Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire

Castlemartin
Castlemartin
 Castlemartin shown within Pembrokeshire
Population 147 
OS grid referenceSR914984
CommunityStackpole and Castlemartin
Principal areaPembrokeshire
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
List of places
UK
Wales
Pembrokeshire

Coordinates: 51°39′N 5°01′W / 51.65°N 5.01°W / 51.65; -5.01

Castlemartin (Welsh: Castell Martin) is a village in (and giving its name to) the Hundred of Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

Location

The village is situated on the B4319 road on a sandstone ridge, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southwest of Pembroke and 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) southeast of Angle. It is part of the community of Stackpole and Castlemartin, most of which is within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

History and amenities

The village is centred on a prominent Norman motte-and-bailey castle, which, with the original dedication of the church to St Martin, gives the place its name.[1] The church contains a cross-inscribed stone pillar of the 7th century-9th century. Like other places in southern Pembrokeshire, Castlemartin has been mainly English-speaking for 900 years or more.

The community has 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of coastline, much of it consisting of spectacular limestone cliffs characterised by large sea caves, natural arches and stacks. During the 20th century, most of the limestone downland of the community was cleared by the government of its ancient farms for use as an artillery range. The main base is at Warren. Because of this, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in this area currently runs inland, by-passing the most interesting sections of cliff scenery, although some cliff features can be seen from Flimston (at 51°36′43″N 4°59′50″W / 51.61194°N 4.99722°W / 51.61194; -4.99722). St Michaels Church, Castlemartin is now closed.

Census population of community 496 (1801): 528 (1851): 460 (1901): 243 (1951): 147 (2001).

In chronostratigraphy, the British sub-stage of the Carboniferous period, the 'Arundian' derives its name from Hobbyhorse Bay in Castlemartin community - arundo being Latin for hobby horse.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Charles, B. G., The Placenames of Pembrokeshire, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1992, ISBN 0-907158-58-7, p 678
  2. ↑ Harland, W.B. 1990 A Geologic Time Scale 1989, Cambridge University Press, p43

External links

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