat of the Wogans, a branch of the family established at Wiston. Great woods in those days spread around it, and tradition makes them the haunt of many wild beasts, and chiefly of one called in the old chronicles a ' basilisk,' which slew by sight, and was in its turn slain if first seen.

It stood on the edge of the water, so that the tide washed its walls. From the existing remains it must have been a large house, built ,like all the mansions of that date , without any regular plan, augmented at intervals according to any prevailing exigency or increase in family. The old mansion had been uninhabited for one hundred and fifty years, and the last branch of the Wogans of that house had settled in Norfolk.

Their estate in this country, which was considerable and well circumstanced , had been long offered to sale, and owing to some suspicion of defect in the title long blown on. It was at last purchased by Colonel Ackland who built a handsome modern house about half a mile from the site of the old one, on an elevated part of the demesne, with the ground finely sloping from it in a lawn to the river leaving the prospect open towards Haverfordwest, and screened from the other side by the venerable remains of old forest, admitting through through trees a peep of the picturesque fragments of Old Bolston.

It commands a most lovely view of the river and the opposite woods of Little Milford, a scene endlessly diversified by the navigation up and down. The demesne of Bolston is very spacious and nearly insulated, is a manor, including the whole parish,with no intervening properties. It would be difficult to have fixed on a spot involving in so many ingredients of beauty , consequence and comfort as Bolston or where they are turned to more account. It has every component part of a fine landscape and a fine form, possessing lime, coal, and a tractable soil, in a most enviable neighbourhood, on a navigable river, and about three miles only from the opulent market and post town of Haverfordwest, nor would the recorded hospitality of the old, the theme of the bards, suffer any disparagement by comparison with that of the new.

Part of the residence was of three storeys, and there were large cellars. It is a cement rendered two storey building and the central part has Venetian windows and a balcony. There are four Doric columns to the portico and wrought iron railings. The river gateways are still clearly defined whilst remains of stone mullions are visible on the highest section of wall remaining.

Was once the home of the Wogan family one of Pembrokeshires most important until their downfall at the time of the Restoration and the ruins despite their astonishingly damp situation indicate that originally this was almost a small castle formed by two adjacent towers rather than a purely domestic structure - just upstream is the ruined Church Boulston Manor Ruins A few fragments of ivy clad walls survive of a three storey Elizabethan mansion with large cellars. It was unoccupied for years when Fenton saw it in The Elizabethan dating is suggested by the size of the house and by a mullion fragment.

Its most significant feature is a substantial long walled terrace over 70 metres long overlooking the Western Cleddau estuary. There are also fish-ponds to the North. The dating is conjectural. Boulston Lodge lies near near Haverfordwest and is now a private house.

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It is named 'The Lodge' presumably to distinguish it from the much more ancient Manor House The site of the garden is overlain to some extent by post World War II farm buildings. The walled garden in conifer plantations has been used for pheasant rearing but the southern and western walls have mostly collapsed. It is a very wet site with springs and a former well. There are also fish- ponds to the North. RCAHMW The Parish Church Fenton A historical tour through Pembrokeshire Bolston Church The church has the reputation of being a peculiar,a species of property but little known to the clergy of this country, being a particular parish having jurisdiction within itself, power to grant administration of wills etc.

Most of these chapels were built on the manors and ancient demesnes of the crown whilst in the king's hands ,and when the crown parted with those estates the chapels went along with them, retaining their original privileges and freedom. The little church is a very plain structure, and neither externally nor within productive of anything very remarkable but may be made a beautiful object in the landscape when Col Acklands projected improvements shall take place.

The monuments , though not very ancient or very splendid, afford curious specimens of that family pride which mixes too ostentatiously perhaps everywhere with the awful memorials of the dead. Among the lumber in a corner of the church I could not help remarking a small basso relief of the boy Bishop, well executed, which at one time I presume filled a more honourable and conspicuous station than it does at present, but where no tradition remains to point out.

It preserves within a niche and surmounted by a canopy a curious little figure which Fenton styles the " Boy Bishop", but which is taken by some to represent an acolyte. There was formerly here a mansion of the Wogans. On either side of the chancel is a recess 4ft by 19ft for a tomb of a member of the family of Wogan. The font is modern but an earlier font lies at the west end of the church Visited 12th May Despite being heavily restored in the 13c nave and chancel divided by a plain pointed arch now lie in ruins.

