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Dewisland

Coordinates: 51°56′53″N 5°08′28″W / 51.948°N 5.141°W / 51.948; -5.141

The Hundred of Dewisland (often written "Dewsland") was a hundred in northwest Pembrokeshire, Wales. Formerly the pre-Norman cantref of Pebidiog, it included the city and the peninsula of St Davids.[1] It was named after Dewi Sant, the Welsh name for Saint David.[2]

The cantref of Pebidiog in ancient Dyfed

The Petty Sessions for the hundred were held at Solfach.[3]

History

Welsh Bishops

Dewisland was almost identical in area to the pre-Norman cantref of Pebidiog,[4] one of the traditional seven cantrefs of Dyfed. It was said to be divided into two commotes: Mynyw (Latin: Menevia) and Pencaer.[5] In the later centuries of the first millennium, Dyfed (including Pebidiog) was subsumed into Deheubarth.

Following the Norman Conquest of England, the ruler of Deheubarth, Rhys ap Tewdwr, accepted the suzerainty of the English king, William the Conqueror, but when William died, Rhys (taking the view that his vassalage was for William's life only.[6]) attacked Worcester (in alliance with other magnates)[6] His land in theory forfeit for rebelling against Norman suzerainty[7] Rhys was subsequently killed in battle at Brecon, and Deheubarth was seized by various Norman magnates.

The Bishop's rights, however, were respected by the Normans, who left Pebidiog alone, thus sparing it the fierce fighting which took place elsewhere.[8] The disestablishment of Deheubarth around it effectively made the Bishop's lands a sovereign state—Dewisland—which was able to boast of being the only Welsh realm never conquered by a foreign invader. It was not a contiguous realm; Llawhaden, a sizeable possession of the Bishop lying elsewhere in Dyfed, also became part of Dewisland,[9] having received the same treatment by the Normans.

Following the incumbency of Sulien, the chapter had begun a pattern of appointing his close blood relatives as Bishop of St. Davids (first Rhygyfarch, his eldest son, then Wilfred, his brother.[10] When they elected Daniel, Sulien's younger son, it began to look like a state with hereditary leadership; King Henry I was able to use the Norman presence around Dewisland to prevent Daniel's consecration.

Norman Bishops

The King summoned the chapter of St. David's to London, and persuaded them to choose his wife's chancellor, Bernard as the Bishop, instead of Daniel.[11] Bernard was not even a priest, and following the decision was hurriedly ordained that very day—18 September 1115—before being consecrated as Bishop the following day at Westminster Cathedral.[11] Bernard, newly Bishop, accepted the King's suzerainty over Dewisland (including Llawhaden), whereupon King Henry I issued a charter formally acknowledging it as a Marcher Lordship.[9] As Marcher Lord, the Bishop was almost sovereign - they had judicial powers over all offences (except high treason), could levy tax, issue charters, raise armies, and start wars.[9]

Initially, St David's remained its civil and ecclesiastical headquarters, and small English-speaking communities began to settle there (as they did at Abercastle and Letterston). However, Llawhaden, being south of the Preseli Hills, was a more fertile and hospitable region, and later Marcher Bishops came to base the administration of Dewisland at Llawhaden;[9] by the 13th century, the exchequer, chancery and court of Dewisland had moved to Llawhaden.[12]

Pembrokeshire

In the 1530s, King Henry VIII began the process of church reform, ultimately along Protestant lines; in 1534, for example, his new Heresy Act made it lawful to criticise the Pope of Rome (and indeed the other two popes - Joachim and Gabriel VII). The following year, he passed the first Laws in Wales Act, which abolished the status of Marcher Lordships; Dewisland was merged with the adjacent Lordship of Kemes and surrounding Lordship of Pembroke to form Pembrokeshire. Though the main part of Dewisland became a hundred (still named Dewisland), Llawhaden was administratively detached from it, and made part of Dungleddy, to which it was actually adjacent.

The Bishop died within the year, and Henry appointed an ardent Protestant, William Barlow, as his replacement. Not content to merely approve these changes to the Bishop's status, Barlow tried to move the see out of St. David's altogether - to Carmarthen.

By now, the former English-speaking communities within St David's, Abercastle, and Letterston had become thoroughly Welsh-speaking, and essentially extinct. The local Elizabethan antiquarian George Owen described the hundred of Dewisland as wholly Welsh-speaking.[13]

Modern Marcher Lordship claim

In the early 19th century, the Bishop of St. David's established a college (St David's College), to which he granted the manor of St. Davids. By the late 20th century, this college had become part of the University of Wales, and then more specifically the University of Wales, Lampeter. At that point, the University sold the Lordship of the Manor to Mark Andrew Tudor Roberts, who persuaded them to change the sale to that of The Marcher Lordship of St. Davids.[9] Later, in attempting to assert a number of rights, some of which were only held by Marcher Lords, he came into conflict with the Crown Estate Commissioners, and the matter came to court in 2008.

