Pembrokeshire Architecture

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Architecture in Wales ranges from the earliest Neolithic to modern self-indulgence by way of the medieval, the Tudor resurgence and the transformation of rural holdings during the 'Age of Improvement'. Pembrokeshire has something of all of these, but perhaps the most visually interesting is the local vernacular: long houses, lime-washed cottages and grouted roofs, stone and pebble dash and 'wriggly tin' - the last worthy of an architectural sub-genre in its own right! Sadly much of our built heritage is in decay or disappearing, whether as part of general rural decline or from unsympathetic conversion. For more, see the B&W pages.

St Davids Cathedral & Bishops Palace. A scattering of snow on the ground and a scattering of clouds over the distant St Davids Head. Captured from the Gatehouse. Click on the image for purchase options. (A B&W conversion is available.)

Storm Warning, Tenby. A northerly weather front creeps towards the Esplanade. The classic Georgian terrace overlooks Tenby's South Beach and Caldey Island. Click on the image for purchase options.

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Pentre Ifan at Dawn. The best known and most elegant portal dolmen in Wales. The low angle highlights the delicacy of the tapering orthostats that support the massive 16 ton capstone. Click on the image for purchase options.

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Former Post Office & General Stores, North Pembrokeshire. While politicians ponder the problems of rural regeneration they are equally active in destroying local communities. The village shop was forced to close after the withdrawal of postal services. The village school was closed shortly thereafter. Click on the image for purchase options.

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PO Collection Box. Dating to the reign of George VI. Recent history is revealed in the layers of flaking paint. For a full frontal of this Post Office & General stores, see the Architecture page. Click on the image for purchase options.

Frog Street, Tenby. Victorian collection box on a wet November Sunday. Captures of the Tudor Merchant's House can be found on the Architecture and Monochrome pages. Click on the image for purchase options.

The Church of St Aidan, Llawhaden #1. St Aidan's Church sits in an idyllic setting on the bank of the Eastern Cleddau. The Grade II listed building is of ancient foundation and has identifiable C12 architectural survivals. The medieval church was transformed in the late C13 or early C14, at which time a second larger tower seems to have been added while, unusually, the original tower was retained. Click on the image for purchase options.

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Picture of The Church of St Aidan, Llawhaden

The Church of St Aidan, Llawhaden #2. Named for a disciple of St David, the medieval church saw restoration in the C19, initially in 1834 and then in 1861. The church has a long association with the Roch family, who contributed to the costs of the private chapel with free pews for the poor. The Roch chapel was to become the vestry. Click on the image for purchase options.

Tudor Merchant's House, Tenby (National Trust). The oldest building in Tenby reflects the increased prosperity in Wales that followed the defeat of Richard III by Henry Tudor at Bosworth Field. Click on the image for purchase options. (A B&W conversion is available.)

St Davids Cathedral. The National Shrine of the Patron Saint Of Wales. Built on the site of the original monastic community in the secluded valley of Vallis Rosina. Click on the image for purchase options. (A B&W conversion is available.)

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St Mary's Church, Tenby. A 15th Century church with remains dating back to C13. A burst of sunlight and an intense blue sky between the squalls on a stormy Sunday in November. Click on the image for purchase options.

Blackpool Mill - full frontal! Built by Nathaniel Phillips of Slebech Park in 1813. The greenery on the right hides the leet that provided water power to the mill's machinery. Click on the image for purchase options.

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Blackpool Mill and Blackpool Bridge. The mill backs onto the Eastern Cleddau river, source of the water power that determined the location. Blackpool Bridge is the start of the Knight's Way access to Slebech Park. Click on the image for purchase options.

Blackpool Mill. Built as an iron foundry, subsequently operating as a corn mill and, more recently, as a museum, the mill was closed to the public in 2013. A typical vestige of the industrial revolution in the C19. Click on the image for purchase options.

Pembrokeshire Vernacular, Wriggly Tin, Detail. The ubiquitous building material survives in various stages of conservation or decay throughout Pembrokeshire. Click on the image for purchase options.

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Picture: Pembrokeshire Vernacular, Gwaun Valley

Pembrokeshire Vernacular, Wriggly Tin, Gwaun Valley Barn. One of many disused farm buildings scattered about the network of byways around the Gwaun Valley and Preseli foothills. Click on the image for purchase options.

Picture: Pembrokeshire Vernacular, Farm Shed

Pembrokeshire Vernacular, Wriggly Tin, Farm Shed. Corrugated iron was a building material of choice in Pembrokeshire for more than 150 years. This example is close to Maenclochog in the North County. Click on the image for purchase options.

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Pembrokeshire Vernacular, Wriggly Tin, Matt's Shed. A constant cause of curiosity, this is the (private) workshop of The Sloop Inn, Porthgain. Also supports the pub's fishing/dive boat. Click on the image for purchase options.

Pembrokeshire Vernacular. The disused weigh station at Middle Mill near Solva, North Pembrokeshire. Lorries hauling stone from the nearby quarry would call here to be weighed empty, and then again after loading. Click on the image for purchase options.

Pembrokeshire Vernacular, abstract patterns in the peeling paintwork of the former lighthouse at St Anne's Head, Pembrokeshire. Click on the image for purchase options.

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Pembrokeshire Vernacular. Penrhos Cottage, Ty Un Nos. The overnight house (ty un nos) was a Pembrokeshire tradition that allowed a habitation to be built on common land so long as it was begun at sunset and completed, with smoke issuing from the chimney, by the following sunrise. Penrhos Cottage dates, originally, to the early C19 and was inhabited until 1968. Click on the image for purchase options.

The Church of St James, Manorbier. A Grade 1 listed medieval church supposedly built on a 6th Century monastic site. The church sits back from a beautiful bay that is also the setting for Manorbier Castle, birthplace of Geraldus Cambrensis, great-grandson of Rhys ap Tewdwr and author of 'The Journey Through Wales'. It has been rumoured that he also penned the Bull 'Laudabiliter' that was used by Henry II and Richard de Clare to authorise the invasion of Ireland.

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Pembrokeshire Vernacular. Cottages at Abereiddy. The lime- and colour-washed cottages are just a short walk along the Wales Coast Path from the Blue Lagoon. Click on the image for purchase options.

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