They are hidden away in vegetation near the shore far from any road. The recesses in the chancel were for Wogan Family tombs Boulston Church, the private church of the Wogan family, was largely abandoned after the Second World War, lying on the banks of the Cleddau it is in a ruinous condition. Boulston Church continued in the appropriation of the Hospital of Slebech until that House was dissolved at the time of Hen. It was at this date probably that the tithes of the parish got into lay hands.

At all events, by the church had been purchased by Sir John Wogan. Lewis Wogan, of Boulston, by his will dated I5 Aug. According to Particulars of the Endowments of livings in the Diocese of St. Under the heading ' Not in Charge: Praeceptory of Slebeche olim Impr. The bowl rests on a baluster stem. The dimensions are as follows: On the rim is engraved a shield of arms with mantling, These are the arms of Wogan.

The representative of the Boulston branch in was Lewis Wogan. For their importance in the county the Wogans of Boulston were hardly second to their kin at Wiston ; they contributed five sheriffs and three members of Parliament to the county annals, they intermarried with many of the leading families of the county, and they reigned at Boulston from the 15th to the 18th century.

None found Sites of Archaeological and Historical interest Royal Commission on Ancient monuments Rose in Green A small and partly destroyed circle on the field next west to the farmhouse of Rose-in Green Rosen Green There are slight indications of an earthen bank and outer ditch, but cultivation has almost obliterated them. At no time could the work have been of military importance, and its use was probably pastoral.

A sub-circular enclosure, about 50m in diameter, defined by scarps to the south- east and modern hedge banks elsewhere, showing traces of a ditch to the south-west: The smaller mound, distant yards east of the above has apparently not been disturbed. It has a height of 3feet and a base circumference of 60 ft. The field has long been cultivated and ploughing has uncovered some small white quartz stones on both mounds.

A barrow, 22m in diameter and 0. A much mutilated round barrow, 34m in diameter and 1. A second barrow lies m to the East North East, whilst further barrows have been noted in the vicinity. The inlet extends some 50m inland, with the quay extending some 17m into the river. Modern aerial photography shows only a faint outline for the quay and the inlet in-filled. Modern aerial photography shows the site under tree cover. The quay defines a mud berth 30m long and 9m wide.

This is possible the more developed quay for the limekiln and quarry to the north Modern aerial photography shows the quay as still extant but unused. John Barlowe of Slebeche. Deed of Exchange of three messuages, etc. John Barlowe of Slebeche, esq. Justice of the Peace in Pembrokeshire. They lived for some years at Pembroke and then purchased in the Boulston estate and build their house. Robert Innes Ackland of Boulston, esq. Lease and Release being an exchange of part of Crisborough, parish of Slebech, for Cockshutt otherwise Newfoundland, parish of Robeston Wathan.

Lease for three lives of the tithes of closes called Rhose and Ash Parks, part of Millin Mountain, close called Newhouse Meadow, land called Picton Ewehill, all in the parish of Boulston. For ninety years past not an execution has taken place. The last was one that excited a good deal of sympathy. Roblin a man who was found guilty, first of manslaughter, and that verdict being refused by the presiding Judge, afterwards of murder, though it was very generally felt that the first verdict would have satisfied justice, was hanged on Easter Monday In those days it was a short shrift, as he was only tried on Good Friday.

So great was the horror occasioned by this execution, that the hangman was never known. Lease and Re lease being an exchange of part of Crisborough, parish of Slebech, for Cockshutt otherwise Newfoundland, parish of Robeston Wathan. From a Germanic personal name "Clarenbald". The parish is detached from any high road, and situated near the East Cleddy river. Thomas Thomas; impropriator, W. Scourfield, of the Mote, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Martin, has been rebuilt, and is a very neat edifice. The Baptist denomination have a place of worship here, and two Sunday schools are held, one of them in connexion with the Established Church, and the other supported by the Baptists.

In the parish is an artificial mount, which is surrounded by a hedge, about fifty yards in diameter, and is supposed to have been formed for defence at some early period. The property is divided among a few. Patrons, the Executors of J. The church is very good. Clarbeston Road , in mid Pembrokeshire, 6 miles NE. The village is 2 miles North West. Clarbeston Church dedicated to St. Dedicated to St Martin — The church was entirely rebuilt in , and now contains nothing of antiquarian interest.