The court concluded that the Marcher Lordship did not exist, having been abolished by the Laws in Wales Acts. Furthermore, even if it had, it was not the University's to sell, and in any case, the sale contract had explicitly spelt out that when using the phrase Marcher Lordship of St. Davids it was using it as a gloss to refer to the Lordship of the Manor of the City of St David's (rather than, for example, an actual Marcher Lordship). As Lord of the Manor of the City of St. David's, a title to which the court found that Mr Roberts was entitled, he has the right of moiety of wrecks on the shoreline.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of Education in Wales (1848), p. 39: "(Dewisland hundred): — This district embraces the north-west quarter of Pembrokeshire."
  2. ^ William Owen Pughe, Cambrian register vol. 2 (1799), p. 79: "...it took the name of Dewisland among the Englishmen, for that it was given to the bishop's see of St. Davids."
  3. ^ Nicholas Carlisle, A topographical dictionary of ... Wales, a continuation of the topography of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1811), Solfach
  4. ^ Charles, B. G., The Placenames of Pembrokeshire, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1992, ISBN 0-907158-58-7, p 197
  5. ^ W. Rees, An Historical Atlas of Wales, Faber & Faber, 1959, plate 28
  6. ^ a b The history of Wales, descriptive of the government, wars, manners, religion, laws, druids, bards, pedigrees and language of the ancient Britons and modern Welsh, and of the remaining antiquities of the principality, John Jones, 1824, London, p. 63-64
  7. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, 1771, Edinburgh, volume 2, p.907, paragraph 23.
  8. ^ Raphael Samuel, Alison Light, Theatres of Memory: Island stories : unravelling Britain (1997), p. 51
  9. ^ a b c d e f Judgement in Crown Estate Commissioners v (1) Mark Andrew Tudor Roberts (2) Trelleck Estate Ltd: ChD (Mr Justice Lewison), 13 June 2008
  10. ^ Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 9, the Welsh Cathedrals (Bangor, Llandaff, St Asaph, St Davids)., Institute of Historical Research, London, 2003. p. 45
  11. ^ a b Dictionary of Welsh Biography, John Edward Lloyd, London, 1959, entry for Bernard (died 1148), bishop of S. Davids
  12. ^ Brian Howells, Pembrokeshire County History, Volume 2, Haverfordwest, 2002, p. 148
  13. ^ Owen, George, The Description of Pembrokeshire, Dillwyn Miles (Ed), Gomer Press, Llandysul, 1994, ISBN 185902-120-4

