Penffordd, Pembrokeshire

Village in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Human settlement in Wales

Penffordd

* Welsh: Pen-ffordd

Penffordd

Penffordd

Location within Pembrokeshire

OS grid reference| SN0722
Community|

* Bletherston

Principal area|

* Pembrokeshire

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

List of places

Wales
Pembrokeshire

51°52′N 4°48′W﻿ / ﻿51.86°N 4.8°W﻿ / 51.86; -4.8

Penffordd or Pen-ffordd is a small village in the community of New Moat, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the parish of Bletherston. It lies approximately 10.8 miles (17.4 km) northeast of Haverfordwest.[1]

## Name

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The descriptive name translates into English as top of the road, and is on a small hill at 100 m elevation.[2]

## History

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According to pre-1850 parish maps there was an inn in the village.[3] The Cross Inn was run by Ann Phillips in 1908, when an unfortunate accident occurred outside; a labourer, Thomas Murphy, whom witnesses said was sober, boasted that he could lift a log estimated at 2cwt (100 kg), but fell and fractured his skull, dying later that night.[4]

Penffordd was in 1895 described thus: “This quiet, out-of-the-way village seems to be intent on keeping pace with the times” in a press report on a meeting of Penffordd Literary Society in the chapel, presided over by the Rev D Richards and attended by “a very large number” of people. The report concluded:

> The manner in which the Penfford [sic] people spend their spare hours is certainly commendable and worthy of being copied by more highly privileged places. The school children did their parts in a highly creditable manner.[5]

A report of the same society's annual meeting in 1899 was equally praising, noting that the school was fortunate to have "such a go-ahead superintendent", Mr B. F. Williams, and giving the highest praise to the Ladies Choir.[6]

## Worship

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Pen-ffordd CM Chapel (about 1885)

Penffordd is in the parish (Church in Wales) of Bletherston.[3]

Penffordd Calvinist Methodist Chapel was built in 1861 and restored in 1913. The minister in 1893 was the Reverend David Richards.[7] The Rev. Benjamin Jones was minister of Penffordd and Gwastad in the early 1900s.[8] The chapel was still used for worship in 2000,[9] but subsequently became home to a leather-working enterprise.

## Education

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Pen-fford School pupils (about 1885)

In 1885, about 57 children were attending Pen-ffordd Primary School, which had opened in 1866.[10] In December 1888, in “very unfavourable weather”, the school hosted the first meeting of the Haverfordwest Habitation of the Primrose League.[11] The school closed in 2001 with pupils numbering 17.[12] The school log books and admission register, 1898–2001, are held at the National Archives.[13]

## Business

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Nearby Sheepwalk Nurseries are home to Pembrokeshire Cider and Perry Company.[14] Pembrokeshire Leatherwork is based in the former chapel.[15]

## Notable people

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Rugby union international Brian Williams (1962-2007) was born in Penffordd.[16]

## References

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1. ^ "Penffordd, Pembrokeshire" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
2. ^ Ordnance Survey
3. ^ a b "GENUKI:Historic parishes: Bletherston". Retrieved 2 March 2016.
4. ^ "Fatal accident at Penffordd". The Pembroke County Guardian and Cardigan Reporter. 9 October 1908. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
5. ^ "Penffordd: Interesting literary entertainment". The Welshman. 1 March 1895. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
6. ^ "Penffordd: Literary Meeting". The Welshman. 5 January 1900. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
7. ^ "London Gazette, August 4, 1893" (PDF). Retrieved 3 March 2016.
8. ^ "Penffordd: Ministerial". The Welshman. 3 November 1905. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
9. ^ "GENUKI: Bletherston". Retrieved 2 March 2016.
10. ^ "Dyfed FHS: Schools". Retrieved 3 March 2016.
11. ^ "Penffordd: The Primrose League". Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser. 21 December 1888. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
12. ^ Reynolds, D.; Jones, M. (2007). Small School Closure in Wales: New Evidence. Institute of Welsh Affairs. p. 14\. ISBN 978-1904773276. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
13. ^ "National Archives: Education Repositories". Retrieved 3 March 2016.
14. ^ "Gloucester Orchard Trust: Directory of nurseries". Retrieved 4 March 2016.
15. ^ "Twelve applications are submitted for every UK apprenticeship". The Guardian. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
16. ^ "Obituary: Brian Williams". The Independent. 10 February 2007. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2016.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Penffordd.

* Welsh Newspapers Online (Caution: not all this Penffordd)