This benefice is a perpetual curacy, which formed part of the possessions of the Knights of St. John, of Jerusalem at Slebech, and was given to that Preceptory by Wizo, the Flemish lord of Wiston, Walter his son and Walter, the grandson of Wizo, as is shown by the confirmatory charter of Bishop Anselm, which describes the church as "eclesiam Sancti Martini de Villa Clarenbaldi. By it had come into the King's hands.

Under the heading "Not in Charge" Clarbeston Cur. It would appear from the records in the Diocesan Registry that considerable difficulty had always been experienced in filling this living, long vacancies having occurred at different times. Church on ancient foundations but has been completely rebuilt and lack old features. The cup which is similar in design to that at Reynoldston, was restored by a former incumbent, the Rev, lorwerth Grey Lloyd, F. A,, now Vicar of Slebech.

On the bowl which is beaker-shaped is inscribed " Clarbeston The stem is a short baluster and is now secured to the bowl by a screw and bolt. The cover fits tightly The Credence Paten is 7 in. The Flagon is a graceful little tankard with a nearly flat cover, thumb-piece to raise the lid, and handle. These pieces are probably of the same date as the Chalice, viz. Non Conformist Penuel Methodist Chapel was built in and rebuilt The present chapel, dated is built in the twentieth century style with pebble dashed block walls, tiled roof, large pane flat-headed windows and a gable entry plan.

The present chapel, dated , is built in the Simple Round-Headed style with a gable-entry plan. This chapel was converted for other use during the mid twentieth century. Education On 4 Dec. The only schools were a Sunday school held at Carmel Baptist chapel and another in the church. The parish was entirely destitute of any means of education. There had been a school held in a part of a house called the Poorhouse, which had been given up about two months ago , as the master could not get anyone to attend.

He said if he could get but ten children he would keep on the school. A poor widow woman, into whose house I went, told me that she had a family of eight children , and her only support was her son, a lad of about 17 years of age , and a blacksmith by trade. She said she could not possibly give her children education and victuals. Labourers in the parish were wretchedly poor and totally unable to send their children to school if they had to pay for it.

Wages were 8d per day with food or 10d per day without. The cottage I was in was a wretchedly dirty place. The pig was walking about the house as one of the inmates. I saw six children; they appeared quite unaccustomed to see strangers and were as wild as possible. I could not get them near me so as to have an opportunity of asking any questions. David Lloyd Verdict No true bill. Population In , Clarbeston, total population was In it was By the population was Sites of Interest Holmes Ring or Knock Rath This small rectangular earthwork is situated on the summit of a low ridge looking northward over the valley of the Syfynwy, a short mile north west of Clarbeston village.

The enclosure measures ft from the north to south by feet from east to west. The rampart rises from 3ft to 4ft and on its outer side drops to a ditch 4fy deep from the level. The entrances are merely gaps 30ft wide in the north and south banks, exactly opposite each other Visited 7th October Bullock This Farmstead exhibits no features of antiquity.

Two storeys plus attic, H-plan country house with raised cement dressings, slate hipped roofs, cornice and two red brick ridge stacks. Overall the upper windows have moulded architraves while those below have plain raised surrounds. Three window centre range, ground floor French windows with top-lights first floor small-paned sashes and eaves cement-faced, coped and shouldered, gabled dormers.

Projecting wings have similar dormers and both have first floor tripartite plate-glass sashes. Left wing has windowless ground floor, right wing has large rendered canted bay with pierced parapet. The interior is largely later 19th century, though the structure and some fireplaces may be 18th century. This parish, though in the hundred of Dungleddy, is almost entirely surrounded by that of Narberth: The church is a very small edifice, without tower or spire; but of late years it has been repaired and beautified, and rendered one of the neatest churches in the county. A Sunday school is supported by Miss Eaton.

The font is modern Visited 28th May Pembrokeshire parsons. This church would appear to have been formerly called Llandeilo Velfrey. Under the heading "Not in Charge": Dorothea Eaton to the Parish of Crinow Edington; it is decorated with the sacred monogram, cross and nails within rays; weight, 5 oz. None found Parish of Crinow State of Education in Wales The Rev D Jones, Rector of Crinow , informed me that labourers wages with food are 8d per day — without 1s to 1s 2d; carpenters and masons on their own finding 2s. The people are very steady, industrious, and sober. Many farmers are destitute of education.