dewisland, coordinates, hundred, often, written, dewsland, hundred, northwest, pembrokeshire, wales, formerly, norman, cantref, pebidiog, included, city, peninsula, davids, named, after, dewi, sant, welsh, name, saint, david, cantref, pebidiog, ancient, dyfed,. Coordinates 51 56 53 N 5 08 28 W 51 948 N 5 141 W 51 948 5 141 The Hundred of Dewisland often written Dewsland was a hundred in northwest Pembrokeshire Wales Formerly the pre Norman cantref of Pebidiog it included the city and the peninsula of St Davids 1 It was named after Dewi Sant the Welsh name for Saint David 2 The cantref of Pebidiog in ancient Dyfed The Petty Sessions for the hundred were held at Solfach 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Welsh Bishops 1 2 Norman Bishops 1 3 Pembrokeshire 1 4 Modern Marcher Lordship claim 2 NotesHistory EditWelsh Bishops Edit Dewisland was almost identical in area to the pre Norman cantref of Pebidiog 4 one of the traditional seven cantrefs of Dyfed It was said to be divided into two commotes Mynyw Latin Menevia and Pencaer 5 In the later centuries of the first millennium Dyfed including Pebidiog was subsumed into Deheubarth Following the Norman Conquest of England the ruler of Deheubarth Rhys ap Tewdwr accepted the suzerainty of the English king William the Conqueror but when William died Rhys taking the view that his vassalage was for William s life only 6 attacked Worcester in alliance with other magnates 6 His land in theory forfeit for rebelling against Norman suzerainty 7 Rhys was subsequently killed in battle at Brecon and Deheubarth was seized by various Norman magnates The Bishop s rights however were respected by the Normans who left Pebidiog alone thus sparing it the fierce fighting which took place elsewhere 8 The disestablishment of Deheubarth around it effectively made the Bishop s lands a sovereign state Dewisland which was able to boast of being the only Welsh realm never conquered by a foreign invader It was not a contiguous realm Llawhaden a sizeable possession of the Bishop lying elsewhere in Dyfed also became part of Dewisland 9 having received the same treatment by the Normans Following the incumbency of Sulien the chapter had begun a pattern of appointing his close blood relatives as Bishop of St Davids first Rhygyfarch his eldest son then Wilfred his brother 10 When they elected Daniel Sulien s younger son it began to look like a state with hereditary leadership King Henry I was able to use the Norman presence around Dewisland to prevent Daniel s consecration Norman Bishops Edit The King summoned the chapter of St David s to London and persuaded them to choose his wife s chancellor Bernard as the Bishop instead of Daniel 11 Bernard was not even a priest and following the decision was hurriedly ordained that very day 18 September 1115 before being consecrated as Bishop the following day at Westminster Cathedral 11 Bernard newly Bishop accepted the King s suzerainty over Dewisland including Llawhaden whereupon King Henry I issued a charter formally acknowledging it as a Marcher Lordship 9 As Marcher Lord the Bishop was almost sovereign they had judicial powers over all offences except high treason could levy tax issue charters raise armies and start wars 9 Initially St David s remained its civil and ecclesiastical headquarters and small English speaking communities began to settle there as they did at Abercastle and Letterston However Llawhaden being south of the Preseli Hills was a more fertile and hospitable region and later Marcher Bishops came to base the administration of Dewisland at Llawhaden 9 by the 13th century the exchequer chancery and court of Dewisland had moved to Llawhaden 12 Pembrokeshire Edit In the 1530s King Henry VIII began the process of church reform ultimately along Protestant lines in 1534 for example his new Heresy Act made it lawful to criticise the Pope of Rome and indeed the other two popes Joachim and Gabriel VII The following year he passed the first Laws in Wales Act which abolished the status of Marcher Lordships Dewisland was merged with the adjacent Lordship of Kemes and surrounding Lordship of Pembroke to form Pembrokeshire Though the main part of Dewisland became a hundred still named Dewisland Llawhaden was administratively detached from it and made part of Dungleddy to which it was actually adjacent The Bishop died within the year and Henry appointed an ardent Protestant William Barlow as his replacement Not content to merely approve these changes to the Bishop s status Barlow tried to move the see out of St David s altogether to Carmarthen By now the former English speaking communities within St David s Abercastle and Letterston had become thoroughly Welsh speaking and essentially extinct The local Elizabethan antiquarian George Owen described the hundred of Dewisland as wholly Welsh speaking 13 Modern Marcher Lordship claim Edit In the early 19th century the Bishop of St David s established a college St David s College to which he granted the manor of St Davids By the late 20th century this college had become part of the University of Wales and then more specifically the University of Wales Lampeter At that point the University sold the Lordship of the Manor to Mark Andrew Tudor Roberts who persuaded them to change the sale to that of The Marcher Lordship of St Davids 9 Later in attempting to assert a number of rights some of which were only held by Marcher Lords he came into conflict with the Crown Estate Commissioners and the matter came to court in 2008 The court concluded that the Marcher Lordship did not exist having been abolished by the Laws in Wales Acts Furthermore even if it had it was not the University s to sell and in any case the sale contract had explicitly spelt out that when using the phrase Marcher Lordship of St Davids it was using it as a gloss to refer to the Lordship of the Manor of the City of St David s rather than for example an actual Marcher Lordship As Lord of the Manor of the City of St David s a title to which the court found that Mr Roberts was entitled he has the right of moiety of wrecks on the shoreline 9 Notes Edit Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of Education in Wales 1848 p 39 Dewisland hundred This district embraces the north west quarter of Pembrokeshire William Owen Pughe Cambrian register vol 2 1799 p 79 it took the name of Dewisland among the Englishmen for that it was given to the bishop s see of St Davids Nicholas Carlisle A topographical dictionary of Wales a continuation of the topography of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1811 Solfach Charles B G The Placenames of Pembrokeshire National Library of Wales Aberystwyth 1992 ISBN 0 907158 58 7 p 197 W Rees An Historical Atlas of Wales Faber amp Faber 1959 plate 28 a b The history of Wales descriptive of the government wars manners religion laws druids bards pedigrees and language of the ancient Britons and modern Welsh and of the remaining antiquities of the principality John Jones 1824 London p 63 64 Encyclopaedia Britannica 1771 Edinburgh volume 2 p 907 paragraph 23 Raphael Samuel Alison Light Theatres of Memory Island stories unravelling Britain 1997 p 51 a b c d e f Judgement in Crown Estate Commissioners v 1 Mark Andrew Tudor Roberts 2 Trelleck Estate Ltd ChD Mr Justice Lewison 13 June 2008 Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066 1300 Volume 9 the Welsh Cathedrals Bangor Llandaff St Asaph St Davids Institute of Historical Research London 2003 p 45 a b Dictionary of Welsh Biography John Edward Lloyd London 1959 entry for Bernard died 1148 bishop of S Davids Brian Howells Pembrokeshire County History Volume 2 Haverfordwest 2002 p 148 Owen George The Description of Pembrokeshire Dillwyn Miles Ed Gomer Press Llandysul 1994 ISBN 185902 120 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dewisland amp oldid 1145166678, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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