Castellan, Pembrokeshire

Castellan is an ancient hamlet and, until 1974, was a parish in the Hundred of Kilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated in the north of the county on the slopes of Frenni Fawr, one mile (2 km) north of Crymych and included much of the village of Blaenffos.

Castellan
Castellan Location within Pembrokeshire
Community	Boncath
Principal area	Pembrokeshire
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Boncath
Postcode district	SA37
Dialling code	01239
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Preseli Pembrokeshire
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Preseli Pembrokeshire

Origin of the name

The placename is an archaic Welsh word meaning "little castle".[1]

History

View across Castellan and Blaenffos (Castellan Farm is in the right foreground)

The parish had an area of 920 acres (370 ha). It was originally a chapelry of the parish of Penrydd (several alternate spellings), granted by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, to the Knights Hospitallers of Slebech c.1130 and was returned in the Valor Ecclesiasticus (1291) as paying 13s 4d (two-thirds of a pound) per annum. Castellan (as Cap. Kestellan) appears on a 1578 parish map of Pembrokeshire.[2] In 1684 the rector and churchwardens of Penrith (sic) and Castellan declared the chapel to be "out of repair", the bier having been stolen some 28 years previously. It was annexed to Penrhudd Parish soon after the dissolution of the monasteries but was abandoned by c.1700 and in ruins by 1833.[3][4] The church is no longer marked on Ordnance Survey maps.[5]

The 1831 census lists the chapelry as having 26 families in as many homes with no uninhabited buildings; 17 of the families were chiefly involved in agriculture and 7 in trades, crafts or manufacture.[6]

Tithe apportionment (1837)[7] and map (1844)[8] are held at the National Archives.

Prior to 1850 the parish included Blaenffos, Clover Hill, Frenni Fawr, Gorsfaith and Moelfryn with a population of 127 in 1833; earlier censuses included Castellan with Penrith[9][10] and formed an extensive part of the parish of Penrith (sic). In 1833 (despite the chapel being in ruins) the incumbent received one guinea annually from Sir R.B.P. Philipps of Picton Castle.[11]

In 1881 more than half of men still worked in agriculture with the remainder in trades; while a few women were in domestic service or trade, the majority are listed as "unknown occupation", presumably housewives.[12] The 1881 census records David Nicholas aged 37 as farming 57 acres, having been born in Castellan; Nicholas was the father of Thomas Evan Nicholas.[13]

By 1901 there were more than 40 houses in the parish, dipping to 37 in 1931 but rising to 46 in 1961.[14]

The site of the chapel, described in the Inventory (visited 1915) as "a building 26 feet by 17 feet. A fragment of walling about 5 feet in height marks the east end of the little church.",[4] is still visible.

The northern part of the parish is now in the community of Boncath, and the southern part is in Crymych community. The name of the parish survives in Castellan Farm, near the site of the chapel which, according to Geograph,[15] is no longer accessible.

Demography

Castellan's census population was estimated (being counted with Penrydd parish) as 82 in 1801 and 105 in 1811. Subsequently the population grew to a maximum of about 170 in the mid-19th century, to a minimum of 115 in 1951, and thereafter grew to 162 by 1981.

References

1. Charles, B. G. (1992). The Placenames of Pembrokeshire. National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. p. 354-5. ISBN 0907158587.
2. "Penbrok comitat". British Library.
3. Medieval and Early Post-Medieval Churches and Chapels: A Threat-Related Assessment. Dyfed Archaeological Trust. 2011. p. 16.
4. An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Wales and Monmouthshire: VII - County of Pembroke. Royal Commission on Ancient Historical Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire. 1923.
5. Ordnance Survey: Landranger Series: Sheet 145. 2007.
6. Enumeration Abstract of the Answers and Returns Pursuant to an Act: Vol.2. 1831. p. 910-911.
7. "National Archives: Tithe apportionment of Penrith, including Castellan". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
8. "National Archives: Tithe map of Penrith, including Castellan". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
9. Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons and Command, Vol.18. HMSO. 1831.
10. "GENUKI: Castellan". Retrieved 27 March 2014.
11. Lewis, S (1833). A Topographical Dictionary of Wales.
12. "A Vision of Britain Through Time". Retrieved 1 April 2014.
13. "National Library of Wales: Biography of Thomas Evan Nicholas" (PDF). Retrieved 1 April 2014.
14. "A Vision of Britain Through Time". Retrieved 1 April 2014.
15. "Geograph UK: Copse near Castellan Chapel". Retrieved 2 April 2014.

External links

• Genuki entry included in that of Penrydd