There are several schools in the adjoining parishes for children to get gratuitous education, but many are too poor to supply their children with proper clothing. The wages are the same at Llandewi Velfrey and at Crinow. Gwyn James 30 June Crinow, Offence Threatening behaviour and endeavouring to dissuade Prosecutor --to give evidence regarding the murder of Philpin Bonnell - Crinow?

Her husband and brother-in-law also named. Offence Threatening behaviour and endeavouring to dissuade Prosecutor --to give evidence regarding the murder of Bonnell Philpin - His wife and brother also named.

History of St Florence

Name of Pendry, Lewis Robeston Wathen, butcher, specified in recognizance, crossed out on indictment. Crinow Before the Pembrokeshire Courts Jenkin Elizabeth 15 September Crinow Single woman Offence Breaking and entering prosecutor's house and stealing from certain boxes wearing apparel. It is not marked on the original 1in map but appears on the modern sheets though without a name. The Tithe Schedule gives the name of the field within which the mound is placed as Castle Meadow; and this , together with the marked resemblance of the hillock to the usual military mounds of the county, dispels all doubts as to its original purpose.

The mound has a base circumference of ft Its height is 15 ft; the diameter of the flat summit is 30ft. Slight traces of a moat remain, but there are no signs of a bailey. The mound is within 50 yards of the parish church — Visited 21st May Ffynnon Deilo This is a well known spring rising in the field which lies directly south of Llwyn Gwathan? Gwaeddan farmstead, the field being styled Flynnon Deilo in the Tithe Schedule. The water of the spring flows into a roughly constructed well basil hardly large enough for immersion.

Traditions of its healing powers are still current in the district, and a number of place names testify to the former popularity of the spring — Visited 1st July The site of the well is on the boundary line between this parish and that of Llanbedr Velfrey, but it is reckoned to belong to Crinow. Similar windows to the ground floor which flank a central stone Doric portico with flat entablature and moulded cornice on fluted columns. A round arched entrance with segmental fanlight, panelled reveals and half-glazed panelled door.

It is situated at the eastern extremity of the county, where it is bounded by Carmarthenshire, which here makes an irregular curve into this part of Pembroke. At the distance of about two miles from the parish, runs the high road from Tenby and Narberth to Cardigan. Llanycevn has the parishes of Llandilo and Llanycevn Llangolman on the north, those of Llandissilio and Bletherston on the south, and the parish of New Mote on the west; and is watered by the Eastern Cleddy, which, after traversing this and other districts in a southern course, joins the Western river of the same name, to form the great estuary of Milford Haven.

The surface is hilly; the scenery is pleasingly varied, and enlivened by the winding of the Cleddy and some small streams which join that river within the limits of the parish.

St Florence

The lands are all inclosed, and in a good state of cultivation; the soil is fertile, producing barley, oats, potatoes, and a little wheat. The church, built in a mixed style of architecture, and repaired in , measures fifty feet in length, including the chancel, and sixteen feet in breadth; and contains sittings, all appropriated. It consists of a chancel, nave and bell-cote above the west gable.

The tower which fell many years ago was part of the old church. The Chancel arch is a low round-headed opening. There are remains of rood stairs and the door leading thereto also a small squint. The font is an irregular hexagon, possibly of the 15th century; the basin is circular, with a diameter of 18 inches. Traces of hinge and staple for the cover remain —Visited 22nd October NB The parish is often called Cefn, of which there are several other instances in Wales, notably Cefn near St Asaph in co Flint.

The Pembrokeshire Cefn is the long narrow outlier of the Prescelly ridge between Rhiw afallen and the Western Cleddeau. Mary Llawhadden but in Bishop John Morgan granted the hospital or chapel of Llawhaden, together with the church of Kevyn appropriated to the said hospital, to the use of the choristers of St. Davids Cathedral, who were tot provide a suitable chaplain to serve the said hospital and church. It was at that time united with the free chapel of St. Mars, Llawhaden, Menckton [by Nar-berth], and Egremont. On 7 June, , a faculty was granted for the rebuilding of Llanycefn Church.

There are two bands of vertical reed ornamentation, the one between the bowl and the stem, the other around the base. The stem is divided by a knob which is covered with intermittent lines. The Paten cover has disappeared. There is a plate by the same pewterer at Henry's Mote. None found Parish of Llanycefn —State of Education in Wales In this parish, which is agricultural there is no resident clergyman, no resident or subscribing landlords.

