Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire

Village and parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Human settlement in Wales

Castlemartin

* Welsh: Castell Martin

Castlemartin

Location within Pembrokeshire

Population| 147
OS grid reference| SR914984
Community|

* Stackpole and Castlemartin

Principal area|

* Pembrokeshire

Country| Wales
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Police| Dyfed-Powys
Fire| Mid and West Wales
Ambulance| Welsh

List of places

Wales
Pembrokeshire

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

Castlemartin (Welsh: Castell Martin) is a village and parish[1][2] in the community of Stackpole and Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 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.

## Geography

[edit]

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.[3] 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.

## History

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Pembrokeshire showing Castlemartin Hundred

The village of Castlemartin was in the ancient Hundred of the same name, once centred on a prominent Norman motte-and-bailey castle giving, with the church dedicated to St Martin, the origin of the name.[4] Like other places in southern Pembrokeshire, Castlemartin has been mainly English-speaking for 900 years or more.

A 1583 map in the British Library shows Castlemartin parish as Castlemerten.[5]

The census population of Castlemartin was 496 (1801): 528 (1851): 460 (1901): 243 (1951): 147 (2001).

During the 20th century, much of the land in the community area was cleared by the government for use as an artillery range: Castlemartin Training Area, with its base at Merrion, in Warren. Here, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path has to run inland; by-passing many interesting sections of cliff, although sometimes access may be offered to Flimston. 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.[6]

Castlemartin community amalgamated with Stackpole community in 2012, forming Stackpole and Castlemartin community.[7]

## Parish church

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St Michael's Church

The parish 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.[8][9] The church was declared redundant and vested with the Friends of Friendless Churches in 2016.[10]

## References

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1. ^ "GENUKI: Castlemartin". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
2. ^ "GENUKI: Parish map 156". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
3. ^ Harland, W.B. 1990 A Geologic Time Scale 1989, Cambridge University Press, p43
4. ^ Charles, B. G., The Placenames of Pembrokeshire, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1992, ISBN 0-907158-58-7, p 678
5. ^ "Penbrok comitat". British Library. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
6. ^ "Castlemartin access project scoops MOD's top environmental award". Tenby Today. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
7. ^ "WELSH STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2011 No. 683 (W.101) LOCAL GOVERNMENT,WALES The Pembrokeshire(Communities)Order 2011" (PDF). UK Stationery Office. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
8. ^ Cadw. "Church of St Michael (Grade I) (5948)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
9. ^ "Church of St. Michael - A Grade I Listed Building in Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire". British Listed Building. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
10. ^ "Friends of Friendless Churches: Church of St Michael".

## Further reading

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* Hughes, Basil H.J. (2014). "Pembrokeshire Parishes, Places & People. Castlemartin Hundred". archive.org. pp. 73–80.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire.

* Further historical information and links on GENUKI
* Public Information on Army Range
* Joint Nature Conservation Committee
* Photographs of Castlemartin and surrounding area on Geograph
* Castlemartin at HistoryofWales.com