Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire

Castlemartin
Castlemartin
Castlemartin shown within Pembrokeshire
Population 147 
OS grid reference SR914984
Community
  • Stackpole and Castlemartin
Principal area
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales

Castlemartin (Welsh: Castell Martin) is a village in (and giving its name to) the Castlemartin Hundred, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is part of the community of Stackpole and Castlemartin, after amalgamating with Stackpole in 2012,[1] within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The village is on a sandstone ridge, 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Pembroke, 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Angle, and reached on the B4319 road.

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

History

Church of St. Michael

The village, once centred on a prominent Norman motte-and-bailey castle, together with the original dedication of the church to St Martin, gives Castlemartin its name.[3] Like other places in southern Pembrokeshire, Castlemartin has been mainly English-speaking for 900 years or more.

Castlemartin has 8 miles (13 km) of coastline, much of it consisting of spectacular limestone cliffs characterised by large sea caves, natural arches and stacks.

During the 20th century, much of the land in the community area was cleared by the government for use as an artillery range. The main base is at the Castlemartin Training Area, Merrion. Here, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path has to run inland; by-passing many interesting sections of cliff, although sometimes access may be offered to Flimston. 51°36′43″N 4°59′50″W / 51.61194°N 4.99722°W / 51.61194; -4.99722 In 2011, the MoD opened up a special diversionary route which was safer for walkers by protecting them from the range fire and preventing them for having to negotiate narrow country roads with fast moving traffic.[4]

The Church of St. Michael is a Grade I listed building. It contains a cross-inscribed stone pillar of the 7th century-9th century. Currently, the church is closed.[5]

Pembrokeshire showing Castlemartin Hundred

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

References

  1. ↑ "WELSH STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2011 No. 683 (W.101) LOCAL GOVERNMENT,WALES The Pembrokeshire(Communities)Order 2011" (PDF). UK Stationery Office. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  2. ↑ Harland, W.B. 1990 A Geologic Time Scale 1989, Cambridge University Press, p43
  3. ↑ Charles, B. G., The Placenames of Pembrokeshire, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1992, ISBN 0-907158-58-7, p 678
  4. ↑ "Castlemartin access project scoops MOD's top environmental award". Tenby Today. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Church of St. Michael - A Grade I Listed Building in Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire". British Listed Building. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
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