There are said to be 40 children in it not attending any day school. Wages were about the common rate of the district. The following are recorded in the event of antiquities being discovered unexpectedly in their vicinity. There is some recent research which suggests that the Roman road Via Julia passed near or through the parish. The village and castle were created and owned by the Bishops of St David's. The village was once a marcher borough. Owen, in , described it as one of nine Pembrokeshire "boroughs in decay".

The parish straddles the linguistic boundary, and was one of the six "bilingual" parishes mentioned by George Owen in The parish is divided east-west into two unequal parts by the Eastern Cleddau river, and this has been a fairly stable language boundary at least since Owen's time, with English speakers to the west and Welsh speakers to the east, although, perhaps in the early Industrial Revolution, Welsh-speakers infiltrated the western part in the area around Gelli woollen mill. This is an old frontier settlement, located close to the Landsker.

The castle was a fortified Bishop's residence, strongly sited and further protected by a moat. Earlier a ring motte had been built here, which was mentioned by Giraldus Cambrensis, but destroyed by Rhys ap Gruffudd in It had been built inside prehistoric earthworks Today Llawhaden is little more than a pleasant village lying on the west bank of the Eastern Cleddau River, but during the 13th and 14th centuries it functioned as an important and sizeable borough under the control of the bishops of St David's.

The creation of the borough is associated with the building of the Bishop's palace on the site of the earlier motte, by Bishop Beck in the period A weekly market on Mondays and two annual fairs were granted in and a start was made on laying out the town on the level ground which runs westwards from the castle. It seems likely that the old church was also rebuilt at this time, while in , just beyond the western limits of the borough, the bishop founded a hospital for the poor and aged. Some remains of the building, now badly overgrown can still be seen in Chapel Field.

It was easily the most important of the bishopric's boroughs, even surpassing St David's, and the palace was the principal Episcopal residence, where courts were also held and felons imprisoned. While Llawhaden is now completely lacking in any urban character and the former burgage plots difficult to discern, it seems reasonable to assume that the medieval borough lay along the road leading from the castle with its westernmost limit represented by the hospital which, since it also served as a leper house, must have been on the outskirts. In view of the large number of burgages recorded in, however, which could not all have been accommodated along this stretch other areas must have been built up, and it is probable that plots also lined the now overgrown roadway which leads from the decayed market square down to the bridge, where the remains of several dwellings are still detectable amidst the overgrowth.

The settlement does not appear to have been defended, and although the Black book records the rents for buildings infra muros, these are likely to have been on the episcopal demesne lands to the south of the castle which were enclosed with formidable stone walls, sections of which are still standing. Almost nothing is known of the later history of Llawhaden beyond references to the castle. During the revolt of Owain Glyndwr Henry IV ordered it to be re-fortified in case of attack, but it was eventually dismantled during the episcopacy of Bishop Barlow, The 16th century also witnessed the dissolution of the hospital and the borough decayed considerably with the weekly market falling into disuse.

Most of the ruins to be seen today date from the thirteenth century. Down by the river, there is an interesting church dating from the 's, and there is a ruined hospitium at the far end of the village. The Old Mill is now a trout farm and the village also has an interesting pottery.

The castle was used as a quarry and finally given by the Church to the government and taken over by CADW. The village is situated on a lofty ridge above the river Cleddau, and though so high is well wooded, and has vast command of water. Hence turning short to the right I enter the village and pass the mansion of William Skyrme, Esq. Of a most respectable family in this county, whose ancestor , an eminent attorney in the court of the marches, settled here about two centuries ago, and laid the foundation of two or three families of that name now descended from this gentleman.

The village consists of a few scattered houses chiefly on the right hand, in descending towards the ruins of the magnificent and castellated episcopal palace that crowns the summit of a steep wooded hill just above the church having a small vale to the north and south, with a gentle slope to each. The castle, though seemingly placed on the very edge almost of a precipice, was moated, and approached by a draw bridge at the grand entrance to the south, there being a considerable stream of water pouring down through the village , and now conformed in a pond in the centre of it.

