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HIDDEN
TREASURES
NARBERTH
AND THE LANDSKER BORDERLANDS
St
David’s Church, Llanddewi Velfrey
The church could well be pre-Norman originally,
but was much restored in Victorian times. The
church has been isolated from the village since the
Turnpike road (now the A40) was built in
the 18th century
and the village grew up along that. Compare the
gravestones here with those in the church at
Lampeter Velfrey, just one mile south. Many
of those at
St David’s are in Welsh, while a mile away
they are often in English. This graphically illustrates
the so-called Landsker line separating the Welsh
speaking part of Pembrokeshire with the more
English speaking south.
See: Welsh Language
Llawhaden Castle
Llawhaden
Castle is located about 8 miles east of Haverfordwest,
just off the A40.
Bounded by hedgerows,
the narrow approach road into Llawhaden gives no
hint that the great Bishops once took refuge here.
Even the village itself, quiet and rather secluded,
hides the splendor of its medieval past. The name
of the village and its castle, Llawhaden, apparently
derives from Llanhuadain or Llanaedan, "the
Church of St. Aidan" (which still stands to
the east of the castle).
Most likely, Llawhaden began as an earth and timber
castle in the 12th century, the prize of the Norman
Bishop Bernard. Like many castles, a deep ditch and
earthen embankment formed the earliest outer defenses.
They still give the castle a sense of power.
In the 13th century, Bishop Thomas Bek (1280-93)
made arguably the greatest impact at Llawhaden, when
he established and expanded the village. Bek's work
at the castle includes the complex hall block, with
its kitchen and service rooms (buttery and pantry)
and stone-vaulted undercrofts, and the bishop's elaborately
adorned chambers above (complete with latrines!).
Today, this sector of the castle is largely ruined,
but still radiates the prestige of its occupant.
During the next century, the bishops added the twin-towered
gatehouse, the most impressive structure at Llawhaden
Castle.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the
16th century, the roles of the Bishops of St. David's
changed dramatically. Their palaces in West Wales
fell into ruin and they abandoned their great castle
at Llawhaden. Later, Llawhaden Castle became a quarry
for local building material, degrading the structure
even farther.
Sentence Castle (OS112116)
Behind the church hall and Farms to the West
of the main road that runs through Templeton
is the
site of what is sometimes claimed to be the
original castle of Narberth. Known as Sentence
Castle
it is a ringwork enclosure with a ditch that
was probably
water-filled, but there is no sign of a bailey.
It may have functioned as a manorial centre
for the Knights Templars, who held the manor
and
gave Templeton its name – Templar Town. Narberth
Castle itself is now open again to the public after
many years and is well worth seeing. The remains
are very evocative and originally would have had
five towers. The present structure dates from the
13th century and will always be associated with
the Mabinogion – the ancient book of Welsh
folk tales – and with King Arthur.
< Back
Also in this
section:
-
History and Legends
- In and Around the
Preseli Hills
- St David's Peninsula
- Pembrokeshire's Secret Waterway
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