Penffordd,_Pembrokeshire

Penffordd, Pembrokeshire

Penffordd, Pembrokeshire

Village in Pembrokeshire, Wales

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]

Quick Facts OS grid reference, Community ...

Name

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

History

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

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

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

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

Notable people

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

References

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