The grand entrance was by a gateway of singular form, marked first by the arch to which the door or gate was hung, next by an arch more, projecting much higher, and lastly by another still more projected at the extreme height of the wall. It lies between two large bastions; that to the right has apartments in it, the uppermost of which has a stone vaulted roof and is almost entire. The windows over the gateway, and in the bastions on each side of it, have a label moulding over them. The first bastion to the right of those constituting the entrance is an octagon, as is the next, and very lofty.

The first octagonal tower seemed to have been separated into two retiring apartments, which modern's might call dressing rooms, each having its water-closet, and appearing to have belonged to two bed chambers. The whole building, if we estimate its dimensions by tracing the outline of its many sided walls still up, and the compass of its moat, must have been very extensive and sumptuous, including a spacious area, in which the remains of various splendid apartments, and of the elegant chapel, the work of Bishop Vaughan, the south side of which only having three handsome windows is still standing, the other side, as well as the east window being entirely down, with the exception to a highly finished square tower.

On the east side of the area the basement story exhibits a range of fine vaulted chambers, perhaps formerly occupied by the kitchens, cellars and other offices, and entered by handsome pointed doorways cased in stone. The whole structure was of cut stone, and highly finished.

Towards the north west the walls are entirely down: An ash tree of considerable size grows in the middle of the area, as do many smaller, fantastically springing from various parts of the ruins. Though from the opposite hill the castle appears to stand on the very brink of a precipice, yet there is a considerable belt of grassy slope without moat, between it and the edge of the hill. Whence you enjoy a most enchanting prospect of the windings of that noble river the Cleddau, through a luxuriant wooded scene in the vale beneath.

Indeed, the removal of those relics which give such dignity and picturesque effect to this and many other counties of Wales would be a serious injury, as they are irresistible magnets, attracting travellers to visit them, whereby the county cannot fail to be benefited in a high degree; and yet so little attention is paid to them, that views taken of many fifty years ago would hardly be known, so much in that time have they suffered by wanton dilapidation, more than by the mouldering consequence of age.

To this superb palace in its best days must have every appendage of luxury state and convenience, for even in Leland's time it had its forest of red deer at Llwydiarth, besides a park surrounding the castle, to be traced by fragments of its wall still seen in several places, and of most excellent masonry, enclosing many acres of finely diversified ground. And in the list of salaries paid to the different officers belonging to the Bishop, Henry Scourfield occurs as forester of ranger of Llwydiarth and Crosswood, and keeper of the park of Llewhaden, an office no doubt of great importance and honour , being held by a gentleman of one of the most ancient houses in the county.

Bishop Vaughan, who was a man of great spirit, taste and expense, is known to have been partial to this spot, and left, among other things , a proof of it in the beautiful chapel he had re-edified there. Bishop John Gilbert is said to have made it his principal residence during his prelacy and died there, as it appears by his will, dated September 8th When a barony was anciently created, the creation was always accompanied by a grant of a castle and territory annexed, charged with military service; nore were the spiritual baronies exempt from such tenure, for in the fourth year of the reign of Henry the Fourth in consequence of the alarm excited by the insurrection of Glyndwr all over Wales, but more particularly in this county, we find the royal mandate issued to Guido de Mona, then Bishop of St David's for garrisoning his castle of Llewhaden, and putting it in a perfect state of defence to resist the enemy, on pain of forfeiting the castle and all the manors and demesnes appurtenant.

Archbishop Abbot Feb 10th , granted a licence to Bishop Milbourne to demolish the castle of Llewhaden, and also the hall, chapel, cellar and bakehouse belonging to the palace of St David's, in short, to perfect what Barlow had begun; ; but Milbourne's translation to Carlisle prevented the execution of this I might almost say sacrilegious design, and Llewhaden still remains, though in ruined pride, a most picturesque object to attract the notice of every traveller of taste as it burst on his view in descending from the village of Robeston to Canaston with a superb foreground of wood and water, itself on an eminence and happily backed by the finely undulating line of the Presselly range of hills.

This place, which derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, who died in the year , was for many years distinguished as the principal residence of the bishops of St. David's, who had a magnificent castle or palace here with a very extensive park, and forest of red deer, noticed by Leland. This truly splendid structure, which was built entirely of hewn stone, was the favourite residence of Bishop Beck, who contributed greatly to its embellishment; it was adapted in every respect to the purposes of domestic convenience, and had every appendage of luxury and state.

