For other places with the same name, see Whitchurch.
Whitchurch (Welsh: Tregroes, lit. "Town of the Cross") is a small village and parish (Plwy'r Groes, lit. "Parish of the Cross") in north-western Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
The settlement of Whitchurch is 1.2 mi (1.9 km) from the coast and 3 mi (4.8 km) east of St David's, and includes the parish church (also dedicated to Saint David) and a few houses. The largest settlement in the parish, which covers 3,138 acres (1,270 ha),[1] is Solva, whose own church is dedicated to St Aidan.[2] The parishes of Whitchurch and St Elvis make up the community of Solva.
Whitchurch was a chapelry in the parish of St David's before becoming a parish in its own right.[3] It is marked on a 1578 parish map held by the British Library.[4] A later, but pre-1850 parish map shows the extensive parish including several smaller settlements, including the village of Solva, in which there were numerous chapels.[5] Much of the land was still unenclosed in the 19th century.[3]
Whitchurch was in the ancient hundred of Dewisland and in the 1830s had a population of 1,028.[2] The population varied from 599 in 1801 to a maximum of 1,252 in 1851, then had fallen to 800 by 1961.[6]
Whitchurch and Solva share a War Memorial, on which the names of 50 parishioners are listed as having lost their lives in two world wars.[7]RAF St Davids was established in 1943, and operated until the 1990s.[8]
There is an unusually large number of listed buildings for such a rural area, many with mediaeval origins, including the Grade II listed parish church, mills, bridges and farm buildings.[3]
Notable peopleedit
The farm of Caerforiog, Whitchurch, is claimed as the birthplace of Adam Houghton (or Hoton), a 14th-century Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of St Davids.[2] In 1856, a small building survived at Caerforiog with an ogee-headed doorway, possibly dating from the 14th century.[9]
Caleb Rees (1883–1970), was born at "Esgairordd", in Whitchurch, Pembrokeshire; he was a Welsh school inspector for over forty years and a writer on educational and ecclesiastical topics.[10]
Referencesedit
^"GB Historical GIS University of Portsmouth: Whitchurch AP/CP through time: Population Statistics: Area". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
^ abc"GENUKI: Whitchurch". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
^ abc"Dyfed Archaeological Trust: St David's". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
^"GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Whitchurch AP/CP: Population Statistics". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
^"West Wales War Memorial Project: Solva and Whitchurch". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
^"Dyfed Archaeological Trust: St David's Airfield". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
^W. B. Jones & E. A. Freeman, The history and antiquities of Saint David's (1856), p. 232
^James, M.A. (2001). REES, Caleb (1883–1970), inspector of Schools and author. Dictionary of Welsh Biography.
April 12, 2024
whitchurch, pembrokeshire, other, places, with, same, name, whitchurch, whitchurch, welsh, tregroes, town, cross, small, village, parish, plwy, groes, parish, cross, north, western, pembrokeshire, west, wales, whitchurchwelsh, tregroesst, david, churchwhitchur. For other places with the same name see Whitchurch Whitchurch Welsh Tregroes lit Town of the Cross is a small village and parish Plwy r Groes lit Parish of the Cross in north western Pembrokeshire West Wales WhitchurchWelsh TregroesSt David s ChurchWhitchurchLocation within PembrokeshireOS grid referenceSM799255CommunitySolvaPrincipal areaPembrokeshireCountryWalesSovereign stateUnited KingdomPoliceDyfed PowysFireMid and West WalesAmbulanceWelshList of places UK Wales Pembrokeshire 51 53 N 5 12 W 51 88 N 5 2 W 51 88 5 2 Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Notable people 4 ReferencesDescription editThe settlement of Whitchurch is 1 2 mi 1 9 km from the coast and 3 mi 4 8 km east of St David s and includes the parish church also dedicated to Saint David and a few houses The largest settlement in the parish which covers 3 138 acres 1 270 ha 1 is Solva whose own church is dedicated to St Aidan 2 The parishes of Whitchurch and St Elvis make up the community of Solva History editBy the churchyard gate is a standing stone called Maen Dewi believed to be the lower part of a large Celtic cross Whitchurch was a chapelry in the parish of St David s before becoming a parish in its own right 3 It is marked on a 1578 parish map held by the British Library 4 A later but pre 1850 parish map shows the extensive parish including several smaller settlements including the village of Solva in which there were numerous chapels 5 Much of the land was still unenclosed in the 19th century 3 Whitchurch was in the ancient hundred of Dewisland and in the 1830s had a population of 1 028 2 The population varied from 599 in 1801 to a maximum of 1 252 in 1851 then had fallen to 800 by 1961 6 Whitchurch and Solva share a War Memorial on which the names of 50 parishioners are listed as having lost their lives in two world wars 7 RAF St Davids was established in 1943 and operated until the 1990s 8 There is an unusually large number of listed buildings for such a rural area many with mediaeval origins including the Grade II listed parish church mills bridges and farm buildings 3 Notable people editThe farm of Caerforiog Whitchurch is claimed as the birthplace of Adam Houghton or Hoton a 14th century Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of St Davids 2 In 1856 a small building survived at Caerforiog with an ogee headed doorway possibly dating from the 14th century 9 Caleb Rees 1883 1970 was born at Esgairordd in Whitchurch Pembrokeshire he was a Welsh school inspector for over forty years and a writer on educational and ecclesiastical topics 10 References edit GB Historical GIS University of Portsmouth Whitchurch AP CP through time Population Statistics Area A Vision of Britain through Time Retrieved 19 June 2020 a b c GENUKI Whitchurch Retrieved 19 June 2020 a b c Dyfed Archaeological Trust St David s Retrieved 19 June 2020 Penbrok comitat British Library GENUKI Parish map 68 Retrieved 19 June 2020 GB Historical GIS University of Portsmouth Whitchurch AP CP Population Statistics A Vision of Britain through Time Retrieved 19 June 2020 West Wales War Memorial Project Solva and Whitchurch Retrieved 19 June 2020 Dyfed Archaeological Trust St David s Airfield Retrieved 18 June 2020 W B Jones amp E A Freeman The history and antiquities of Saint David s 1856 p 232 James M A 2001 REES Caleb 1883 1970 inspector of Schools and author Dictionary of Welsh Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Whitchurch Pembrokeshire amp oldid 1152187799, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