The exact time of its original foundation is not known; but from a deed of feoffment, bearing date , it appears that John Fowley was at that time constable of the castle and master of the board of works to Bishop Hoton, who conveyed to him and to Ellen his wife certain lands in the vicinity, which are now the property of his descendants. From this period the palace was suffered to fall into decay; but the ruins, which are still venerable and majestic in their appearance, afford imposing evidence of its pristine grandeur. The parish comprises a large tract of rich arable and pasture land, which is inclosed and in a good state of cultivation.

The village is situated on the summit of a lofty ridge overhanging the river Cleddy, and commanding a fine view of the adjacent country, which abounds with varied scenery. Within the parish are some highly interesting and pleasingly romantic features, among which are, the church, beautifully situated on the margin of the river, under a richly wooded eminence; the majestic and venerable ruins of the ancient castle immediately above it; and Ridgeway, an elegant modern mansion, erected by the late I.

In the village is also a good family house belonging to a descendant of the Skyrmes, whose ancestor accompanied Oliver Cromwell into the principality during the parliamentary war, and obtained a settlement at this place. Lawhaden until recently constituted a prebend in the cathedral church of St. Aidan, is an ancient and venerable edifice, with a handsome tower, and in its retired and beautiful situation forms an interesting and romantic feature in the scenery around the village.

There are places of worship for Independents and Calvinistic Methodists; and three Sunday schools, one of them in connexion with the Church, and the others belonging to the dissenters. The remains of the ancient castle form a majestic and venerable ruin, on the summit of a precipitous eminence, commanding a magnificent prospect. The site was originally surrounded by a moat, over which was a drawbridge leading to the principal entrance, a noble gateway defended by two circular towers; this portion of the building is still in a state of tolerable preservation.

There are also the remains of two octagonal towers, which appear to have contained the state apartments and rooms of residence; of part of a small but very elegant chapel; and some portions of the outer walls. Some fragments of the park walls are yet remaining, and the land which they now serve to enclose is some of the richest in the county.

The prevailing character of the architecture is the early English, and the ruins have a most beautiful and picturesque appearance from every point of view. Lawhaden Castle was the head of the barony in right of which the Bishops of St. David's claim their seat in the house of peers. Turning to the right at the foot of the green, we fare along the village street until it terminates abruptly in a sort of cul-de-sac, where the majestic ruins of Llawhaden Castle seem to forbid our further progress.

The great Gatehouse, with its lofty drum towers flanking the boldly- arched portcullis, indicates the noble scale upon which the fortress was conceived. The eastern tower is still in a fair state of preservation, retaining the strong stone floors of its successive stages, though its fellow has been shorn of more than half its bulk.

These towers are pierced with small but well-proportioned lancet- windows, apparently of Edwardian date, and the corbelled battlements are carried forward above the gateway, to form a couloir for pouring down molten lead upon the foe. On passing beneath the lofty entrance archway, we are confronted by a well-proportioned Gothic doorway, with one small pointed window, little more than a loophole, in the wall beside it ; these are the sole relics of the northern front, of which all else has fallen to decay.

Near at hand rises a slender square tower, whose trefoil-headed windows and finely-worked mouldings point to a later period than that of the main structure. From its position and certain accessories, there is reason to suppose this tower contained the chapel of the castle, erected by Bishop Vaughan, who enlarged and beautified St. A group of flourishing ash-trees, which have sprung up where so ever they listed, cast their chequered shade athwart the neglected courtyard ; whilst pigs and poultry, from the adjacent farmstead, roam untended amidst the masses of fallen masonry, that cumber the ground in every direction.

Although perched on the brink of a steep declivity, the castle was protected by a moat which still remains intact, though sadly choked with tangled undergrowth and debris. This moat was supplied with water from a stream, which forms the large pond at the foot of the village. Thomas Beck, Bishop of St. This worth prelate also founded, ' in his Villa de Llewhadyn, a little Hospitiiim, which he dedicated to the poor and needy ;' devoting to its maintenance the revenues derived from his own lands.

Thus Bishop Beck became the first Welsh patron of pilgrims, and supporter of the aged and infirm. Of this very interesting foundation, all that has survived is a small building with vaulted roof, doorway, windows and a piscina, situated in a field on the outskirts of the village. This little edifice was in all probability the chapel of Beck's hospitium.

A certain Friar William was entrusted with the charge of the establishment, both he and his brethren wearing a habit distinctive of their calling. By the time of Owen Glyndwr, the castle appears already to have fallen into disrepair ; as we read that the King gave orders for Llawhaden to be put into a state of defence, victualled, and furnished with a garrison.

Under the disastrous regime of Bishop Barlow, that rapacious prelate caused the lead to be stripped from off the castle roofs, even as he had done at the beautiful old palace of St. At their castle of Llawhaden, the Bishops of St. Descending by a steep, hollow lane to the banks of Cleddau, we linger long about the old bridge and castle-mill to enjoy the placid beauty of the landscape, whose rich, subdued tints are enhanced by the radiance of a mellow autumn afternoon.

Looking upstream, the church forms the central feature of a pleasant, restful prospect ; its picturesque tower reflected in the clear waters of the Cleddau, which rushes onward to tumble with refreshing roar over a weir close at hand. Amidst the hanging woodlands which clothe the castle hill, we catch a glimpse of that ancient fortalice ; while the lowing of kine comes pleasantly to the ear from the deep water- meadows down the vale.

We now bend our steps towards the parish church, noticing a simple wooden cross beside the wicket-gate, whereon is hung a lantern to guide the footsteps of the benighted flock, during the long, dark evenings of winter. Llawhaden Church stands somewhat remote from the village, in a sequestered nook where the castle hill and the Cleddau leave scarce sufficient room for the little church to stand: Hugo, the sacred edifice contains the mutilated effigy of an ecclesiastic, commonly supposed to represent the patron saint, but more probably intended for Adam Houghton, Bishop of St.

Mary's College in that ' city. Inside the church we notice several curiously-sculptured corbels ; besides a two - three quaint epitaphs reciting, in rather questionable English, the virtues and graces of certain local worthies. The semi-detached tower presents a picturesque appearance, having, attached to its southern face, a square-shaped turret which, curiously enough, looks older than the tower itself.

The internal construction of this tower is somewhat peculiar, and its belfry contains a triplet of sweet-toned bells. It is, perhaps, worthy of note that Llawhaden is supposed to derive its name from St. Aeddan, a Pembrokeshire man by birth, and a disciple of St. Bishop Beck is credited with having erected the present structure, but it would appear that Bishop Adam Houghton contributed largely to its magnificence. It was one of the residences of the Prince-Bishops of St. David's, and here in died Bishop Gilbert.

Bishop Barlow as he similarly did with the palace at St. David's stripped the castle of its leaden roof, and converted all the interior fittings into ready money; the castle was further demolished by Bishop Milbourne. The castle was garrisoned during the Civil War, but was not the scene of any important event. The red deer forest of Llwydiarth belonged to the castle. The principal architectural features of Lawhaden Castle are the fine entrance gateway and a rectangular projecting tower. The gateway is illustrated by Fenton, but the architecture and history of the castle still await a competent exponent.

This parish is beautifully situated on a gentle eminence in the centre of a fertile vale, sheltered on one side by the northern declivity of the Ridgeway between Pembroke and Tenby. The village forms one of the most cheerful and interesting objects in the delightful ride from Tenby to Pembroke.

Many of the cottages, which are grouped in pleasing clusters around the church, are of ancient appearance. Attached to the cottages are spacious gardens, and the lands in the immediate vicinity are more richly wooded than in almost any other part of the surrounding country. The scenery is agreeably diversified, and the whole appearance of this interesting spot is highly picturesque. The church, dedicated to St. Florence, is a massive cruciform structure, in the early style of English architecture.

There is a place of worship for Independents. In connexion with the established church is a Sunday school, supported by subscription, which is attended by nearly all the children of the parish; and a school, supported by the dissenters, is held in a school-house belonging to the parish. The census for this parish has been indexed by Dyfed Family History Society. Church History Some church and chapel data from The Religious census of The names are those of the informants. Dyfed FHS have published a series of indexes of baptisms, marriages and burials from Pembrokeshire hundreds for various periods.

Extracted by Barry Johnson. You can see pictures of St Florence which are provided by: Ask for a calculation of the distance from St Florence to another place. Click here for a list of nearby places. Historical Geography You can see the administrative areas in which St Florence has been placed at times in the past. Select one to see a link to a map of that particular area. History Flemish Chimney at St Florence, depicting a boy leaning against the wall of a house. Print created in from Francis Lockey's calotype negative. Florence past and present. Series title South of the Landsker. Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;.

This place shown on an OpenStreetMap map.

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